March 19, 2025 • 51 mins
This Women’s History Month, we’re joined by Alexandria Sade—founder of Black Girls Love Vinyl (BGLV), a community platform dedicated to celebrating Black women's connection to vinyl and cultural preservation in music and the arts. From her St. Louis roots to her work in music supervision for major network sitcoms, Alexandria’s journey is as eclectic as her record collection. Tune in as we discuss her path, BGLV’s impact, and how she's amplifying Black women’s voices in the analogue space.
**Note: we apologize for some audio issues Jenn had during this episode - we hope it doesn't distract too much from this wonderful conversation.
Check out:
Keep your records clean and sounding great with GrooveWasher. Use WomenInVinyl10 at check out: www.groovewasher.com
Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast, along with membership options and ton of other discount codes available at: https://www.patreon.com/womeninvinyl
You can also contribute to furthering our mission by donating https://www.womeninvinyl.com/donate as a 501(c)3 all donations are tax deductible.
Visit the website to check out past episodes, features, and our ever growing library of resources to further the education, demystification and diversification of the Vinyl Making Space.
We were listed as one of Feedspot’s Top 25 Vinyl Records Podcasts! Your opinion matters, don’t forget to like, subscribe and give us a review on your favorite podcast delivery method!
Want to be a sponsor or just get in touch? Email us: info@womeninvinyl.com
**Note: we apologize for some audio issues Jenn had during this episode - we hope it doesn't distract too much from this wonderful conversation.
Check out:
- BGLV: https://www.blackgirlslovevinyl.com/
- IG: @blackgirlslovevinyl
- Youtube: @BlackGirlsLoveVinyl
- Check out Alex set on Summer School Radio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--KE0AnDsBY&pp=ygUWYmxhY2sgZ2lybHMgbG92ZSB2aW55bA%3D%3D
Keep your records clean and sounding great with GrooveWasher. Use WomenInVinyl10 at check out: www.groovewasher.com
Commercial-Free & High Resolution version of this podcast, along with membership options and ton of other discount codes available at: https://www.patreon.com/womeninvinyl
You can also contribute to furthering our mission by donating https://www.womeninvinyl.com/donate as a 501(c)3 all donations are tax deductible.
Visit the website to check out past episodes, features, and our ever growing library of resources to further the education, demystification and diversification of the Vinyl Making Space.
We were listed as one of Feedspot’s Top 25 Vinyl Records Podcasts! Your opinion matters, don’t forget to like, subscribe and give us a review on your favorite podcast delivery method!
Want to be a sponsor or just get in touch? Email us: info@womeninvinyl.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to the Women in Vinyl Podcast with Jen Dugenio,
founder of Women in Vinyl, and contributor Robin Raymond. This
podcast facilitates conversations with those working in the vinyl record
industry to educate, demystify, and diversify the vinyl community.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome to episode fifty nine of the Women in Vinyl Podcast.
Today we're joined by Alexandria Sade, the founder of Black
Girls Love Vinyl, a community driven organization dedicated to amplifying
the voices of Black women in the vinyl culture while
preserving and sharing the rich stories of their contributions in
music history. From her passion for preserving black women's history
(00:47):
to collaborating with industry giants like Motown to Audio Technica,
Alexandria's work is shaping the future of vinyl culture. Enjoy
an inspiring conversation about music entrepreneurship and cultural preservation.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Well welcome, Alex. We're so glad to have you, and
I spent a long time coming.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
I feel yeah, longtime friends on the internet, first time
visiting on the internet.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
It's like perfect time.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Yeah, and all of our outfits match for those of
you watching it home, so that's nice too.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
So for those that don't know, why don't you tell
our listeners a little bit about you and your organization.
Speaker 6 (01:31):
Yeah, so Alexandria's Shade, and actually Shady is my middle name,
and I go buy alex Ali We're Shaday. I'm originally
from Saint Louis, Missouri. I have been a music lover
since I was a kid. My aunt has got me
into music. My dad he loves like craftwork and like
(01:52):
West Coast music, and my mom loves like Jesess move jazz.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
My grandparents the same way and a lot of jazz.
Speaker 6 (01:59):
And yeah, I mean I started Black Girls Love Vinyl
in twenty eighteen when I was living in Los Angeles,
which was a super crazy time because I went out
there for something else and ended up doing music and
commercial acting and modeling all these different things. And so
that's really kind of what sparked the interest to have
(02:20):
a platform like Black Girls of the Vinyl and highlight
the community because I was modeling my record collections around
and prior to that, I actually had a music blog
called Glow of Sunrise, which I kind of tied in
like the science aspect.
Speaker 5 (02:36):
Of my background. I went to Schooper Science, So yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
She is science lady too, not just the stunner, but
also has the brains to back it up. As a
fellow science scientist ex scientist, I can I like that. Yeah,
what kind of science to do? Do?
Speaker 6 (02:57):
Just general biology, ecology, organismal was my concentration. Okay, one
of the toughest time in my life actually, so it
wasn't like the brightest moment, but you know, I made.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
It through academics. Rarely is the like the time where
we're like, yes, you know what's so fulfilling, very rewarding.
Totally got reinforced the whole entire way. Yes, yes, I'm
with you. So that's so that brought you to Los Angeles?
Were you studying?
Speaker 5 (03:29):
So I actually went to school in Virginia.
Speaker 6 (03:31):
I went to HBCU called Hampton University, So yeah, it's
the other HU. If you're familiar with HBCU life, there's
Howard and then there's us at the university in Hampton, Virginia,
which was super nice actually, you know, right by the water.
So I did utilize like decompressing there and then obviously,
(03:55):
like my love for Vinyl started and also college as well.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
All right, and who introduced you to I know.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
My friend who was also a biology major who is
now like this insane botanist. Yeah, so I found out
that he had like a record collection, and I actually
went over. We lived in like the same apartment complex,
living off campus, and I went over to his place
and he had like all these jazz records, like Herbie Man,
(04:26):
Herbie Hancock, even like some just like mad Lib and
Loo Pac and just all these different records.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
And then we ended up.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
Going to a record shop also that day called American
Odies in Newport News, Virginia, which unfortunately is not around
with us today. But yeah, my first record that I
bought was a Hiroshima record. I bought that record purely
off of discovery. And I also bought like this Irish
record too, which I can't find but I'm sure, I'm
(05:00):
sure it's here.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
But yeah, I feel okay. So I have to know
is your collection organized, because we never asked that, like
more than we're not listen.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
I wish because I've moved so much.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I mean another one, I don't. I don't organize my
records at all.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
I actually want at all. I actually love to.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
I keep saying that it's like a nice idea, but
I'm like, no, there's yeah, I'd rather be listening to
them than cataloging. That just seems like school work to
me now that I'm not.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
Interested in Jen, is yours organized?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
You know?
