Tell us more about Defend Vinyl. What’s the vibe?

We specialise in new & used U.S. indie & alternative, punk & emo. Liverpool is a great city for record shops, with more opening all the time. However, I found I was having to order online more and more for the type of records I was after. I felt there was a gap in the market for a record shop in the city specialising in the type of music we do. From the start I wanted Defend Vinyl to be a welcoming, friendly, safe space for all. Hopefully, over the last nearly 7years, that’s what it’s become!

Can you remember the first record you sold in your shop?

Graham: I remember selling a friend Pup’s The Dream Is Over at the soft launch, (while simultaneously learning how to use the till!) Last sale was Yawners - Duplo. I’m really happy about this one as it was one of my favourite albums of last year.

Do you remember your first visit to a record shop? Did you pick up any records?

Graham: First record shop was Sound Trekin Bootle Strand shopping centre, at some point in the ‘80s. Years later, a friend told me that it was his dad’s shop, and that he had worked there when he was growing up! After Defend Vinyl opened, he helped me out for the first few weeks. So full circle, in a way.My first record was Too Good To Be Forgotten By Amazulu. / Eva: Admittedly, the first record I bought wasn’t in a record store! It was in Octopus Garden - a great vintage store in Belfast (I’m from Northern Ireland). It was Beach Boys Surfin’ USA. I was initially going to buy Jazz by Queen, but I traded it with a friend at the time. However, Octopus Garden did open a sister shop called Voodoo Soup Records in Belfast which was the first solely-record store I went to.

What is your favourite record shop (apart from your own!)

Graham: Probably Coretex in Kreuzberg, Berlin. Amazing location and incredible stock! Eva: Would have to be Voodoo Soup Records in Belfast. Such a staple every time I went to Belfast, and there’s a great selection. Staff always just let you do your own thing, which is nice. (Also, just a nostalgic place for me as it is where I got a lot of my stuff during my teens!)

We’ve got to know, what is your most memorable record store experience?

Graham: Definitely Elvis Costello doing a livestream/Pirate Radio Show from the shop basement. Elvis first came to the shop in December 2021, then returned for the Pirate Radio Show in January 2022. He’s been massively supportive of Defend Vinyl ever since. He even mentioned us on TV and radio and always drops in whenever he is in the city. / Eva: Definitely Record Store Day! This year was my first and it was so nice to see everyone line up, get what they wanted and be dead chuffed!

How successful has Record Store Day been for Defend Vinyl?

Just amazing! There really is a palpable sense of community amongst the collectors who come out for it. Some might only see each other once every year in the Record Store Day queue. There's a great atmosphere in the shop, and we love to see our customers getting what they were hoping for. And, as the shop is outside the city centre, it always brings new people in every year!

Tell us, what’s the best gig you've ever been to?

Graham: Jimmy Eat World playing their albums Clarity and Bleed American back-to-back. It was made even more special by seeing The Weakerthans the following night. / Eva: Foo Fighters playing Belfast Vital in 2019. I’d waited years to see them and went with my mates. They played ‘Wheels’, which isn’t usually on the setlist and is one of my favourites from them! Then, Taylor Hawkins sang ‘Under Pressure’ by Queen. They also brought a wee boy on stage for ‘All My Life’ because it was his first gig. An all round great time!

What’s your all-time favourite book?

Graham: ’Confederacy of Dunces’ by John Kennedy Toole. / Eva: Hot take, my favourite book is ’A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara - it’s a great book which is very character based. However, it is also one of the darkest books I’ve ever read – so definitely worth looking up trigger warnings before picking up.

What about your all-time favourite film?

Graham: ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ or ‘Teen Wolf’ (o.g.1985). / Eva: My all-time favourite film is ‘Notting Hill’. An absolute classic.

What would make up your desert island discs?

Graham: Jimmy Eat World - 'Clarity’, Mashed Potato Records Vol. 1, Sebadoh - ’Bakesale’, Dinosaur Jr - ’You’re Living All Over Me’, Saves The Day - ’Stay What You Are’, DeathCab For Cutie - ’We Have The Facts…’, Breeders - 'Pod’, Looming - 'Seed’, The Menzingers - ’After The Party’, The Anniversary - ’Designing A Nervous Breakdown’ / Eva: Phoebe Bridgers - 'Punisher’, Kacey Musgraves - ’Golden Hour’, Taylor Swift - 'Folklore’, The Strokes - ’Is This It‘, CMAT - ’If My Wife Knew I’d Be Dead’, Amy Winehouse - ’Back To Black’, Paramore - ’This Is Why’, Boygenius - 'Boygenius’, Lizzy McAlpine - ’Give Me A Minute’, Grimes - ’Art Angels’

Your dream festival just got announced! What’s the line-up?

Graham: Nirvana / REM / Talking Heads / Marvin Gaye / Big Star / Jeff Buckley / The Hotelier / The Carrie Nations / Tricot / Looming / Sebadoh / Grandaddy / Fuzzy / The Anniversary / Life Without Buildings / Pinback and Hot Snakes. / Eva: Phoebe Bridgers / Kacey Musgraves / Paramore / Fleetwood Mac / The Strokes / Nirvana / Clairo / Snail Mail / Del Water Gap / Faye Webster.

Let’s round this up with your all-time favourite record!

Graham: Most probably Lemonheads - It’s A Shame About Ray - but it changes from one day to another! / Eva: Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves.

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