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MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ
@man_of_da_records
Miguel explained to me he loves to dig for records in the shops in Peru but also gives friends who regularly travel a list of records he is hunting down to look out for when they are travelling the world. Once again, this shows the strength and community spirit of The Vinyl Community.
When I started this project I knew that I wanted to try interview collectors from South America and Miguel was the first I contacted. It was a real pleasure to interview him and talk about his musical tastes and his excellent record collection.
So, why vinyl then? What is it about this format for you?
I stayed with vinyl because it is my native format. I grew up with it, watching at parties at home with where my uncles put a tower of 45rpm records on a beautiful giant wooden radiogram. My uncles and cousins listened to their records at home, at full volume and you could hear the music in the distance, out in the street. Then there was the fascination in the stores many years ago, with those private rooms where you could listen to the music in very old headphones, telling the seller to change the tracks. Maybe it is a romantic element to it but I think that there is also an important component in the sound. It is a unique and special sound, as well as the magic of scratch, that call and anticipation of something that comes and that makes your heart explode. It is a universe that attracts you and catches you when you are spinning vinyl.
How many records do you have in your collection?
Compared with the size of other collections, very very little. I have maybe 800 records, all very well cared for and keeping their secrets. Some bought at fairs, others come to me from my dealer friends. Every one has a special place and they all have my respect and love. I’m sure I have a lot more than I realise.
How long have you been collecting vinyl records?
Collecting for me has gone full circle really. When I was very young, I started collecting records from artists like Kiss, Elton John, the Rolling Stones and also, I grew up with family and friends who already had small collections of records. Back in those years, which was the early 80’s, I had a few records. Then came the cassette, which I collected with great enthusiasm, and then everything changed with the CD. The few records I had, I sold them, and I switched to the new technology of the CD for years. Crazy! Finally thought, I went back to vinyl a few years ago, maybe eight years or so and there I will stay, whether sound will appear in hologram or virtual reality sound or some new technology in the future, it will always be vinyl for me.
Do you have a favourite genre of music you like to listen to?
There is so much to listen to and I love music so much, it depends on my mood. However, there are artists and styles that I always come back to like Rock, Jazz, Soul, Hip Hop and some Electronic music. In my small collection there is much more though like Folk, Dance, World Music, Progressive, some Metal, Punk, Post Punk, New Wave etc. Everything has its own time and place, its effect and its magic.
What was the first record you bought?
I think it was “Dynasty” by Kiss or maybe the Rolling Stones “Some Girls” but I can’t be quite sure. Sometimes when I think back about it I feel like I’m starring in the series “The Wonder Years” or something like that. I wonder if in the future I see my photos on Instagram and I will feel very old looking back on records I’ve bought years before.
What are your thoughts on using Instagram to share our collections and The Vinyl Community in general?
It is the best! I have been able to meet incredible people, learn about new titles, people’s motivations, and see the interest in vinyl records grow. I know the digital environment well, I work there, but I have no interest in becoming an “influencer” for anything like that. I just share what I’m playing, liking and digging. Sharing is something that is closely linked to music as well and that is the good thing about the internet. I like to share what I have, what I listen to, knowing that someone, somewhere in the world can value that, it’s an incredible feeling.
Finally, what will happen to your record collection when you pass away?
My daughters will inherit it I think. The same ones that are very small and dance with me to artists like David Bowie, Elvis Presley, Beastie Boys or Khruangbin. They, like my brothers, will inherit something very special and with a unique energy. In addition, it will be a great connector with great memories of your childhood as that is what happened to me. I hope they honor the memory of their father or a curse will fall on the family!
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