How many records would you say are in your collection?
Discogs says 4,837, which doesn’t include a few blocks of my label’s backstock, a bunch of spoken word/ sound effects, records I didn’t add to my collection, and stuff I need to get rid of.
Do you consider yourself a ‘collector’?
That’s a nice word for it. Let’s go with that.
What is your playback setup like?
I have had a basic studio setup for ages: a pair of Adams A7 studio monitors with a smaller M-Audio sub (I’ll upgrade to an Adams at some point). My turntable setup shares the same section of my basement, 3 Technics (Ortofon needles) with a 3-channel Rane mixer that I use for layering records for my radio show.
What was the very first record you purchased?
Future Sound of London’s Dead Cities in 1998 when I was in high school. Great record!!!
Tell us about the most prized record in your collection.
This is tough. I could brag about some super limited release that I lucked out on. But I’ll go with Marc and Ted “Tessellations” that my label put out in 2012. Marc’s art was chef’s kiss, and the 2-color silk screening went well. I love that record, and both artists are humble geniuses. Wonderful people!
What makes you want to purchase an album on vinyl as opposed to any other medium?
If you treat records well and have a decent setup, playing music on vinyl is bliss. I love how tactile records are. There’s a timing piece that I enjoy as well, each side usually being 15-20 min. But the answer is probably rigidity, vinyl being the format I chose as a teenager and I’ve stuck with it for OEP for just shy of 20 years now.
What are your thoughts on the “inconvenience” of vinyl?
Riding my bike to my show on the other side of town with 2 hours of vinyl on my back is a delight. Even more fun is lugging turntables and a mixer to live events. I have to be in the right mood to put records away, so I end up having piles leaning against my different record shelves that need to be stocked. The piles have gotten out of control a few times.
Have you ever considered digitizing the collection and selling it off?
Oh yes, but I don’t have the patience to digitize. Records go for a stupid amount of money. I’m probably too stubborn to go through with it, especially while OEP lives.
What album has your favorite artwork and why?
Lemon Jelly made some super creative packages and artwork. Check out the Soft / Rock 7”, and Lemonjelly.ky.
What do you look for when you go record digging?
Vintage shops tend to be great for weird spoken word records. Used bins at most record shops are where you can really score! Most shops have a speciality to tune into. My favourite is when I know the people working to get new recommendations.
Where do you buy your music these days?
COVID plus having a son changed my habit from visiting record stores in town to primarily going through Bandcamp and labels directly, as well as Discogs / eBay if necessary. Paying individual shipping plus the cost of vinyl is getting out of hand, but it’s pretty much the only way to go for most of the new music I love. Some releases sell out in under an hour.
What are your thoughts on limited editions, original releases, and reissues?
That depends on whether I own it or not. Limited editions make sense for most labels. I’m down for reissues if they sound good. I don’t expect crystal clarity on vinyl, but some of the reissues in the past decade sound awful.
What were the most memorable liner notes that you’ve ever read?
I remember opening the Peace Orchestra gatefold for the first time in my undergrad.
What record do you think you could play all the time?
This depends on my mood. If I want to chill out with myself or my preschool-aged son, my ambient go-to is Eluvium’s “Life through Bombardment” or Warmth’s “Parallel Inflection”. I’ve been wanting a beat recently, so Ras G’s “Ghetto Sci-Fi” and Funkmammoth’s “Retirement Resort” have been scratching that itch. Max Richter’s “24 postcards…” if I’m going for the feels. Every once in a while, when I’m dysregulated from working too much or just grumpy, I lean into harsher noise like Black to Comm’s “Seven Horses…” or Jefre Cantu-Ledesma’s “Love is a Stream”. I have been loving what Sic Records has been releasing with their mix of vapor and hip hop.
How is your collection organized?
I got the motivation to change my organization when you asked me to do this interview about a year ago. It used to be all over the place, more in eras of my life than by genre. Only made sense to me, I knew where most stuff was. It was getting out of hand, though, and needed to be completely reorganized. It took months, with multiple re-dos. Now, it is alphabetical, mostly by broad genres, either by artist or label. I have a blocks/shelves of:
– more beat-oriented stuff (downtempo, IDM)
– ambient / instrumental / experimental
– instrumental hip hop
– synthwave / vaporwave / futurefunk / lofi
– VGM / soundtrack / chiptune
– Spoken word / sound effects
How has vinyl impacted your life?
My poor wallet.
What will happen with your collection when you’re gone?
I hope I will sell it off before my family has to do it for me.