Speaker 5 (05:41):
Girls that's heard?
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Hellow just give her a give her a little give
her a little taste. Jen, how is your record collection organized?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Genre?
Speaker 5 (05:55):
All? You're like you?
Speaker 6 (06:00):
That's yeah, I'm trying to get like you.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
That's a problem. This is a queen Bee for a reason.
But I mean that's you. Okay, So what are we
talking with collection?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Here?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
How many pieces do you have?
Speaker 5 (06:19):
So you know what's crazy?
Speaker 6 (06:20):
Because I started like in Virginia, and then I moved
from Virginia to like back home first, and then to
l A and like oh, and then to DC, so
just moving around. I'm also kind of giving people like records,
giving them away. But I feel like behind me I
have oh my god, I feel like they're all around
scattered on the floor right now too, so they're not
(06:42):
even properly.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
No, that's great, I love it.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
No, I always say I don't know.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
This is always a hard question. I at least am
filling up my eight block show, so I will say
that I don't right now, because I was traveling so much,
I didn't like to have a time records.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I couldn't help it. But now I'm like, I'm ready
to keep growing.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
They're very inconvenient at the best of times. The gift
that keeps on giving. But I mean, lady Jen is
up over what over three three K four K? Yeah,
So I mean her organizational skills are just I mean,
i'd yeah, i'd never have you just have like an
(07:28):
honorary masters in library scizes by Now.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Well.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So Black Girl's Little Vinyl was established to provide a
platform black women music, So we want to talk about that.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
What challenges did you face creating base you She's like,
which one did I not fase?
Speaker 6 (07:57):
I mean, I guess, you know, at first, it really
was just to highlight like our storytelling and just to
showcase like our music taste, which was you know, more easier.
But you know, you're paying for a website to kind
of host this on, to have like these articles and
things like that, and you know you're trying to post
like you are the social media manager. You know, you
(08:20):
are your marketing person.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
So I know you understand. Oh I'm not a nonprofit,
but I know that not.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
What you could be.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
It's a lot of work.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
It's a lot of work, but it is commenable word.
So I do love that you are nonprofit. But yeah,
I mean the challenges are definitely there still today, you know,
because like I recently just added a intern for the
first time, which I was very nervous about doing, but
it's been great, So yeah, I would say that, and
(08:51):
just the unexpected cost of like every little thing you
want to do, and then trying to like navigate doing events,
which is something I need really just started doing like
last year around this time. So and then also like
I do work in music too, so it's like trying
to manage that and the ups and downs of being
(09:13):
in the music industry and running a platform fully in
a full capacity where it looks like it's a multiple people,
a whole collective and all these different things, but it's
really just me behind it.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
A little shut it, just doing the Lord's work over here.
I mean Genos Gendos, Yes, are you are you? I
mean Jen likes to say she's a control freak. I
say that she just has, you know, an obsession with
getting things right. Are you one of those people as well?
Speaker 5 (09:48):
I am a Leah, Yes, a little bit.
Speaker 6 (09:53):
You know, you just wanted to be right, you know,
like you want to have the logistics down.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
You know, you just want to make sure you're nys if.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
You're bringing people into to make it easier for them,
or you know, you definitely want to compensate well too.
You don't want just to like leave people hanging, because
I understand, like as women, like, it's already tough enough
and you just want to like be fair. So I
think those are the other aspects that go into it.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
But beyond like just being a controlled person.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Yeah, yeah, and you have a specific point of view
and like a viewpoint that you need to protect, much
like we do with women in vinyl too, So you know,
you want to get it right. You don't want it
to get diluted. You don't want to have the wrong person,
you know, taking that message and maybe distorting it a
little bit like yeah, we get you, we see you, mama,
(10:45):
we see you.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Yes, it feels good to be seen.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
A safe space. You're welcome here absolutely.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I was like reading piercing of your FAQ's and I
think it was interesting. I saw one that was like,
you don't have to be a black woman to be
a part of this, but like that still helps what
you're trying to do. And it's interesting because I think
we see the same thing as like men don't always
understand that they're allies and so they're still a part
(11:15):
of it.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
They can still be a part.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Of Women in Vinyl in Vinyl have to be women.
But obviously that's our main mission. So I thought that
was really interesting. And your faques do you run into
a lot of stuff like that for events?
Speaker 6 (11:32):
Yeah, I mean, like what you said, you know, we
just want to make sure that women are the forefront though,
like the black women that we are, you know, at
the forefront of our storytelling it on binary also just
because you know, that is the platform and I feel
like our stories need to be told. But of course,
like for events, you know, especially when they're more like
(11:53):
nightlife ones, I feel like, you know, we can share
space with the community, you know, other people, as long
as that they are respectful.
Speaker 5 (12:01):
I think that's like super important to me.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
I know, we got to run into something small like
our last event on Friday, but you know, it was
just kind of like it was at the end of
the week of the event, and I was just telling
a person like, hey, you need to let you out, maybe.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
Leave, please leave.
Speaker 6 (12:21):
But that was like the first time I've seen anything happen,
and it wasn't even it didn't even get super escalated
to the point, you know, where anyone was harmed. I
would say, they want something else, what happened?
Speaker 4 (12:34):
They want you to someone else play my request right now.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
No, it was just I don't know because also we
were sharing space.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
You know, like there's alcohol and stuff if it's at
the hotel, so you know, maybe they weren't even really
there or Black Girl's levinyl, but not understanding what we do.
But I just know that I have to keep everyone safe,
and you know, if I see someone's just doing something wrong, obviously,
can you please excuse yourself?
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Please? But yeah, that was the only time that happened.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Oh that's good. I mean, what other kind of events
are you trying to do?
Speaker 6 (13:12):
So we have done like meetups like at record shops
and making sure that we bring in like an educator
in who like specializes maybe in music preservation, even archiving,
or you know, just have deeper knowledge that they can
kind of share with us, and even like learning from
the record shop owners like their day to day process.
(13:33):
So I do like doing those we've only done too,
but I would love to see more of those happen
here on the East Coast and even on the West
Coast too, since we're occupying like heavily in those suit spaces.
