Introducing Show Notes

Novantus Wavesound Records described themselves as a local record label with international ambitions.

“We are a proper record label,” assured Wavesound boss Leigh Saunter, “We record, produce, manage and nurture and develop bands and solo artists.”

'EMI lite'

Likening his company to an ‘EMI lite’ Wavesound records solely look at signing Jersey acts.

To date they’ve signed just one band, Laurel Canyon, but they’re got a couple more artists in the pipeline who could have contracts soon.

“We’re not going to be taking on that many this year as we don’t want to spread ourselves too thin,” he explained.

Distribution and beyond

Depending on the contract they sign, Wavesound will provide bands with a number of different services.

“Some bands may be very simple and they’re just looking for a distribution point.

“So they would come to us and we would take their material, brand it for them and get it out there,” Leigh said.

At the moment the company will be looking to the internet, and the likes of iTunes, as the main distribution platform for artists they sign, hoping to get their material heard both in the UK and the USA.

Web-management

Wavesound could also provide web-management programme for a band, which would involve managing their profiles on social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace.

Wavesound also have their own recording studio where they can produce and record tracks and albums for the acts they’ve signed.

“It’s interesting, we’re working on a couple of projects taking live bands into the studio and eventually we may be taking studio bands and putting them live,” said the former A&R guy.

Number one

With plenty of experience in the record industry Leigh helped Jersey band Smokin’ Vincents to number one in the Coca Cola chart last year.

He said he’s there to help bands make it to the big time, not just make money from them.

And on a small island with a small record company he admits there will be a time when successful bands will need to move on to bigger deals.

“We’re a nice record label,” he described, “Some of the bands need tutoring, mentoring and developing."

'We're like a gas-pedal'

“We can only do so much over here for them. Ultimately we’re sort of like a gas-pedal for them. We’ll get them out there, we’ll try and get them known and we’ll get them downloaded.

“We will, hand on heart, look to push them to an even bigger company after us. We do have connections.”

Leigh has no doubt there is enough talent in Jersey to warrant setting up an entire record label for island bands and artists.

“There is so much talent here, especially if we can hand our artists on and keep them coming through. Jersey has a wealth of talent.”