# Six Degrees Records

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

## History

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. 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.
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.

## Motto

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. 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. 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.

## Genres

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

## Awards and nominations

| 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

* Alice Russell
* Azam Ali
* Ballaké Sissoko
* Banco de Gaia
* Bebel Gilberto
* Ben Neill
* Beto Villares
* Bob Forrest
* Bobi Céspedes
* Bombay Dub Orchestra
* Bossacucanova
* Brownout
* Celso Fonseca
* Céu
* Cheb i Sabbah
* Choying Drolma & Steve Tibbetts
* Cibelle
* Curumin
* Da Cruz
* Darol Anger
* David Starfire
* Dawn Landes
* DJ Cam
* DJ Spooky
* Dirtwire
* Dom La Nena
* Egyptian Project
* Ekova
* Euphoria
* Gaudi
* Great American Canyon Band
* Issa Bagayogo
* Jeff Stott
* Jorane
* Karsh Kale
* Kassé Mady Diabaté
* Lal Meri
* Lenine
* Loga Ramin Torkian
* Meklit
* Michael Franti & Spearhead
* MIDIval Punditz
* Natacha Atlas
* Niyaz
* Ojos de Brujo
* Pacifika
* Patato
* Piers Faccini
* Rara Avis
* Rob Swift
* Shrift
* SILVA
* Silvana Kane
* Sonantes
* Spanish Harlem Orchestra
* Suba
* The Dø
* The Orb
* The Real Tuesday Weld
* The Silver Lake Chorus
* Tweaker
* Undersea Poem
* Vieux Farka Touré
* Vincent Segal
* Warren Cuccurullo & Ustad Sultan Khan
* Willy Porter
* Yiddish Glory
* Zomba Prison Project
* Zuco 103