“My first encounter with records was when I was 10 years old visiting relatives I rarely got to see, and viewed as unicorn humans.”
“My family would visit my much older cousin, Sarah, from time to time who lived with my Gran in San Bernardino. Sarah always had the coolest and most bizarre things that created light, sound, and wonderful aesthetics. One of these sound making contraptions was a record player. Sarah showed me the different elements of this strange device. There was a black flying saucer-frisbee I recall wondering how far it would fly if I threw it. This frisbee sat on an antique looking box with funny speakers built-in. When she showed me the needle and how it went along groves in the disk I was baffled and a bit dismayed (considering my fear of needles). I had never seen such a crude looking device create sound.
That multi-sensory experience changed my perspective on music and how it was captured and able to be heard. The notion of a physical thing creating sound that I could see in action was a new concept, and ground breaking for my little brain. To this day, the notion of sound in a physical world and how we produce it is beautiful to me.
As I became a young teen I became intrigued. Observing older teens wearing black leather jackets with rad metal pins shaped like guitars and daggers thumbing through vinyl. Sweater-wearing smug geeks dropping names of bands I had never heard of (and apparently was supposed to).
At the time, I had hundreds of CDs. Books of them. The idea of these large individual records was alluring, but confusing for me, as technology was moving towards smaller devices and here were these people somehow finding space for a record player and all the records in their homes. I was trying to understand the point of records and this apparent secret culture that I wanted to be a part of.
When I learned that vinyl could melt, I was like “Hell no.” It was inevitable I would end up destroying this sound device of a secret cult that I was not cool enough to own or understand. I still didn’t know how the fucking thing really worked and was much too shy to ask those cool and intimidating youth at the record store where to start.
Years later I dated this cool, super edgy girl who spun vinyl at a legendary dive in San Diego, The Ken Club. My fascination was rekindled, and it was time. I finally had an “in” to the cult of vinyl collectors. Elliott Smith, New Moon, was my first vinyl acquired the year it was released in 2007. Elliott Smith has been one the most influential musicians in my life. As a writer and lyricist, hearing his words come to life on vinyl gave texture to his sound and stories. The records gave an almost spiritual life to my dead hero, a presence to the art. I finally understood the fascination and the magic. I stepped through the threshold of a different element of sound and culture. My second vinyl was The Black Heart Procession, still one of my favorite bands.
I am now a singer/songwriter in an electropop duo, Body Salt. My co-creator Jon Bruhin and I hope to one day have our music pressed on the alluring disc. To create velvet sound for others to enter the room of ethereal waves that rise and envelop their audience. I will listen, cry, reminisce, and probably notice errors. That moment, if it ever comes, will complete my circle of experiences. It will not, however, end my experience with vinyl, but awaken a new journey.”
—Ezekiel Morphis
“Please Avoid Your Grave,” the new single from Body Salt is in stores now.
