“I fell in love with vinyl a long time ago.”
“When I was a nipper (youngen/early teenager.) I won a 12 inch of “Breakdance Party” by Break Machine, by body popping and breaking at a Nigerian children’s party. My parents watched in amazement as I jumped around on the floor all the time thinking WTF (what the hell) they had no idea I could do all of these things, and the deejay gave me the record because he felt I deserved it. I still have it to this day.
At home, I used to play my parents’ vinyl alot when they were not around. My parents had a few gems: James Brown records, Fela Kuti, Ben E. King, Diana Ross, Boney M, Shalamar. I used to play them and try to scratch on my parents old Grundig record player thingy-ma-jiggy.
Then, a classmate called Chris Johnson really broke the camel’s back by introducing me to funk, soul, jazz, and rare groove.
We used to read the credits cover to cover and check out the musicians. Who played with who, what studio, who mixed it and everything. That was my real introduction to record nerdism and I’m very happy it happened. Shouts out to Chris Johnson and the Johnson family (who also introduced me to West Indian food, dumplings, etc, etc..Yep!)
As my relationship with music deepened and developed, so did my relationship with vinyl. I loved stopping off and listening to new and old records in record shops. As I’ve gotten older, looking for records is no longer a pastime—it’s a way of life (all future girlfriends have to accept this.)
I like looking for strange records, I like looking for samples, I like the crackle, the dusty covers (that speak volumes and feel like heirlooms or like old books being passed on.) I love waiting to see if I can find something on the record that I can work with. The scratches in the appearance, the bunched up grooves on the vinyl itself.
To me, the record and the record cover are equally important. Hence why, I’ve always strived to work with people who will give me interesting covers like Ben Wachenje.
I LOVE VINYL!”
—Ty
Ty’s A Kick Snare And An Idea Part Two is out now via Tru Thoughts.
