Sonic Vista Music is an independent English record label, founded in Kingston upon Hull in 2005, notable for having business connections in Japan and Canada.

Sonic Vista Music
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
FounderKenneth Foster
Terence Dunn
Ian Smith
Simon Lewis
Dale Smith
GenreAlternative rock
Acoustic
Indie rock
Classic rock
Country of originEngland
LocationHull (2005–2006), Blackpool (2006–present)
Official websitewww.sonicvistamusic.co.uk

History edit

Founded by the members of the band Ernest, and shortly afterwards by promoter and Strummer[1] music magazine editor, Ken Foster, the label sought to escape the confines of the heavily London weighted UK music industry by exploring overseas markets, particularly Canada and Japan. This has led to the formation of Jaded Rebel Entertainment[2] in Canada and Sonic Vista Japan.

The first release was Pimps, B**ches (and Superheroes) by Ernest in 2005. Ernest were the only band on the label until Foster joined later that year. With the second Ernest EP release Puppies, the band were able to secure slots at the Leeds Festival in 2006.[3] and then a mini-tour of Japan in 2007.[4]

The label also released a compilation album, World of Expectation, featuring Goldblade and Roovel Oobik in the same year. The Japan trip attracted interest from BMG Japan who having heard the album demo's had requested a fully mixed and mastered copy. The band split up during this process without any official announcement although a review of the band's final gig[5] goes some way to explaining the fractures that were appearing. The album remained unreleased although it was given the catalogue number SVRCD006.[6]

The label had already signed acts such as the avant garde indie jazz outfit, Eveline, from Bologna, Italy and the singer-songwriter, Steph Fraser.

The label has continued to release music which eschews the mainstream and has focused much of its energy into developing the careers of Steph Fraser in the UK and Canada and also Man-made Noise in Japan. Man-made Noise embarked on a 20 date tour of Japan,[7] and will be returning for a second tour in October 2009. Fraser toured Canada in August 2008 and showcased at Canadian Music Week.[8] in 2008 and 2009.

The label is distributed physically in the UK and Worldwide by Code 7,[9] and digitally by Believe.[10]

2009 saw the release of the label's first DVD, which formed part of the package for the release of the CD by IT.[11]

In 2010 and 2011, the label focused more on progressive rock, and moved away from commercial genres. The first of this new direction was the release by Dropshard,[12] with their concept album, Anywhere But Home, issued on 15 February 2011.

In 2013, the label added a third progressive rock band to its roster.[13] Machines Dream are a progressive rock band from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada. Their debut album Machines Dream was made available free on the Aurovine digital music platform.[14]

Artists past and present edit

Discography edit

  • Ernest – Pimps, B**ches (and Superheroes) EP (SVRCD000, 2005)
  • Ernest – Puppies EP (SVRCD001, 2006)
  • Cascade Sounds – Hope in Sound EP (SVRCD003, 2007)
  • Eveline – Waking Up Before Dawn (SVRCD004, 2008)
  • Steph Fraser – Purple Sun EP (SVRCD005, 2008)
  • Ernest – Crash Tested (Unreleased Album) (SVRCD006, 2008)
  • Man-Made Noise – Man-made Noise (SVRCD007, 2008)
  • Steph Fraser – Pretend EP (SVRCD008, 2009)
  • Andy Stedman – "You Keep Me Up 'Till 3 O'Clock" single (SVRCD009, 2009)
  • IT – Departure CD/DVD (SVRCD010, 2009)
  • Litterbug – Speaking Through The Gaps (SVRCD011, 2009)
  • IT – Over & Out (SVRCD012, 2009)
  • Steph Fraser – Recession Proof EP (SVRCD013,2010)
  • Aron Paul – The Stranger I Know (SVRCD014, 2010)
  • Man-made Noise – Photocopy Machine single (SVRCD015, 2010)
  • Aron Paul – Angel Calling (SVRCD016, 2010)
  • Dropshard – Anywhere But Home (SVRCD017, 2011)
  • Dropshard – Silk (AUROEX035, 2014)
  • Machines Dream – Immunity (AUROEX044, 2014)
  • Nth Ascension – Ascension Of Kings (AUROEX045, 2014)

Compilations edit

  • World of Expectation (SVRCD002)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Strummer Reviews – Prog Rock, Post Rock, Post Punk, Alternative – Strummer Reviews – the latest independent music reviews". Strummerlive.net. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  2. ^ [1] Archived 24 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Manchester – Entertainment – Dale's diary". BBC. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Ernest set to play Shibuya, Tokyo shows hosted by Sonic Vista". Band Weblogs. 29 October 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Ernest, Unspeakable Easels, Dear Thief – DeBees 29th Nov 07 – Reviews (Live) – Strummer Reviews – the latest independent music reviews". Strummerlive.net. 9 December 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  7. ^ "Man-Made Noise". Man-Made Noise. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Canadian Music Week 2013". Cmw.net. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Code7Music, Music Distribution company". Code7music.com. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Believe, Sounds like you". Believedigital.com. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Spacehouse :: IT". Spacehouse.tv. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Home". Dropshard.net. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Machines Dream join Sonic Vista". sonicvistamusic.co.uk. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Machines Dream Aurovine Page". aurovine.com. Retrieved 9 November 2013.

External links edit