Just kind of anything that really is about, you know,
kind of educating us even like audio foul cultures is
(13:55):
important to me to like learning that and have an
exposure to you know, high end equipment and you know,
more like dialogue storytelling type of events. I think is
also important. And sharing like our music tastes because I
have like a lot of different collectic like genres and
things to you know, collecting like a few Japanese records
(14:16):
and stuff like that, Like I would love to share
those in spotlight those things, and also honing in just
on my network of people that I know in the
industry and just you know, sharing space with the platform
of those people as well taste makers and you know
you all as well, Like anyway we can just like
(14:38):
bring in the right people that can share information.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I was gonna say, I smell it. I smell a
team up here.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
I would love to.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Yeah, yeah, what part of the music business are you working.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
In so right now, Okay, So I've worked in all
different as. I was in marketing, single licensing, and also
like operations at the Recording Academy was like my last
more full time role and then now I'm working on
a TV project.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
It was just announced Little keV.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
It's a Kevin Hart animated series that's going to be
on beut Plus. I worked in the music supervision department
under a music.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Supervisor as the music assistant.
Speaker 6 (15:25):
So that has been like a very role that I'm
very passionate about in that field, and so I'm excited
to keep pushing.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
Forward with the.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Yeah cool, congratulations, thank you, thank you. That little Dynamo
has got lots going on for him. It's a big
little guy. Yeah yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
So I mean we talk about community and how like
inclusive and happy our own little things like we're like,
oh yeah, I haven't been a cover of the party,
but this ride has not always been like that for everyone.
So I mean, if there's anybody that's listening that is
(16:14):
maybe a black woman that is interested in records that's
either on the West Coast or the East coast or
the North coast, step by me up here in Canada.
What would you recommend to them to get involved with
either your organization or a record collecting initiative in their area.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Yeah, I mean even start your own you know, like
I'm still building, you know, I rather go slow and steady.
They try to be super fast and get it wrong.
So yeah, I think for me, like though it's been
like seven years, has been a good seven years for me,
like pacing it out, and I'm still trying to get
the logistics down for like collectives to operate in spaces.
(16:56):
So I'm about the slow build. But you know, you
can are now, like you can kind of form your
own meetup or something like if you're in Canada, like
have a meet up there, and you know, in these
different areas and you know, obviously use resources like Women
in Vinyl to learn more about who are in the
spaces as well, and obviously my platform as well, Black
(17:19):
Girls the Vinyl. So it's it's different communities to tap into.
And there's probably already one you know locally that's already happening.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
There's a lot of DJ communities obviously starting there too.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
Vinyl DJs has been a thing for a long time,
so it's been around, so just continue tapping in and
being open minded.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
So yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
That for sure, that's great.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
What about I know that there sometimes feels like the
barrier of entry.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Have any advice for that For collecting records the hobby, Yeah,
I think.
Speaker 5 (17:57):
You really should go in with an open mind.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
When I started, I was on a budget, like I'm
talking about deep budget. I was like, I'm not going
over ten dollars.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
I love it for records.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
I was like, if it's not Hunderton, I'm not getting it.
So I think having that curiosity of discovery because that's
the first record I've bought, Like, I've never heard of
Hroshima the time, So having that in my collection just
kind of kept forging the relationship and trust of my
intuition to find records like that and just be open minded,
(18:29):
while also along the way adding you know, records that
I'm familiar with, then just being patient. I think now
it's a little bit different because it is more expensive.
So you know, we were lucky getting kind of like
those known records maybe that you were brought up on
listening to for a cheaper price and for good quality too.
(18:50):
But I think just being open minded, even spend time
in the record shop for a minute, Like if you
see something that you've never heard before, and maybe the
cover art is what I would take you go beyond
the cover art, you know, maybe have your phone and
I don't know, look up any songs or you may
see like the credits or something in the liner notes
about like Stevie Wonder might have produced something that you
(19:13):
didn't know that but that interests you. So just go
beyond the cover art and just be open minded, explore
different genres, just you know, all the things.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
Just have fun.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Yeah, have you ever picked a record based on the
cover and then just been like, oh, yeah, that that
one just didn't hit right? Nope, Nope, absolutely okay, because
I mean I always have. I used to go record
shopping and like go through the dollar bins and I
be like, oh, yeah, this one looks cool, and then
oh yeah, that one was not that cool, and then
(19:47):
you just kind of like you still hang on to
it because you're like, oh, maybe I'll give it another chance.
Maybe I just you know, maybe maybe future maybe future
me will like it better. And it never happens, never happens.
I'm glad that I'm not alone. I mean, no, you're
not alone.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
In terms the cover is awful, and then you're.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Like, yeah, that happened a lot in the eighties though,
you know, they were very experimental.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
When you have to go beyond the car so that
weighs no money.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Yeah, it's true, it's true. I mean I love a
I love a bulk jacket for that reason. When the
record store is just like, oh, this one just came
in super thrash, so we're just gonna throw it in
a white like a white disco bag, and you're like, yeah, Finn.
Speaker 7 (20:37):
Well the luxe edition series h that you have. Could
you collaborate on that or collaborate on that?
Speaker 5 (20:45):
The impact? Oh my god.
Speaker 6 (20:48):
Yeah. So that started when I was working at the
Recording Academy, So I was heavily doing events there with
them and the nominee celebration and going to all the events.
And I actually met some of the ladies that has
been following the platform at a Grammy event, and so
it was so funny because they didn't even know who
(21:08):
I was, and I'm just over here taking content doing
all the things, and they're like, oh, yeah, she wants
to get content.
Speaker 5 (21:15):
Gathering together and stuff.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
And then eventually I'm like, oh yeah, I'm Alex with
Black Girls Leviny like thank you so much for your
support and all those.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Things, and they were like, wait, you're Alex.
Speaker 6 (21:24):
You've run the whole thing. And so they were like,
we have to do something. How long are you in town?
And I'm like, yeah, we should do something. So I
connected with jay Lee, who's an amazing DJ. Shout out
to her Jaylee Daniel, and we just you know, kind
of build through conversation over the phone while I was.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
Out in LA and then I was like, you know what.
She was like, let's do something.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
I have like a space and I was like, okay,
I'll come up with an event name because I'm so like,
I'm a person that has a bunch of notes of
like ideas of names, like a ton of names just
my notes app.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
And I just couldn't come up with a name like immediately.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
And so over time, like maybe two or three days
because we were like in crunch time, because we already
had locked in the venue. So I was exploring through,
you know, my list, and then I just went on
to like Apple Music on my phone and was like
looking at different albums and then I saw obviously like
deluxe edition.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
Parentheses and I'm like, deluxe edition, how does that sound?
Speaker 6 (22:26):
I kept just saying it out loud and running it
by my friends and stuff, and then I was like,
you know what, we're gonna go with that because we
don't have time, you know, locked in the flyer and everything,
and just we already knew what DJs because I had
met them actually on Valentine's Day, like all at once
at Go Line Bar. So yeah, so it was just
(22:50):
nice that we ended up making that a series and
a thing, and it's just been a hit, Like everyone
loves coming out to them, and it feels like a
listening ex experience.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
You know, more than a night life. Like in New York.
