Celebrated U.K. indie-pop label Sarah Records — which released music from bands such as The Field Mice, Another Sunny Day and Boyracer between 1987 and 1995 — is the subject of a new 4-years-in-the-making feature-length documentary that aims to show how “you can run a successful business without surrendering personal ethics.”
Directed by Lucy Dawkins, “My Secret World: The Story of Sarah Records” — which is now seeking distribution — features interviews with label founders Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes and members from a host of bands that recorded for the imprint, as well as K Records founder Calvin Johnson.
As the filmmakers explain on the project’s website:
Sarah Records was a truly independent record label founded by Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes in Bristol, England. Active between 1987-1995, Sarah Records set out to be different from other record labels. Committed to socialism and feminism and influenced by the fanzines and DIY attitude of the 70s punk scene, Clare and Matt were as vocal about their causes as their music. They were brave and uncompromising, refusing to play the music industry game to the very end and proved you can run a successful business without surrendering personal ethics.
Sarah Records released a wide variety of music by bands based all over the UK and overseas. The fact that the label continues to attract new fans is testament to the quality and breadth of Sarah’s discography.
“My Secret World – The Story Of Sarah Records” is the first feature length documentary to explore this legendary, influential and often misunderstood label. Now the label founders, former Sarah band members, music critics and those that have been inspired by the label tell their story.
Below, check out the first full trailer for the documentary:
