Music has always been a big part of my life, even if I’m not an expert. I’ve often thought about running a record store, seeing it as a way to assert my personal preference (to myself, mostly) and a way to find likeminded folks. I find myself drawn to less popular artists, not to be different, but because it feels like a natural way to find people who think like me. If you’re into certain lesser-known acts, we might have more in common than just taste in music. It’s not about dismissing popular music, but when you already have a wide range of things you love, you’re less likely to be pulled in by what's easily available everywhere. It’s about finding those unexpected connections in a world that often feels too big and impersonal.
Running a record store isn’t easy, obviously, and there’s more to it than just selecting things to sell. With my intent to curate and with my personal desire to start conversations with friends on the things they actually like (which leads to a larger conversation on ‘why’s’ that go beyond the celebrity performer and the nature of the work, and what these pieces of art mean to our lives on the daily), I started a list project masquerading as a speculative record store. It’s my way to bring the dream to life, without the grunt work, at least for now.
Kindred Records a music catalog