Speaker 6 (23:04):
It's a totally different energy than it is in LA.
Like a lot of people are like dancing a lot
in New York at the events. Even I was dancing,
Like there's footage of me just you know, having an
amazing time. And while in LA it's the same thing,
but we're all able to like chill out and maybe
just kind of absorb the music. And then all the
(23:24):
ladies have different tastes sharing their record collections and you
can just.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
Two DJs here in New York. So yeah, I love it.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
And it's just evolving too and looking forward to the
next one.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Do you do a limited number of them per year?
Are you looking to do like one a month or
what's what's the what's the goal?
Speaker 6 (23:47):
We strive to have a plan. It all depends on
locking in the venue, you know. I think that's kind
of what kind of navigates timony we have, and also
working with everyone's schedule because you want to make sure
that you know who you want involved is available. So
I think I don't put too much pressure on myself
(24:08):
around like we've got to have a set number, but
you know, the ladies will kind of be.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
Like I missed doing it, So when is the next one?
Speaker 6 (24:15):
And then that's when we will be like okay, like
we got to get on it somewhere and lock in.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
So yeah, I love that.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
So, I mean you've talked a lot about like storytelling
and how important that is to the original creation of
Black Girl's Lub Final. So where did that kind of
through line come from?
Speaker 6 (24:38):
Yeah, I mean, like I said, during college, like it
was the most depressing time of my life honestly, and
like collecting records really did save my life starting in college,
and I believe like the emotional connection that music really
kind of brought to me and just having because it
was times where I wasn't going to class, so I
(25:00):
was really yeah, I was just really down, like bad mentally,
and so I think for me, I just knew like
it was something deeper, and you know, like I don't
use my science degree, which we all make a joke about,
but I really don't and don't worry. So for me,
(25:21):
it became like expression and so like photos for me
were kind of helping with the storytelling. And you know,
I would like literally challenge myself to go out my
comfort zone because I was really shy too and I
wouldn't talk to people. So I've never been like a
social person or anything like that. I'm more of that now,
but I had to break out on my show, like
(25:43):
I didn't even meet a lot of people in college
like that. So I think this just really helped me
like get closer to my own story and journey and
realizing that my upbringing also too had a lot of
connection to me starting a platform like this like my
mom had me, and a lot of different things in
the community back in Saint Louis, just educational programs, dance,
(26:09):
I played like the flute and the piano, so play tennis,
just all doing these different hobbies and stuff. But the
music too, like going to school like she would play
smoo jazz. I'm like Paul Sup in a car. But
you know, like things like that really is a part
of the story of my life. So I just wanted
to like find community around that. Like I just knew
(26:33):
it had to be more women out there too that
connect to music on an emotional level. Not all the
time of like who's on this song, like who's playing
the flute here, who's like on the percussions or you
know those details, but also how are you able to
connect and how is the music changing your life and
how does it affect like your journey.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
So yeah, well so many of us are introverts, I feel,
and so it's nice to.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
And music help us all connect with each other.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
I mean, we were joking that as an executive board,
like this year, we decided to all take those personality
tests just to kind of maybe like collaborate as a group,
and all of us on the executive board were like
some version of an introvert. But then our executive board
are all extroverts, so we're like awesome at.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Little Sparklers, Run Run, go do the thing. We'll encourage
you from behind our computers. Yeah, so you did you
find that that was a way that like your own
storytelling through the photos and like talking about a specific record.
Was that a way that more people started to gravitate
to the platform and ask you questions and want to
(27:49):
get involved and it kind of grow like that or
were you like, hey, lady DJs, so what do you
think about Stevie Wonder or this record? Like I can
just picture my self trying to start something me like, hey,
cool kids, this record. How do you feel about it?
Oh you don't?
Speaker 3 (28:06):
Like?
Speaker 6 (28:07):
Okay, that's exactly kind of what it was.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
I mean, like, I'm gonna be honest.
Speaker 6 (28:12):
I hid behind the Salange record so I didn't want
anyone to see my face. And I took that photo.
A friend of mine he captured that moment. But yeah,
I wanted to be.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
Behind the scenes.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
I just wanted to hide and like let everyone else
tell their stories. Because again, like I had the music
blog glow Summrise where I had a page and I
deactivated the page, but I had more of those photos
where you can see me kind of like all around
Los Angeles.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Modeling my records.
Speaker 6 (28:41):
But I would just start, like I started with that
one post, and then people that I knew already that
I that I knew that collective records and just asked
them to you know, answer a few questions and things
like that. I remember seeing like obviously women in Vinyl
and Vinyl LUTs, which is another amazing community and platform too,
(29:02):
So it was just nice already see like these things
happening too, and just expanding on the storytelling and reaching
out which again I'm going out my comfort zone and
that just was beautiful to see and drafting them up
on the website and yeah, so it's pretty much kind
of grown through others and.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Not myself, which is a nice thing too. Kind of
validates your point of view and your idea where you're
just like, oh yeah, hey, people like this, so that
is great. Yeah, yes, but it's I mean, it's a
it's a nice way for you to like, you know,
show that a bunch of people like the same thing
and it's not just an old white guys club, because
(29:44):
I mean the second you said audio file, I was like,
oh god, no, don't do it, don't do it. I know,
but I mean, I get it, I get it. I
get it, but I don't get it at the same.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
Time, got to change the trajectory.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
Well, and that's why we're here, mama. That is what
we're doing. The way we're trying to use.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
We're doing it. We're all doing it. All of a sudden,
this is call. We're doing it.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Well, and what is a Vinyl community can we do
to better uplift like black women Vinyl?
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Stay that question one more time?
Speaker 3 (30:27):
So what can we do as a Vinyl community to
help uplift black women in Vinyl?
Speaker 5 (30:34):
I mean, I don't know, like support plafors like me.
I don't know. You can ask questions, just I don't know.
How do you all kind of see that too? Like
the expansion of.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
I mean, I think helping spread the word and kind
of creating ways for to amplify those voices, and like,
that's really something that we strive to do.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
I think that giving space for.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Those people to express themselves and share their point of
view is really important. I think a lot of times
people will be very loud, and sometimes it drowns out
the voices of the people that are trying to say
something and those of us who aren't extroverts or don't
feel comfortable necessarily or have imposter syndromes, and then you
(31:23):
talk about a lot don't really feel comfortable and so
but if they had that support, I think that would
make a difference.
Speaker 6 (31:33):
Yeah, I think exactly what you're saying, and just kind
of building off of that, like if there's any way
I can help obviously, you know, like I have the community,
so if anyway there's an extension there, like, I'm sure
there's ways now.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
We can work together.
