By Blake Kim
Click. The soft sound of a needle lifting from my beautiful black record player resonates in the air. I get up and carefully lift the vinyl record–swiftly slipping it into its sleeve. I excitedly clutch another album cover and remove the record from its home. Attentively, I set it onto the turntable, lift its needle, and release it. I watch as the tiny grooves start spinning and eventually disappear, drowned away as magnificent melodies echo through the room.
Vinyl Record Collecting, a hobby I have picked up recently, has overtaken both my free time– and my wallet. While expensive, I can never bring myself to stop this pastime–sliding the record from its sleeve, feeling the weight in my hands, and hearing the gentle crackle as the needle meets the grooves. Since I was little, I have always loved music, whether it took the form of simply listening to music, watching concerts, or playing instruments. Of course, there are countless ways to listen to music for free, but there’s something about the experience of playing a vinyl record that doesn’t compare to streaming on Spotify. Each record has a story to tell, not just through its music, but through the artwork, imperfections, and the history it carries. It’s a physical representation of something I love, as opposed to a downloaded song on Apple Music.
Click. As the music fades into the next track, I pause for a moment to appreciate the artwork. The cover, with its colors and design, holds as much meaning as the melodies. I flip the record over, feeling the smooth surface, its grooves ready to tell the next story.
There’s a story behind every one of the vinyl records I purchase. Some remind me of the Amoeba Record store in San Francisco, where hundreds of thousands of perfect vinyl records line up in alphabetical order. There’s nothing more satisfying than eagerly running around a vinyl store, searching for the best album to buy and cherish. Some remind me of Christmas and birthdays; I adore watching friends and family excitedly hand me a fresh record, itching to be spun. Some even remind me of simple Target runs—where I fervently wait on the escalator (which takes an eternity), and hope for glorious options. Then, I turn my head and see the breathtaking sight of my favorite albums, and with no hesitation, I grab them off the shelf. While some stories might seem minuscule or unimportant, as I browse through my collection, I can reminisce on the wonderful tale every one of them presents.
Current Collection:
Blonde – Frank Ocean
Igor – Tyler the Creator
Call Me If You Get Lost – Tyler the Creator
Utopia – Travis Scott
good kid, m.A.A.d city – Kendrick Lamar
Swimming – Mac Miller
CTRL – SZA
Waiting to Spill – The Backseat Lovers
Dr. Feelgood – Mötley Crüe
Is This It – The Strokes
Hozier – Hozier
In Rainbows – Radiohead
Wants:
When We Were Friends – The Backseat Lovers (I really really really want this one 10/10 album)
Gemini Rights – Steve Lacy
Chromakopia – Tyler the Creator
To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
Rodeo – Travis Scott
The Melodic Blue (Deluxe) – Baby Keem
Channel Orange – Frank Ocean
Graduation – Kanye West
Nevermind – Nirvana
Apollo XXI – Steve Lacy
The Colour And The Shape – Foo Fighters
The Forever Story – JID
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar
Take Care – Drake
Flower Boy – Tyler the Creator
(The list goes on)
Click. The needle lifts and the record finds its resting place once more. I place it back in its sleeve with care, knowing that each play will add another layer to the story I’m creating. This ritual never gets old—each click is a promise that tomorrow will bring new music, new memories, and more to collect.
