“Growing up, my parents had a nice record player with giant upright speakers. One of the first vivid memories of my life was sitting in front of those speakers, listening to Peter and the Wolf on vinyl.”
“It was an enlightening experience for me. My memory of it still has colors associated with the melodies from that album. I don’t have synesthesia, but I believe that when you listen to a record sitting cross-legged, staring at the album cover for hours, the sounds, sights, and smells all start to blend into one in a really beautiful way.
Years later, on that same record player, I once naively attempted to emulate ’90s DJs with my dad’s Beatles record. That didn’t go over very well!
I like to think that even growing up with the convenience of the digital age, I have retained a deep respect for vinyl and the experience it creates. It’s the difference between eating drive-through fast food in the driver’s seat of your car and sitting down to share a home cooked meal with your loved ones. Vinyl creates an atmosphere of authority for music that I love. You put on the record, sit down, and simply listen…or dance!
With the music that I create, I want listeners to have a similar experience. I have always gravitated towards a warmer sound and built soothing elements into most of my songs. Mountain Lions songs were once described as “a warm blanket to curl up under.” I’m excited for fans to listen to my latest record on vinyl and I hope that they can find the space to pause, sit down, and hold each other’s hands while listening.”
—Steven Diaz
Mountain Lions’ new release We Are will see a limited edition vinyl edition in stores come December. Pre-order it here.
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PHOTO: STEVEN DIAZ