Speaker 6 (31:48):
I think, you know, even this is a start, and
even before you all have been doing stuff too, so
I think just like keeping the open mindset to find
out different ways, which I believe that you all are doing.
So yeah, I mean you all have like a great
resource tab to like I've been exploring you all's like
resources and websites. I think I even apply to some
(32:10):
things you all have. So I think if there's ways
we can just collaborate on things more too, that also
would give you know, for all of us to kind
of help and pitch in, because I think it's super
important that we do merge together and celebrate the platforms together.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
Yeah, totally, I mean that that's kind of the thing
right because we're like we're just a bunch of little
I mean, we're white ladies over here, and we don't
want to be like, hey, do it our way, because
that is stupid. So I mean that's I think that's
one of the reasons that we ask, because we're like,
we don't want to tell you how to do your thing?
How can we how can we kick the ball together?
(32:50):
But like you know, we don't want you to do
the heavy lifting, but we want to definitely like you know,
know that we got you and will help to do
whatever whatever AIMSA that you have, Like we're obviously the
viewpoints are aligned, so yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 6 (33:09):
Yeah, And I just believe in right timing too, Like
you know, I don't think everything needs to be rush,
like you have to build out things and it takes
it's a step by step, and I know you all
understand that. So it's not like there's this pressure around it,
you know, like now it's unfolding and like now we're meeting,
and so it makes sense. And so I think now
(33:31):
we'll just continue to like champion each other and navigate
and find ways like you all are learning too that
I like stuff to be done a certain way, and
you know, likewise because we like to keep the taste
of it and not dilute the brand. So I think
having that understanding too really helps, you know. So it's
(33:54):
just not hey, we're just doing something, but it's actually intentional,
you know.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
So yeah, I love that, and I think everything you
said I agree with one thing too. I think that
you probably also have seen is people ask like how
they can be involved, and they want to be involved,
but they don't have any idea as to how, and
sometimes like we are just grassroots organizations and we're like,
like you said, like we're doing our best as quick
as we can to make an impact. So like if
(34:21):
you want to help how much? Ideas like how can
you help us? Because you must be coming to us
for some reason, you know. And so I find a
lot of times people toss the ball to us and
then I'm like, okay, but like, how do you want
to support us?
Speaker 6 (34:37):
Yeah, I think that's so important what you said too,
because there's people that say.
Speaker 5 (34:42):
Oh, I want to help, and then I'm like, okay, well,
because I'm doing the work.
Speaker 6 (34:46):
We're the work is already happening, you know, So like
I'm a person that I turn you know, ideas into
action and likewise too, so when people saying they want
to be involved, like definitely get involved. And I that's
also I don't reach out sometimes too because it's like, well,
I'm doing the work, so why worry about everything else
(35:08):
when it's happening. And I'm sure you all feel the
same way, like you all are doing the work, so
what else?
Speaker 5 (35:16):
But you know, but yeah, I think like, of course
there's with intention.
Speaker 6 (35:21):
I think that's super important. Like I'm sure that's why
you turn it into a nonprofit. That's very intentional, So
keep it, you know, that alignment.
Speaker 5 (35:32):
So yeah, but.
Speaker 4 (35:35):
If you need uh, yeah, I mean, if you want
to do like some zooms or something with your with
a collective, we could do like some info sessions where
like Jet and I can talk about record cutting or
something if.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
You really want to. Ye, I've been to her studio
when she had it at any Lot.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
Yeah, the new one looks hype really, Oh my god,
it's so cool. Yeah, shout out to Jack Galindo. Yeah.
But yeah, I mean all that kind of stuff is
you know, we can absolutely make those kind of things
(36:21):
available to anyone also, not just not just you mis
shut it, but I mean we want to we want
to make it, we want to take this. You know,
worldwide is the is the goal? What's the goal for you?
What do you what's the blue sky? What's the blue sky? Aspirational?
(36:42):
What do you? What do you want to see for
yourself in like the next year?
Speaker 5 (36:46):
Yes, worldwide? You didn't, losers, We're going to Yeah, Yeah,
I think that's the thing.
Speaker 6 (36:56):
Like really having the collectives and having the communities actually
be able to spotlight like their local communities is super important.
So doing that, I know, that's like a slow build
because like right now I have it as like an LLC,
So I'm still trying to navigate what I need to
be doing, you know, properly to make those expansions happen.
(37:21):
But yeah, I'm like into doing actual like intentional projects
and personal projects that like integrate into Black ros Lavinyl
as well that kind of do with some more storytelling
and archiving in a sense too. So I think just
kind of bringing in the art of other aspects to
(37:43):
my personal art and working with more artists that I know,
and you know, just all the things that can really
kind of forge communities to be built out well.
Speaker 5 (37:58):
In different areas, so awesome. Well, why thank you.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
Well, Robin? Oh yeah, I don't know. I didn't give
her heads up on this one. Have you listened to
the podcast before?
Speaker 5 (38:15):
I was saying close forgive me right?
Speaker 4 (38:19):
No, No, it's perfect. No, it's good, it's good, it's good.
Not so you know, everybody always asks like a silly
question on a podcast, and mostly I find that when
people have record podcasts, it's like, what's their desert island record?
Blah blah blah blah blah. And I thought that that
(38:41):
was far too easy, so we incorporated if you could
make your own custom seven inch record with anything on
the A side and anything on the B side, Because
I'm a liathe gutter and I could do that kind
of stuff, even though I don't make bootlegs. I don't
do it. But hypothetically, if you were going to make
(39:02):
your own Alexandria Shade custom seven inch record, what would
be on the A side and what would be on
the B side?
Speaker 5 (39:10):
Okay, Lannie Lissa Smith a gardener piece.
Speaker 4 (39:16):
She's so prepared.
Speaker 5 (39:17):
No, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
I didn't even blink.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
No, I've picked that one because that's a song that
I replayed a lot when I started collecting, So do
you have do you have that record?
Speaker 2 (39:32):
I do?
Speaker 6 (39:33):
Okay, great, Okay, go sound cliche.
Speaker 5 (39:38):
I'm trying not to say, by the.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
Way, I mean, she's an icon. It's fine.
Speaker 6 (39:44):
So I'm trying to think. So that's why I'm not prepared,
especially for a B side.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
Yeah, sometimes the B sides get wacky. Then you can
go there, mm hmm.
Speaker 5 (39:56):
Yeah, that's a good one.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
Yeah. No matter what you pick, it's not wrong. That's
that's the other thing, like, there's no wrong answers. Here's side.
It's not science.
Speaker 5 (40:10):
I'm trying to think of something that I play a lot.
Speaker 6 (40:12):
Okay, I'm gonna pick something really kind of left, but
it's on the hip hop side, right, I'm gonna go with.
