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Six Degrees Records

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Six Degrees Records
Founded1996 (1996)
FounderPat Berry, Bob Duskis
Country of originU.S.
LocationSan Francisco, California
Official websitesixdegreesrecords.com

Six Degrees Records is an independent record label noted for its catalog of recordings from international musicians and vocalists.

History

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In 1996, former Windham Hill employees Pat Berry and Bob Duskis founded Six Degrees Records with the intention of promoting new trends in world music.[1] Originally affiliated with Island Records, Berry and Duskis achieved their first major success with the release of London-based tabla player Talvin Singh's influential compilation album Anokha - Soundz of the Asian Underground. Although Singh was not the only artist featured on the album, he was marketed as the focal point of the release. In this way, the media acquired a poster child upon which to lavish its attention, enabling album sales to approach 200,000 units.[citation needed]

Beyond its work with the Asian underground, Six Degrees Records has signed and promoted artists from around the world, placing a great emphasis on the promotion of hybrid dance music forms and innovative cross-cultural collaborations. Standout acts include Algerian-born and San Francisco based Cheb i Sabbah, Malians Issa Bagayogo and Vieux Farka Toure, Brazilians Bebel Gilberto and Céu, Egyptian-born and London based Natacha Atlas, and the Iranian Azam Ali. Gilberto's 2000 album Tanto Tempo was a particular highpoint, selling over a million copies and introducing Gilberto, the daughter of renowned musician João Gilberto, to a wider global audience.[2]

Motto

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Based in San Francisco, the label operates under the motto, "Everything is closer than you think," encapsulating their aim of introducing global artists to the American market alongside an embrace of the increased accessibility of musical media through digitization.[3] Beyond releasing music in digital formats and pursuing social media marketing opportunities, Berry and Duskis strongly promote the licensing of their artists' music for LGBT film, television and commercial use.[2] Nevertheless, artistic integrity remains a priority, and in a relatively short period of time, the label has developed a significant reputation by emphasizing creativity before commerce.[4]

Genres

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Artists under the label make music within a wide range of musical genres, from bossa nova, funk and folk, to electronic music and dubstep.[5]

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Recipient Result
2001 AFIM Indie Award Soundtrack Genghis Blues Music from the Motion Picture Won
2001 AFIM Indie Award Electronica Banco de Gaia Igizeh Won
2002 AFIM Indie Award Hip-Hop Michael Franti & Spearhead Stay Human Won
2010 Latin Grammy Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album Céu Vagarosa Nominated
2012 Latin Grammy Best Brazilian Contemporary Pop Album Céu Caravana Sereia Bloom Nominated
2012 A2IM Libera Awards Up and Comer of the Year The Dø Won
2016 Grammy Awards Best World Music Album Zomba Prison Project I Have No Everything Here Nominated
2016 Grammy Awards Best Remix Recording starRo Heavy Star Movin by Silver Lake Chorus Nominated
2018 Grammy Awards Best World Music Album Yiddish Glory The Lost Songs of World War II Nominated

Artists

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Six Degrees 100". Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  2. ^ a b Richard Gehr. "If Six Degrees Was Ten". eMusic. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Six Degrees Records". Groovemine. 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Six Degrees Records". SF Station. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  5. ^ "Sunday Groove: Six Degrees Records". Downbeatscape. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
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