“I was born in the ’90s and all I remember as a kid is how my dad would have Ozzy, INXS, Bowie, and KISS blaring through his soundsystem.”
“As a 2-year-old in diapers, I didn’t care how the music played. I didn’t even know what music actually WAS, I just knew it made me happy; it filled me with joy. As I got older and my CD collection grew, my dad brought me into his office, or “Man Cave” per se, and said, “Come here, I want to show you how true musicianship and artistry sounds on vinyl.”
He put on U2’s 1980 Another Time, Another Place: Live at The Marquee London, and my whole world changed; the clarity of Bono’s voice, the soaring of Edge’s guitar. The sound of that vinyl had such a beautiful and full mix that it completely filled me with inspiration, passion. “I Will Follow” hooked me, and I fell in love. My dad gave me that vinyl to start my collection, because he knew I was hooked.
At the age of 20, I made an impulsive decision to move to Brooklyn. I had never lived away from home before, so it was a pretty big deal. Dad drove me all the way as Mom waited patiently for text and call updates. I had packed my life, and my first and only vinyl was sitting safely on my lap throughout the whole ride.
Living in Brooklyn was mentally and physically draining. But my roommate Ryan (who is my best friend still and not to mention… had a dope turntable) made life a little bit easier. He had a vinyl collection for days and inspired me to build onto mine. I went and bought two records with the money I DIDN’T have. The Arctic Monkey’s AM and Walk The Moon’s Talking is Hard. I remember sitting on the living room/ kitchen/ hallway floor (because our apartment was so small, each common room was rolled into one) and drinking wine out of the bottle and playing those records when I had a hard day, or when I just wanted to dance and forget everything.
Once my grandparents passed, I was blessed enough to go through their record collection and take what I wanted. Mind you, this collection was HUGE and I have yet to go through all of it. But I remember sitting on my grandparents floor, looking through everything and from doing so, I learned more about them. My Paw had everything from old school bluegrass, to Ray Charles, to Andrea Bocelli. And my Mamaw had compilations from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and her church vinyl. I hope from these examples, you somewhat have a visual of my grandparents, because they were the sweetest, and every time I listen to their collection, whatever it may be, I feel they are there with me.
My collection has grown; from purchases I have made, to gifts from friends, to records being passed down from loved ones. I think the most amazing thing about having vinyl is the fact that there is a certain veil of nostalgia that covers each record. The moment you listen to it you are flooded with memories. How you obtained that record. How you felt when you first heard the needle meet the vinyl. Where you were at that time of your life.
Seeing someone’s vinyl collection is like reading through their diary… it is a very personal and intimate thing. And I think it is beautiful when you can connect with someone, living or dead, just by holding a record in your hand. Pretty priceless, huh?”
—Julia Lauren Bullock
“Anti Socialite,” the new single from The Foxies is in stores now, to be followed by the “Growing Up Is Dead” EP in stores May 29, 2020.
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PHOTO: CHANCE EDWARDS
