GIVE US THE BACKGROUND - WHEN AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN A RECORD SHOP?

During the Covid pandemic and lockdown, my Tattoo Studio was forced to close. I had long been looking for a new premises and, due to being so busy, I had no prior opportunity to move.

The one fortunate side of the lockdown was that I had a bit more time available to do some searching. And I found a place that was perfect!

It was an old bank - and it just so happened that back in my DJ days it was the place I always thought would make a nice record store. So with that, a call was made to the landlord and keys acquired with little deliberation. It had enough space to rehome my tattoo studio and realise my dream of owning a record store!So with the help of my fiancée and a few friends, we got to work kitting it out and started stocking up ready to open at the end of the first lockdown. It was, as you can imagine, a lot of hard work, but combining two of my passions made it worth all the effort!

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR SHOP. WHAT’S THE VIBE?

Our store is in the middle of a small valley town called Ebbw Vale.

It’s a very chilled out affair. With the broad range of musical influences here at the shop, the playlist can jump from one thing to the next! One minute it’s ambient electronic, the next rock and metal, and then Ska, Reggae, Funk and Braindance. Along with everything in between, of course.

CAN YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD YOU SOLD IN YOUR SHOP?

I think the first record sold (off the top of my head) Was Jeff Buckley - Grace, an absolute classic by any standard.

The last was Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer.

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST VISIT TO A RECORD SHOP? DID YOU PICK UP ANY RECORDS?

The first record shop I went to was actually a computer games shop called “Computability”. They used to stock vinyl/cassettes alongside Commodore 64 games and so on 😊 The good old days, haha!

The first record I bought was Michael Jackson - Bad.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RECORD SHOP (APART FROM YOUR OWN!)

I always enjoyed a trip to Cardiff when I was younger, it had a few that kept my tastes covered. D-Vinyl was great for second hand gems for sampling, Catapult would serve my dance music interested and Whoosh for all things Rap and Jungle. Obviously I would pop into Kellys in the Market. And Spillers Records - which would satisfy my more mainstream interests.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE RECORD SHOP MEMORY

That has to be meeting LTJ Bukem in Catapult 100% Vinyl.

I was happily spinning away some records, waiting for something to take my fancy, only to see the nodding head of Bukem to the side of me. Then, he headed on behind the decks and put on a cracking set 😁

HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS RECORD STORE DAY BEEN FOR YOUR STORE?

Being that we are tucked away in the Welsh valleys, it’s been a bit of a learning curve. From finding out what people want so we don’t over-stock, to getting the word out there to enable us to keep doing it.

It can be a somewhat stressful process leading up to it, but on the whole it’s been a great experience!

It’s always fun chatting with those in the queue and finding out what they are hoping to nab. It’s a whole other story hearing about and how long they have been waiting for the doors to open! Each year has brought new faces and some more regular visitors, which is always nice.

With each RSD event we are slowly learning new things and working on plans to expand on the previous year. This year, we had some local bands playing outside the store - with the help of the local council and Chris Peet from Northhouse Studios. It was great and we were very fortunate with the weather!

WHAT'S THE BEST GIG YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO?

That’s a hard one…there are a few that come to mind straight away!
David Gilmour @ The Royal Albert Hall
Aphex Twin @ Field Day 2017
Stevie Wonder @ Hyde park

Too many to list!

WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE BOOK?

‘Cosmos’ by Carl Sagan

WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILM?

The Matrix (1999) - Lana and Lilly Wachowski

WHAT WOULD MAKE UP YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISCS?

Another tough one!

Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key Of Life
Boards of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children
Tool - Lateralus
Aphex Twin - Selected Ambient Works '85-'92
David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon
Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals
Orbital - In Sides
Dj Shadow - Endtroducing
Radiohead - Kid A

OTHER RECORD STORES