{{Short description|British independent record label}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Use British English|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox record label | name = Sonic Cathedral | founded = {{start date and age|2004}} | founder = Nathaniel Cramp | distributor = Cargo Records | genre = Shoegaze, dream pop | country = United Kingdom | location = London | website = https://soniccathedral.co.uk }}
'''Sonic Cathedral''' is a British independent record label with a focus on shoegaze.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/jul/27/popandrock|title=Diamond gazers|website=The Guardian|first=Jude|last=Rogers|date=27 July 2007|accessdate=5 October 2024}}</ref>
== History == Originally started as a club night by ex-NME journalist Nathaniel Cramp in October 2004,<ref name="DiS">{{cite web|url=https://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4136606-shoegaze-week--label-focus-25--sonic-cathedral|title=Shoegaze Week: Label Focus #25: Sonic Cathedral|website=Drowned In Sound|first=Dom|last=Gourlay|date=20 April 2009|accessdate=5 October 2024}}</ref> it became a record label in 2006 after offering to put out a 7" single for Mark Gardener of Ride.<ref name=Clash20>{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/scene-celebration-sonic-cathedral-at-20/|title=Scene Celebration: Sonic Cathedral At 20|website=Clash|first=Robin|last=Murray|date=2 October 2024|accessdate=5 October 2024}}</ref>
The first edition of the club night was held at The Legion on Old Street, in East London, and featured a DJ set by The Telescopes and a live performance by The Radio Dept.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/opinion-and-essays/black-sky-thinking/shoegaze-revival-sonic-cathedral/|website=The Quietus|title=Shoegaze Revivals I Have Known, by Sonic Cathedral's Nat Cramp|first=Nathanial|last=Cramp|date=7 October 2024|access-date=2 October 2025}}</ref>
Over the first few years as a label it continued to just put out 7" records, by bands such as School of Seven Bells,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/labels/label-profile-4-sonic-cathedral-33847|website=The Line of Best Fit|title=Label Profile #4 // Sonic Cathedral|first=Adrian|last=Mules|date=10 August 2010|accessdate=5 October 2024}}</ref> Maps, and M83.<ref name="DiS"/> In 2009 these were compiled on ''Cathedral Classics Volume 1''.<ref name="DiS"/> That year the label released its first album, the UK edition of ''Unknown Colors'' by Swedish band Sad Day For Puppets.<ref name="DiS"/>
In 2013 the label released a solo mini-album by Dean Wareham (of Galaxie 500, Luna, and Dean & Britta), titled ''Emancipated Hearts'', followed by a self-titled full-length album in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/bakers-dozen/dean-wareham-galaxie-500-favourite-albums/|title=This Is My Music: Dean Wareham's Favourite Albums|website=The Quietus|first=April Clare|last=Welsh|date=12 May 2014|accessdate=5 October 2024}}</ref>
On 18 May 2014, a reformed Slowdive performed a surprise live set at the label's 10th anniversary concert at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/slowdive-5-1239373|title=Slowdive play first gig in nearly 20 years in London|website=NME|first=Leonie|last=Cooper|date=19 May 2014|access-date=2 October 2025}}</ref>
In October 2020 the label released a solo album by Andy Bell of Ride, named ''The View From Halfway Down''. This was followed by a second in 2022, ''Flicker''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/andy-bell-announces-his-new-solo-album-flicker-and-shares-something-like-love-3134890|title=Andy Bell announces his new solo album 'Flicker' and shares 'Something Like Love'|website=NME|first=Sam |last=Moore|date=11 January 2022|accessdate=5 October 2024}}</ref>
In October 2023 the label released ''Pearlies'', the debut solo album of Emma Anderson of Lush.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lush's Emma Anderson Announces Debut Solo Album Pearlies, Shares Video for New Song |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/lushs-emma-anderson-announces-debut-solo-album-pearlies-shares-new-song-listen/ |first=Jazz|last=Monroe|date=20 July 2023|access-date=5 October 2024 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2261300/shoegaze-women-pioneers-emma-anderson-deb-googe-rachel-goswell/columns/sounding-board/|title=Shoegaze's Pioneering Women Are Still Going Strong|website=Stereogum|date=29 April 2024|first=Lesa|last=Hannah|accessdate=9 October 2024}}</ref>
In February 2024 it released the first full-length album by London band Whitelands, ''Night-Bound Eyes Are Blind To The Day''. In June 2024 NME called it one of the best debut albums of the year so far.<ref name="NME24">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/best-debut-albums-of-2024-so-far-radar-3768653|title=The 10 best debut albums of 2024… so far!|website=NME|date=26 June 2024|accessdate=5 October 2024}}</ref>
In 2024 Sonic Cathedral celebrated its 20th anniversary with four concerts in London, featuring artists such as Slowdive, Ride, and A Place to Bury Strangers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/news/slowdive-and-ride-to-play-sonic-cathedrals-20th-birthday-146525/|website=Uncut|title=Slowdive and Ride to play Sonic Cathedral's 20th birthday|first=Sam|last=Richards|date=16 July 2024|accessdate=5 October 2024}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:British independent record labels Category:Alternative rock record labels Category:Indie rock record labels Category:Record labels established in 2004
{{UK-record-label-stub}} {{Independent-record-label-stub}}