How owning my first vinyl record changed my life

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Some time last year August, I ordered a limited edition Chronixx vinyl record because he released new renditions of some of my favourite songs only on vinyl. I didn’t even have a record player at the time, and I had no idea what the renditions even sounded like, but something about the possibility of having exclusive access to my favourite artiste’s music compelled me to buy the vinyl on the spot.

Two weeks ago, I finally got a record player to listen to my limited edition Chronology vinyl and it was worth the wait. It was also my first time ever using a record player for myself, and heck is it cool! There’s something about the analog nature of this media form that really intrigues me and makes the music feel more real.

What’s so special about a vinyl record?

Have you ever used a record player before?

It’s pretty fascinating actually — to see how such an old piece of technology has become relevant again in this day and age where we can consume hours and hours of music with just one click (and for a monthly subscription fee less than half the price of a single vinyl record.)

Now having my own record player though, and last week upping my collection to three (3) vinyl records, I get it.

There’s something special about the tangibility of the music that is communicated through purchasing the vinyl. Something about having 4-5 songs on one side of the vinyl record each, and having to be present when listening to the music is also super engaging. There’s something special about having to place and remove the record player needle and flip the vinyl to listen to more songs that makes owning a vinyl record of your favourite album all worth it.

To me, what’s communicated is that there’s something special about having something tangible. Something not only physical, but something also something fragile and permanent, rather than tons of music on a streaming platform.

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Being limited, tangible and permanent make a vinyl special

My options to listen on vinyl are limited to three albums - Chronology by Chronixx, In Search of Zion by Protoje and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Ms. Lauryn Hill.

The first two I’d listened to tons of times before, but if I’m being honest, I hadn’t fully sat down and listened to the third album I listed from start to finish yet. I know most of the songs from the album (as we all subconsciously do, I believe), but I’d never actually given it the time it deserved in a good listening session. Now I have.

And guess what?

On the vinyl cover sleeves, Lauryn Hill printed all the lyrics for each of the songs on the record so you would be able to follow along. Reading all those lyrics as I listened to the songs made me a much more attentive and appreciative audience, and I felt like I was actually appreciating the music.

And before you say it, of course you can do this with digital music. AND, it’s 10x easier to follow along the lyrics tab as you do as well.

But after you listen to that album, it’s done and the next album starts to play.

When the vinyl finishes though, that’s it - silence. You either put down another record or you’ll be listening to the needle scratching.

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What can we takeaway from the vinyl resurgence?

I want to be clear that I don’t say all of this to sound like a music snob or audiophile. I love listening to Spotify music through my earphones and speakers just as much.

However, I do think there’s something to be taken away from this, and that is to remember that music itself is a creative art.

It’s funny how all my newsletters treat with the same underlying topics, but I wrote about this a few weeks ago in a piece called “Sometimes I don’t play music in my Airpods”.

Essentially though, for me, collecting vinyl records breathes new life into music as a creative art, because it has been so commercialised to the point where we often don’t appreciate it for what it really is and can be — a release, a stress-reliever, an emotional experience.

Live music does this same thing for me, but as a musician myself, it’s cool to [finally] encounter another form of music media (not a new form) that allows me to re-connect with music as an art form and not just a hobby.

Conclusion

It’s curious to think about, but when music only existed in analog formats, listening to it was a privilege. You had to have enough money to buy the records or mixtapes from your favourite artistes, and you had to have the device to listen to them too.

Digitisation of music has largely meant the democratization of music too, but to some extent, it has also devalued the art form because of how accessible it has become.

Curiously enough, music isn’t the only thing that’s undergone this process.

For some reason, the more we have access to things, the less we appreciate them. Think about that age-old quote — “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. The less you interact with someone or something, the more you appreciate the times when you do interact with them.

So for me, the takeaway from my record player and vinyls — which in this day and age are now once again becoming a privilege to own — is to reflect on the things in my life that I’m taking for granted by having too much access to.

Whether it’s people in your life, simple comforts in your life like Wi-Fi, streamable music or other forms of media, consider what you have unfettered access to, and consider what your life would be like without it.

Then, just take a small moment to appreciate it, and express your gratitude — especially if it’s a person or relationship. Nothing is really permanent. 😊 

Until next Sunday,
Justin