Harp Samuels, The TVD First Date

“There’s a beauty to vinyl. Something nostalgic. It’s no wonder to me that it’s stayed around and is more popular than ever. It turns music into something important; something to stop for.”

“Growing up, we had a record player. My five siblings and I were fascinated with it. My Dad’s collection was much to be desired. We ended up listening to the instrumental band The Venturas constantly because it was basically all we had. I remember messing around on a record player at a friend’s place, trying to get those DJ style ‘squeaks’ and chipmunk vocals. We laughed for hours.

Mid last year, my Dad passed away. He was an avid music lover and a guitarist. Something I’ve thought about many times is the reality that my musicality comes from the very fact that my Dad introduced me to music at a young age, brought me my first guitar, a Mexican strat, when I was 14, and first loved music himself.

I’ll never forget the old school fuzz of those instrumental vinyl records rumbling through the house. The Bee Gees, The Beatles, Billy Joel, and all kinds of classical music, pumping from his office.

I’ve always felt some kind of a sentimental chill when an old song from my childhood comes on the radio. Just the other day I brought Simon and Garfunkel’s debut record on vinyl for my friend Jess. There’s something in those ‘larger than life’ covers, and the whole process of thumbing through music while you figure out exactly what you feel like listening to.”
—Harp Samuels