“Growing up, I didn’t get to have that classic vinyl experience most musicians have. I was born in 1994, so my first musical discoveries didn’t include a turntable or rummaging through my Dad’s dusty vinyl collection. My childhood relationship with music wasn’t nearly as romantic as it would have been if I had been born 10 years earlier. Makes me feel a bit scorned!”
“In third grade I would wake up an hour earlier than I needed to for school so I could watch MTV music videos, and I would make my mom drive me to our local music store so I could buy new CDs. I had the millennial version of discovering my love for music—which is a little less magical. Despite the lack of magic I still fell head over heals with music. Whether I was listening, playing guitar, piano, writing, recording, or performing, I always made sure I was surrounded by music. I decided very early on that I’d make a career for myself playing music.
After being signed to a major record label for five years and being completely disappointed, heartbroken, and unsatisfied with the experience, I began the process of leaving the label which I knew would leave me multiple months where I’d have to lay low and put my music career on hold. I figured I’d better get a real job so I could pay my bills. This was a very depressing time for me, so it was 100% necessary that I find a job that somehow involved music.
There was this used record store opening up in Venice, CA by my house, and one day while they were setting up the shelves, I introduced myself to the manager and handed him my empty resume. I found out shortly thereafter I’d somehow gotten the job.
For the first time in my life I experienced what it was like to listen to my favorite albums on a turntable. Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy, Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited, Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love, etc. As I would alphabetize the records for hours on end, I’d interrupt the process to open up records that caught my eye to revel in the artwork—especially the psychedelic ones.
I worked with older record store geeks/music enthusiasts who filled my head with musical trivia and awesome music-related stories from “back in the day.” I would listen to all of these incredible tales of seeing legendary bands play for five dollars, or standing in line around the block to get the new Beatles record to discover what Sgt. Pepper sounded like for the first time sitting around a turntable with their friends. I’d foam at the mouth with envy listening to these stories. I missed such an incredible time when music was nurtured, respected, and worshipped—but working at this used record store gave me glimpses into the past and helped me gain a real understanding of rock ‘n roll history.
I worked there for almost 9 months, and because of that I’ve expanded my knowledge of music and vinyl immensely. Now I’m spoiled and have a hard time listening to music in any other format!”
—Alexa Melo
Alexa Melo’s debut self-titled full length release arrives in stores tomorrow, June 2, 2015.