Speaker 5 (40:22):
See, this is the thing. I'm trying to figure out
which song from this person.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
I mean, if they're under like three minutes, if you're
a good record cutter, you could get two songs on
the B side. I would give you. I would give
you a two songs B side.
Speaker 5 (40:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (40:38):
H nobody's really ever asked for it before you.
Speaker 6 (40:45):
Only because it kind of okay, a West Side gun song.
But I'm not sure what track, especially because I've been
listening to this new album and I really like the
Gumbo Yah yah song, and it really just makes since
versus my let He's a Leo and I'm a Leo
and sometimes he kind of says my imposal adults.
Speaker 4 (41:07):
Praps.
Speaker 6 (41:09):
So I'm really gonna go left with that, especially because
like if I have Lannie was smooth and.
Speaker 5 (41:16):
Over hey makes sense to me.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
No, that's that's exactly what it's for. I mean, I
don't know that I've actually ever answered the question for myself.
So yeah, so I I mean, I'm sure mine would
probably be pretty pretty eclectic too. Yeah, probably like a
probably like a hardcore A side and then like a
country B side.
Speaker 5 (41:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
I feel like I would probably do something like Black
Sabbath on one side, of course, and then Rupaula on
the other.
Speaker 4 (41:50):
Yeah, just super model Supermudel on the B side.
Speaker 5 (41:54):
Or something. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (41:57):
I was thinking even like Missy Yello, Missy Elliott or
Calice too.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
But I have that I have. Uh, I hate you
so much right now, I have that twelve inch I do,
I do?
Speaker 3 (42:08):
I do?
Speaker 4 (42:09):
Yeah? I used to DJ that too?
Speaker 5 (42:11):
Nice?
Speaker 4 (42:13):
So are you do you do you DJ out? Are
you DJing or are you just clickeding on and like
playing some records on the side sometimes?
Speaker 5 (42:22):
What are you doing well tomorrow?
Speaker 6 (42:25):
Oh so I was asked to come on the Lot Radio,
which is here in New York City in Brooklyn, to
kind of bring some of my favorite records and play
some tracks.
Speaker 5 (42:42):
But is it not be like this full fledge. You're
not about to get blenden for me, none of them.
Speaker 4 (42:48):
Nobody, nobody asked you to mix. That's fine, it's fine mix.
Speaker 5 (42:52):
But I have actually studied a little bit at.
Speaker 6 (42:56):
The Beat Junkies their own oh yeah, yeah, their Institute
of Sound in Glendale, believe that location. But yeah, I
did learn from them, and then I had like a
mixer at the time and two turntables. Oh again, this
was like seventeen.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
Would you say, jed you to get your organization, our
organization and beat junkies together.
Speaker 5 (43:21):
Yeah that yeah.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
So what five records are you taking?
Speaker 3 (43:28):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (43:28):
I'm taking like she told me, were like ten or fifteen?
Speaker 4 (43:31):
Oh great, love that. Do you got any? Are those
the ones on your floor right now? Are you like
giving them a test sin to be like, yeah, this
one's good, Oh that one skips? Oh no, I'm taking
this one.
Speaker 6 (43:42):
It's so hard to figure out because I'm also kind
of honored when I am honoring our Black History Month
series that we're doing, so I'm kind of picking two
from each of the prompts. Oh so yeah, I have
like a Grant Green record because he's from Saint Louis.
Speaker 5 (44:00):
I have that. I have Cleisa have Oh Robert roberta
flag rest in peace.
Speaker 4 (44:06):
R I P what a loss today, My gosh to.
Speaker 5 (44:10):
Her and Gwynn McCrae also, But yeah, I'm trying to
figure that out what I would like, uh set confirm
for tomorrow. But I'm very excited about it.
Speaker 4 (44:23):
So yeah, that's great. Do you have any other things
that you want to hype and rap? And like, how
can how can we hype what? What? How can I
be your hype man right now? Because I've got my
hands in the air for the people that can't see me,
they are just listening to me. I live to be
a hype man. I think it's the funnest thing in
the world.
Speaker 6 (44:41):
Yeah, you know, it's so funny because I had this joke.
I don't know why I did this, but I told
everybody on Friday and our last deluxe edition, I was like.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
This is going to be the last or wow. They
were like, no, but that's not true. So I don't
know why I would spread a joke like that.
Speaker 6 (45:03):
In a sense of I meant like how it was
going to be nightlife, not like but they took it
as like, oh my god.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
No.
Speaker 5 (45:11):
But so there would be another deluxe edition.
Speaker 6 (45:13):
It will be introduced in a new way in LA
next month, and there's a couple.
Speaker 5 (45:22):
Other things lined up.
Speaker 6 (45:23):
I'm waiting for some confirmation, so I don't want to
say for sure, but yeah, I mean right now, we're
kind of having things mapped out till May, if everything
goes as planned till May right now, but that's great,
Say just keep looking out for deluxe edition and meetups.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
So cool now, hype your hype, your I G hypier.
Do you have TikTok too? Like how what give us
all your socials? Tell the people how they can follow
you if they don't already.
Speaker 6 (45:55):
Yeah, follow obviously, Black Girls the vinyl you know, just
I said it's built that way. My personal is shy days,
so s h y dot d a z E, which
is a playoff my middle name. We have TikTok, we
have a website, Black girlsovitl dot com. We're also on Twitter,
(46:18):
but we're not posting like that, so maybe we're on
threads things that kind of go from Instagram and go.
Speaker 5 (46:26):
To the threads YouTube as well.
Speaker 6 (46:29):
Black girls in vinyl, all the things, all the things.
Speaker 4 (46:35):
Can't get away from them, nor should you follow them,
help them, hype them. Yeah, so glad we were able
to make it happen.
Speaker 6 (46:46):
Yes, thank you all so much for having me. And
I'm just looking forward to like staying in contact too.
Speaker 4 (46:52):
Oh yeah, get ready, we're all getting my best buddies.
It's I love this. This is great for all of us. Yeah,
this is exciting. I mean there's no way that we
can't get Mona Lisa involved in this too.
Speaker 5 (47:08):
Absolutely. Yes.
Speaker 4 (47:13):
Oh I love Spinderella. She's such a homie yo. That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (47:19):
Beverly Bond too, I think she's amazing too.
Speaker 4 (47:22):
Oh cool, Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's rare.
Speaker 5 (47:24):
With all the people. Whatever, let's make a whole of it.
Speaker 4 (47:28):
Yeah, I mean we'll have to take it offline and
make some plans so that all of you planner box
checkers are happy with the outline suggested before we table
it and take it to a meeting and make sure
everybody's good. Do you guys have a discord?
