Sain (Welsh forAudio,Welsh pronunciation:[saɪn]), in full –Sain (Recordiau) Cyf. (Audio (Records) Ltd) is a Welshrecord label, which took part in the Welsh folk revival.
Sain was founded in Cardiff in 1969 by singers and songwritersDafydd Iwan andHuw Jones [cy][1] and businessmanBrian Morgan Edwards, as a home for Welsh-language rock and folk music, which was otherwise finding it difficult to 'break through' in the UK market. Sain is regarded as being the first Welsh record company to be self-sufficient in terms of independence from other British companies, and laid the foundation for subsequent Welsh labels.[1]
The company released its first single in October 1969, Huw Jones' "Dŵr" (Welsh forWater), a song about the drowning of theTryweryn Valley, in the north of Wales, to formLlyn Celyn reservoir. Many of the company's early releases were recorded at theRockfield Studios inMonmouthshire. In the early 1970s Sain moved to theCaernarfon area, and opened their first recording studio in 1975 nearLlandwrog. Musicians who have recorded for the label includeMeic Stevens,Geraint Jarman[1] andBryn Terfel.[2]
Today Sain remains the biggest producer of music of Wales, covering traditional, folk, rock, pop, hip-hop, rap, country and classical music.
The label has several subsidiaries including Crai, which was founded in 1988 and has released music byYr Anhrefn,Mike Peters andBig Leaves, as well as a series ofCrai Tecno compilations featuring Welshdance music artists.[1][3]
Rasal Cyf. is the latest label, and this signs young Welsh bands.
Maartin Allcock has produced many Sain albums. The label's Chief Executive is Dafydd Roberts, the harp and flute player of the folk bandAr Log.[4][5]
In 2017 Sain released over 7,000 audio clips and 498 album covers under aCreative Commons licence. These are available onWikimedia Commons.[6]
