“When I was a kid, growing up in Chicago, I discovered the vinyl music library at the Old Town School of Folk Music.”
“This was my first real introduction to vinyl. I would go down on the weekends, sit in their 1980s library chairs, check out record after record, and listen for hours. Nothing compares to the feeling of hearing new styles of music for the first time. I was listening to delta blues, folk, and R&B—and on vinyl, the medium it was intended for.
I can recall vividly the tactile feeling of removing the precious object from its case, placing it on the turntable, dropping the needle onto its surface, then watching it spin as the sound saturated my ears with its thick and vibrant melodies. Something about this experience is extremely personal and—at times—religious.
Today, music is largely digital. Cassettes have made their departure and now CDs are obsolete. The act of listening to music is becoming less and less involved. We hit a button on our smart phone and it randomly plays tracks for us. Half the time we barely interact with the music we listen to. It can feel disconnected and unintentional.
Listening to vinyl takes commitment and intentionality. We commit to buying the record. We commit to finding it on our shelf, taking it out of its sleeve, placing it on the turntable, dropping the needle, listening, really listening, flipping the record and then starting all over again. It gives us the experience of being truly present with the music we love.”
—Jessie Antonick
Heart Creak, the debut release from Pony Hunt is in stores now.