Speaker 5 (47:56):
No, should we have?
Speaker 4 (47:58):
I mean we're building one right now now, and like
Jet and I are are both very focused on the
discord just because it's like kind of an interesting place
to keep conversations, and you know, it's like a very
real time kind of thing. You can have Twitch integrations
with it, so people can go live and they can
(48:18):
DJ on it, or they can you know, you can
host a meet up live on it and all those
kind of things. I mean, I'm not telling you how
to do your business obviously, but you can. You can
integrate your Patreon and stuff on it too, so you
can put it like with a paywall so that you
can keep the maybe n'ardy wills out of it. So
(48:40):
you have to be a member or invited to be
able to come to it, but then that way, yeah,
I mean, you can like sell tickets through like event
bread and stuff like that. So if you're then all
of those ducats will come into your pocket smam, right,
because that's where we're got to get this. Yes, yeah,
(49:03):
that's right. So so yeah, I mean we'll put out
all your things on all of our things, and it'll
be a really good time.
Speaker 5 (49:13):
Yes, I can't wait to share. Also, so this would
be nice where we want to see.
Speaker 4 (49:17):
Yeah, well, this has been brought to you by Black
Girls Vinyl, Us, Girls of Vinyl too, Women in Vinyl,
all of the people that love vinyl all together, one
happening little LoveFest on this podcast. Like subscribe, comment down below,
(49:38):
go to Deluxe edition. I mean that's worth the plane
ticket for me alone. Let's go and maybe there will
be a little team up in the near future. This
has been the Women in Vinyl Podcast. Go to Women
Vinyl dot com. Check out the job board if you're
looking for a job. Hit up the resources if you
(49:58):
want to learn a thing. Record store days coming. We
have an incredible list of record stores that are women
own't and you can go there support them. All right, well,
Womenivinyl dot Com, Black Girls Love Vinyl dot Com. Do
all the things. Uh, get on our Patreon, give us
(50:21):
some money so we can do some more cool stuff.
We're looking at you, Dolly Parton.
Speaker 5 (50:28):
All right, yance.
Speaker 3 (50:30):
Two, Well, thank you so much, Alex. It was so
wonderful and yeah, we'll definitely be in touch. Heck yeah,
I love it, love heck yeah.
Speaker 4 (50:41):
Yeah, right back atch you girl, Thanks so much for
making the time. Good luck on the radio tomorrow. That's
so exciting. I love it. Let us know how it goes.
We'll do awesome. I want to know what those records are.
Speaker 5 (50:59):
You will know, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (51:01):
Awesome already Hie, Happy Monday.
Speaker 1 (51:10):
This episode has been brought to you by Women in
Vinyl and Red Spade Records. Thank you for listening. Please
remember to subscribe, and you can always contact us directly
by visiting www dot Women in Vinyl dot com
Welcome to the Women in Vinyl Podcast with Jen Dugenio,
founder of Women in Vinyl, and contributor Robin Raymond. This
podcast facilitates conversations with those working in the vinyl record
industry to educate, demystify, and diversify the vinyl community.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Welcome to episode fifty nine of the Women in Vinyl Podcast.
Today we're joined by Alexandria Sade, the founder of Black
Girls Love Vinyl, a community driven organization dedicated to amplifying
the voices of Black women in the vinyl culture while
preserving and sharing the rich stories of their contributions in
music history. From her passion for preserving black women's history
(00:47):
to collaborating with industry giants like Motown to Audio Technica,
Alexandria's work is shaping the future of vinyl culture. Enjoy
an inspiring conversation about music entrepreneurship and cultural preservation.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Well welcome, Alex. We're so glad to have you, and
I spent a long time coming.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
I feel yeah, longtime friends on the internet, first time
visiting on the internet.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
It's like perfect time.
Speaker 4 (01:17):
Yeah, and all of our outfits match for those of
you watching it home, so that's nice too.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
So for those that don't know, why don't you tell
our listeners a little bit about you and your organization.
Speaker 6 (01:31):
Yeah, so Alexandria's Shade, and actually Shady is my middle name,
and I go buy alex Ali We're Shaday. I'm originally
from Saint Louis, Missouri. I have been a music lover
since I was a kid. My aunt has got me
into music. My dad he loves like craftwork and like
(01:52):
West Coast music, and my mom loves like Jesess move jazz.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
My grandparents the same way and a lot of jazz.
Speaker 6 (01:59):
And yeah, I mean I started Black Girls Love Vinyl
in twenty eighteen when I was living in Los Angeles,
which was a super crazy time because I went out
there for something else and ended up doing music and
commercial acting and modeling all these different things. And so
that's really kind of what sparked the interest to have
(02:20):
a platform like Black Girls of the Vinyl and highlight
the community because I was modeling my record collections around
and prior to that, I actually had a music blog
called Glow of Sunrise, which I kind of tied in
like the science aspect.
Speaker 5 (02:36):
Of my background. I went to Schooper Science, So yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
She is science lady too, not just the stunner, but
also has the brains to back it up. As a
fellow science scientist ex scientist, I can I like that. Yeah,
what kind of science to do? Do?
Speaker 6 (02:57):
Just general biology, ecology, organismal was my concentration. Okay, one
of the toughest time in my life actually, so it
wasn't like the brightest moment, but you know, I made.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
It through academics. Rarely is the like the time where
we're like, yes, you know what's so fulfilling, very rewarding.
Totally got reinforced the whole entire way. Yes, yes, I'm
with you. So that's so that brought you to Los Angeles?
Were you studying?
Speaker 5 (03:29):
So I actually went to school in Virginia.
Speaker 6 (03:31):
I went to HBCU called Hampton University, So yeah, it's
the other HU. If you're familiar with HBCU life, there's
Howard and then there's us at the university in Hampton, Virginia,
which was super nice actually, you know, right by the water.
So I did utilize like decompressing there and then obviously,
(03:55):
like my love for Vinyl started and also college as well.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
All right, and who introduced you to I know.
Speaker 6 (04:03):
My friend who was also a biology major who is
now like this insane botanist. Yeah, so I found out
that he had like a record collection, and I actually
went over. We lived in like the same apartment complex,
living off campus, and I went over to his place
and he had like all these jazz records, like Herbie Man,
(04:26):
Herbie Hancock, even like some just like mad Lib and
Loo Pac and just all these different records.
Speaker 5 (04:36):
And then we ended up.
Speaker 6 (04:37):
Going to a record shop also that day called American
Odies in Newport News, Virginia, which unfortunately is not around
with us today. But yeah, my first record that I
bought was a Hiroshima record. I bought that record purely
off of discovery. And I also bought like this Irish
record too, which I can't find but I'm sure, I'm
(05:00):
sure it's here.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
But yeah, I feel okay. So I have to know
is your collection organized, because we never asked that, like
more than we're not listen.
