Mumbai gets a vinyl makeover

Have you always been fascinated by your grandfather's dusty old gramophone and LP records? Here's your chance to enter that world of vintage music at a Vinyl Festival that will kick off in the city

Mumbai gets a vinyl makeover

At a time when all things vintage are making a comeback, many from this tribe are looking forward to going back to the old way of listening to music.u00a0Vinyl records, which became famous in the 1950s, lost their prominence by the end of 1980, with the emergence of other media including audiocassettes and CDs. However, to create awareness about vinyl records and to give this format a new lease of life, a festival is being organised in Mumbai.

“The love for vinyl records is making a comeback among true music lovers and has become a niche subculture. Our audience is a part of this movement and it was fitting to celebrate the resurgence of the LP,” says Rajiv Mehta, brand head who has conceptualised the event.

Activities galore
The festival will bring together bands like Tough On Tobacco, Dualist Inquiry, The Supersonics, Reggae Rajahs and Ankur and the Ghalat Family to record original songs on vinyl records.

“After each performer records their tracks, we will send the vinyl abroad to be produced and mastered. This is a first-of-its-kind in India because pressing a vinyl is quite a complex process. The limited edition LP will be launched somewhere around the end of July with all the recorded tracks,” specifiesMehta.

The event will also include other activities including a vinyl listening session, LP cover design contests and live performances. Adding to this, Mehta believes, “People will be able to see incredible vinyl-inspired art installations at the venue. Even our passes to the event have been rendered on old vinyls.”

Must for music buffs
On the whole, the event is expected to be a must-visit for a vinyl fan. “There are a lot of people, who collect vinyls and there’s a genuine purity to the music that comes out of an old-fashioned record. The true music lover would love the soothing sound of a vinyl. Hence, we hope that people come out in large numbers for the event as it’s going to be truly one-of-a-kind,” concludes Mehta.