Sheer Sound
# Sheer Sound

Sheer Sound is a South African independent record label formed in 1994 by Damon Forbes.

## History

Sheer Sound was formed in November 1994, shortly after South Africa's first democratic elections. The label was initially a home for jazz and world music and fast gained a reputation for its extensive South African and African jazz catalogue.

By the mid-1990s, a young music marketer, Damon Forbes, was getting restless with the limited vision of his industry.

"I sunk my teeth into jazz because it carried a world music message for me; it was truly culturally representative.... I just looked at the market and I saw the economics of the people of South Africa changing, due to better access to education.... [And]the workplace was going to change; a lot more black people getting into jobs that are of medium and higher income levels.... With all that, comes the aspiration to listen to better quality music. [So] the market, in the long term, is going to increase."

With what he calls "R1 500 (just over $200) and a dream", Forbes established his own label, Sheer Sound. (Ansell 2005:269)

In 2006 two imprint labels, Seed and 2Feet Music, were formed under the Sheer Sound umbrella and has since released some of the most prolific rock and singer-songwriter music, respectively, in South Africa.

## Roster

### Singer-songwriter

* Farryl Purkiss
* Chris Letcher
* Nibs van der Spuy
* Shawn Phillips
* Baz Corden
* Simon van Gend

### Rock

* Wonderboom
* Myepic
* Cassette (Outside of RSA only)
* Bed on Bricks
* Paul E. Flynn
* Martin Rocka and The Sick Shop
* Misled
* Pestroy
* Insek
* Libido
* Gently Scar'd
* Underbelly
* New Academics
* Lionel Bastos
* Elusion
* The Dirty Skirts
* Mann Friday
* Gonzo Republic
* eVoid
* Walt

### Afropop

* Jeff Maluleke
* Jaziel Brothers
* Lesego
* Mina Nawe
* Phinda
* Naledi

### Jazz

* McCoy Mrubata
* Winston Mankunku Ngozi
* Paul Hanmer
* Louis Mhlanga
* Gavin Minter
* Tony Cox
* Ernie Smith

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Artist | Category | Title | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | 340ml | Best Alternative Album | Sorry for the Delay | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | 340ml | Best Duo or Group of the Year | Sorry for the Delay | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | 340ml | Best Album of the Year | Sorry for the Delay | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | 340ml | MTN Record of the Year | Sorry for the Delay | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | 340ml | Best Producer | Sorry for the Delay | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | 340ml | Best Engineer | Sorry for the Delay | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | Ernie Smith | Best Adult Contemporary Album (English) | | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | Nibs van der Spuy | Best Instrumental Album | Autumn Light | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | Imbokodo | Best Pop Album (African) | | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | Jaziel Brothers | Best Remix Of The Year | | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | The Dirty Skirts | Best Rock Album | Daddy Don't Disco | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | Paul E. Flynn | Best Rock Album | Fields | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | Gavin Minter | Best Traditional Jazz Album | I'll Be Seeing You | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | Zim Ngqawana | Best Traditional Jazz Album | | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2009 | Oliver Mtukudzi | Best Traditional/Adult Contemporary DVD | | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | Jaziel Brothers | Best Afro Pop Album | The Beginning | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | Underbelly | Best Alternative Album | "For A Cynical Science" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | Insek | Best Alternative Album | "Maaiers" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | New Academics | Best Alternative Album | "City Of Strange" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | McCoy Mrubata | Best Male Artist | "Brasskap Sessions - Vol 1" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | McCoy Mrubata | Best Traditional Jazz | "Brasskap Sessions - Vol 1" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | Jeff Maluleke | Best Adult Contemporary African | "A Twist Of Jeff" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | Musa Manzini & Lawrence Matshiza (For Jeff Maluleke) | Best Producer | "A Twist Of Jeff" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | Phinda | Best Adult Contemporary African | "Yithi Paha" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | Jaziel Brothers | Best PopAlbum | "The Beginning" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | Mina Nawe | Best Urban Pop Album | "Njalo" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2008 | Tony Cox | Best Instrumental Album | "Blue Anthem" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Paul Hanmer | Best Male Artist | "Water & Lights" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Lesego | Best Newcomer | "Mymusic" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Paul Hanmer | Best Instrumental Jazz Album | "Water & Lights" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Four Forty | Best Instrumental Jazz Album | "Us+Them=1" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Chris Letcher | Best Adult Contemporary Album: English | "Frieze" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Wonderboom | Best Rock Album: English | "City Of Gold" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Chris Letcher | Best Rock Album: English | "Frieze" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Martin Rocka and the Sick Shop | Best Alternative Music Album | "Through Sick & Sin" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Prankster | Best Alternative Music Album | "Bravo" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Lesego | Best Pop Album: African | "Mymusic" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2007 | Oliver Mtukudzi | Best Compilation DVD | "Wonai" | Nominated |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2006 | Phinda | Best Adult Contemporary Album: African | "Mbheka Phesheya" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2005 | Wessel van Rensburg | Best Instrumental Album | "Song For E" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2005 | McCoy Mrubata | Best South African Traditional Jazz Album | "Discovery" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2005 | Evert de Munnick (Sakhile) | Best Engineer | "Togetherness" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2005 | Sipho Gumede & Ernie Smith | Best Joint Composition | "" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2004 | Zim Ngqawana | Best Male Artist | "Zimphonic Suites" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2004 | Zim Ngqwana | Best South African Traditional Jazz Album | "Zimphonic Suites" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2004 | Andile Yenana & Winston Mankunku Ngozi (Winston Mankunku Ngozi) | Best Producer | "" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2004 | Peter Pearlson (Zim Ngqwana) | Best Engineer | "Zimphonic Suites" | Won |
| South African Music Awards (SAMA) | 2004 | Gloria Bosman | Best Female Composer | "Nature Dances" | Won |
| MK Video Awards | 2008 | Chris Letcher | Best Roadtrip Video | "Deep Frieze" | Nominated |
| MK Video Awards | 2008 | Farryl Purkiss | Sexiest Video | "Better Days" | Nominated |
