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He started to get into records through his father who still plays his own small collection to this day and Aatu told me that he has his father to thank for his love of the Americana and Country genres. There are many collectors who have had certain musical genres or tastes passed down through their families and I guess that’s why a lot of people believe music is etched in our D.N.A.
It was a pleasure being able to include Aatu’s record collection for The Record Collectors Club and I look forward to seeing him post more of his eclectic discoveries that will allow me to broaden my musical tastes, particularly in the Americana genre.
How long have you been a record collector?
I was born in the early ‘90s, so I grew up with CDs. I think I bought my first CDs in the late ‘90s probably some hit compilations I’d assume. However I truly started to collect records in 2006, back when I was fifteen years old when I fell in love with British music from the ‘60s, mainly The Beatles. I started to study the history of the Anglo - American popular music, and vinyl seemed like the best format for me to discover that music on and it was easy to find vinyl albums from my favourite bands and artists at record fairs and stores.
What was it about British music that grabbed you?
At that time I just liked it, and I had this fantasy in my head how the ‘60s in Great Britain was like a magical place. It’s the sounds from that era that are still relevant to me now, merseybeat etc. They are important sub genres to the whole western popular music tradition.
How many records do you currently have in the collection?
My collection consists of approximately 1,500 LPs, 1,100 vinyl singles, both twelve - inch and seven - inch and around 200 gramophone records.
How important is the artwork and sound quality on a record?
Artwork most definitely is! I like to study all the little details from the sleeve and the album art looks much better when it’s bigger. The sound quality is not that important. I mean I like to listen to music with a good sound quality, but I really can’t say that CDs or MP3s sound worse than vinyl to me.
Do you have a certain room or space you listen to your record collection in?
Yeah I sort of do I suppose as I have a separate room in my apartment, where I live in with my girlfriend, which has my DJ equipment in. In that room I have all my vinyl singles and a small DJ booth with two turntables and a mixer. There, I make mixtapes and just spin records whenever I feel like it. However, I generally listen to albums in our living room.
How long have you been a DJ and where do you usually DJ? What kind of music do you play?
I’ve been a DJ since 2014 and I have a couple spots in my local town where I’m a regular “House DJ”. There is also a nightclub called “Dynamo” and another called “Bar Kuka”. Before the Coronavirus wiped all the gigs out, I also played a couple of gigs in this relatively new joint called “Bar Rica”. I hope I’m going to get more gigs in there too after the situation gets back to normal. What I play on my gigs depends very much on the place I am playing in. The club “Dynamo”s slogan for example is “eclectic sounds” so that gives both the freedom and the responsibility to play music with a broad spectrum. And of course there’s the expectation to get the people to dance. In a bar setting I like to play mostly chilled out music, interesting sounds and new music that I’ve found and I like. A few years ago I also got really interested in House music, and I’ve hosted a few House nights in clubs since then, but it’s hard to get house gigs in Turku, or at least it’s been hard for me. But that’s a thing I also would enjoy very much.
Where do you usually buy records?
There are great record stores in my hometown, that I visit frequently. I also like to visit flea markets and of course I use the internet too and online I usually buy from Discogs, Juno and Bandcamp. There are great record stores in Turku including a place called Asema and Round Sound which both specialise in Soul, Hip Hop and Jazz. My favourite record store in Turku is called 8raita (@8raita) which translated mean 8 - Track.
What makes 8 - Track your favourite store?
It’s easily the best record shop in the world in my opinion and they sell both new and second hand records that both have a great selection. But I suppose two things above all else I think it important are customer service and the selection. I’ve been visiting them regularly since 2008 and the staff there know me and my taste and preferences, so I usually get good recommendations and it’s just nice to be there and chat about records and music. The selection is also second to none and the store’s owner Fredde knows his music and I can trust that there’s always going to be a great selection of newest albums by interesting artists and bands. They have also hosted some really great in - store gigs and their work is important to the whole city’s cultural scene.
What has been the best bargain you have found when out looking for records?
There are few to choose from but I’d say the best has to be “Very” by the Pet Shop Boys, that I found for a euro from a yard sale a few years ago.
What’s your favourite ever record?
I was afraid of this question as it’s so hard to choose. Maybe I’ll just say it is “Rubber Soul” by The Beatles, for both the sentimental and musical reasons.
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