About me: I’m a full time music nerd, part-time artist, and menace on Instagram.
Favorite genres: Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Rock, Metal, Country, Folk, and everything in between.
Favorite musicians: Michael Jackson, Prince, Nas, Joni Mitchell, Judas Priest, Madlib.. too many to name! That Snap White character is pretty dope, too. I like his beats (lol).
Q&A:
When and why did you start collecting vinyl?
My uncle gifted me his copy of “Off the Wall” and from there my collecting journey began. I started visiting local record stores, and soon after that, my Mom got me a cheap all-in-one record player for Christmas. I’ve been an album listener since I first heard “Confessions” on CD back in 2005, and I love that the vinyl format forces you to sit with albums.
Describe your current vinyl setup.
I currently have an all Yamaha setup, except for my cartridge. The turntable and speakers were imported from Japan, but the amp and subwoofer were purchased here in the US. The best way to describe Yamaha’s sound is that it’s very bright. The detail and clarity is amazing and it really shows in the high-end products. Add that with (in my opinion) the best cartridge ever made, the Pickering XV-15/625E, and you’ll get great sound.
Where are your favorite places to crate dig and buy records online?
Any record store that has a bargain bin section as well as thrifting. Also, Facebook Marketplace is highly underrated. You can buy someone’s whole collection on there for cheap. As for websites, I recommend deepdiscount.com and ccmusic.com. When searching for records online, I check both those websites and compare prices to find the cheapest option.
What vinyl collecting propaganda are you NOT falling for?
I have started to notice people now more than ever are collecting for clout and aesthetics, not the actual music. Some people are getting signed vinyl of artists they don’t even like just for 15 seconds of attention. That artist probably doesn’t mean anything to them, so they’ll just sell it on eBay and Discogs overpriced. That sucks for the people that genuinely care about those artists.
Grails are also annoying because realistically, anything can be a “grail” to someone regardless if they spent $20 or $200. I get owning rare records from a collector’s standpoint, but I also feel that if the majority of your records are albums you don’t have much personal connection to, you will start to lose interest.
Last thing is this new trend of incomplete tracklists pressed to vinyl. Don’t preorder half-assed records that only have 5 out of 30 songs on them, guys!
What was it like hearing your own music on wax for the first time? What inspired the album art design?
It was incredible just knowing that I could actually get the album pressed on wax (free of charge)! I wasn’t expecting much going into it because the manufacturer could only do lathe cuts and they get a bad rep, but when I dropped the needle the first time, I was absolutely astounded by the quality!
The album art was actually inspired by Jazz album covers from the 60s and 70s. For instance, Miles Davis put Cicely Tyson on the “Sorcerer” album cover and Donald Byrd had many album covers featuring black women. That imagery always resonated with me. Shoutout to my best friend Diara, she’s the face of my new album where I’m channeling that same energy. Check it out below!
What albums inspired you during the making of your latest album?
“Donuts” by J. Dilla will forever be the main inspiration for any beat tape that I make. Madlib is the reason why I make beats, but “Donuts” showed me what can really be done with a bunch of instrumentals. 9th Wonder and Pete Rock are some of my favorites as well. I think the world would be much happier if more people listened to beat tapes. It’s the closest thing to Jazz we have in Hip-Hop. Instrumental music in general really needs to be more appreciated by the masses.
What’s the most recent addition to your collection?
I got the new “Channel Orange” vinyl record that Frank Ocean finally dropped coming in soon. I’ve also recently purchased two Country albums that I didn’t get to last year which I’m glad I finally have been able to listen to. One is “Countin the Miles” by Jesse Daniel and the other is “Cold Beer & Country Music” by Zach Top. If you love 80s and 90s inspired Neo-Traditional Country, I highly recommend them. I love what they’re doing.
Is there an album you’re still trying to track down?
An OG copy of “Automatic for The People” by R.E.M. is one I would love to have for sure. They’re one of my favorite bands of all time. Even though I haven’t heard the album yet, I just know I’ll enjoy any 80s or 90s album from them. It has “Everybody Hurts” on there and I love that song! (lol)
Any tips, hacks, or advice for fellow collectors?
Just have fun with it, man. Collect what you want and make connections with your local record stores or through social media. There’s a lot of knowledgeable music heads on social media so take advantage of the free game. Also, never be afraid to explore other genres you would otherwise ignore. There’s so much music out there and you’ll be shocked at what is over the horizon, so take a chance.
Lastly, don’t lose yourself in this hobby because it’s easy to conform and succumb to groupthink mentality and crappy business practices. You are an individual and your unique perspective on the music is important. Never forget that we the people control the value of music.
***Thanks for tuning into to our vinyl talk with the super opinionated and insightful Big Pat a.k.a Snap White! To hear more where that came from, follow him on IG @patsvinylcorner. You can also purchase a copy of his album on vinyl here. Hit up @soultaurean on IG if you’d like to be featured next!