Speaker 5 (05:12):
I wish because I've moved so much.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I mean another one, I don't. I don't organize my
records at all.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
I actually want at all. I actually love to.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
I keep saying that it's like a nice idea, but
I'm like, no, there's yeah, I'd rather be listening to
them than cataloging. That just seems like school work to
me now that I'm not.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
Interested in Jen, is yours organized?
Speaker 3 (05:40):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
You know?
Speaker 5 (05:41):
Girls that's heard?
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Hellow just give her a give her a little give
her a little taste. Jen, how is your record collection organized?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Genre?
Speaker 5 (05:55):
All? You're like you?
Speaker 6 (06:00):
That's yeah, I'm trying to get like you.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
That's a problem. This is a queen Bee for a reason.
But I mean that's you. Okay, So what are we
talking with collection?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Here?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
How many pieces do you have?
Speaker 5 (06:19):
So you know what's crazy?
Speaker 6 (06:20):
Because I started like in Virginia, and then I moved
from Virginia to like back home first, and then to
l A and like oh, and then to DC, so
just moving around. I'm also kind of giving people like records,
giving them away. But I feel like behind me I
have oh my god, I feel like they're all around
scattered on the floor right now too, so they're not
(06:42):
even properly.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
No, that's great, I love it.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
No, I always say I don't know.
Speaker 6 (06:48):
This is always a hard question. I at least am
filling up my eight block show, so I will say
that I don't right now, because I was traveling so much,
I didn't like to have a time records.
Speaker 5 (07:01):
I couldn't help it. But now I'm like, I'm ready
to keep growing.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
They're very inconvenient at the best of times. The gift
that keeps on giving. But I mean, lady Jen is
up over what over three three K four K? Yeah,
So I mean her organizational skills are just I mean,
i'd yeah, i'd never have you just have like an
(07:28):
honorary masters in library scizes by Now.
Speaker 5 (07:37):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
Well.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So Black Girl's Little Vinyl was established to provide a
platform black women music, So we want to talk about that.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
What challenges did you face creating base you She's like,
which one did I not fase?
Speaker 6 (07:57):
I mean, I guess, you know, at first, it really
was just to highlight like our storytelling and just to
showcase like our music taste, which was you know, more easier.
But you know, you're paying for a website to kind
of host this on, to have like these articles and
things like that, and you know you're trying to post
like you are the social media manager. You know, you
(08:20):
are your marketing person.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
So I know you understand. Oh I'm not a nonprofit,
but I know that not.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
What you could be.
Speaker 5 (08:29):
It's a lot of work.
Speaker 6 (08:30):
It's a lot of work, but it is commenable word.
So I do love that you are nonprofit. But yeah,
I mean the challenges are definitely there still today, you know,
because like I recently just added a intern for the
first time, which I was very nervous about doing, but
it's been great, So yeah, I would say that, and
(08:51):
just the unexpected cost of like every little thing you
want to do, and then trying to like navigate doing events,
which is something I need really just started doing like
last year around this time. So and then also like
I do work in music too, so it's like trying
to manage that and the ups and downs of being
(09:13):
in the music industry and running a platform fully in
a full capacity where it looks like it's a multiple people,
a whole collective and all these different things, but it's
really just me behind it.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
A little shut it, just doing the Lord's work over here.
I mean Genos Gendos, Yes, are you are you? I
mean Jen likes to say she's a control freak. I
say that she just has, you know, an obsession with
getting things right. Are you one of those people as well?
Speaker 5 (09:48):
I am a Leah, Yes, a little bit.
Speaker 6 (09:53):
You know, you just wanted to be right, you know,
like you want to have the logistics down.
Speaker 5 (09:58):
You know, you just want to make sure you're nys if.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
You're bringing people into to make it easier for them,
or you know, you definitely want to compensate well too.
You don't want just to like leave people hanging, because
I understand, like as women, like, it's already tough enough
and you just want to like be fair. So I
think those are the other aspects that go into it.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
But beyond like just being a controlled person.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Yeah, yeah, and you have a specific point of view
and like a viewpoint that you need to protect, much
like we do with women in vinyl too, So you know,
you want to get it right. You don't want it
to get diluted. You don't want to have the wrong person,
you know, taking that message and maybe distorting it a
little bit like yeah, we get you, we see you, mama,
(10:45):
we see you.
Speaker 5 (10:45):
Yes, it feels good to be seen.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
A safe space. You're welcome here absolutely.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
I was like reading piercing of your FAQ's and I
think it was interesting. I saw one that was like,
you don't have to be a black woman to be
a part of this, but like that still helps what
you're trying to do. And it's interesting because I think
we see the same thing as like men don't always
understand that they're allies and so they're still a part
(11:15):
of it.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
They can still be a part.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Of Women in Vinyl in Vinyl have to be women.
But obviously that's our main mission. So I thought that
was really interesting. And your faques do you run into
a lot of stuff like that for events?
Speaker 6 (11:32):
Yeah, I mean, like what you said, you know, we
just want to make sure that women are the forefront though,
like the black women that we are, you know, at
the forefront of our storytelling it on binary also just
because you know, that is the platform and I feel
like our stories need to be told. But of course,
like for events, you know, especially when they're more like
(11:53):
nightlife ones, I feel like, you know, we can share
space with the community, you know, other people, as long
as that they are respectful.
Speaker 5 (12:01):
I think that's like super important to me.
Speaker 6 (12:05):
I know, we got to run into something small like
our last event on Friday, but you know, it was
just kind of like it was at the end of
the week of the event, and I was just telling
a person like, hey, you need to let you out, maybe.
Speaker 5 (12:17):
Leave, please leave.
Speaker 6 (12:21):
But that was like the first time I've seen anything happen,
and it wasn't even it didn't even get super escalated
to the point, you know, where anyone was harmed. I
would say, they want something else, what happened?
Speaker 4 (12:34):
They want you to someone else play my request right now.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
No, it was just I don't know because also we
were sharing space.
Speaker 6 (12:43):
You know, like there's alcohol and stuff if it's at
the hotel, so you know, maybe they weren't even really
there or Black Girl's levinyl, but not understanding what we do.
But I just know that I have to keep everyone safe,
and you know, if I see someone's just doing something wrong, obviously,
can you please excuse yourself?
Speaker 5 (13:05):
Please? But yeah, that was the only time that happened.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
Oh that's good. I mean, what other kind of events
are you trying to do?
Speaker 6 (13:12):
So we have done like meetups like at record shops
and making sure that we bring in like an educator
in who like specializes maybe in music preservation, even archiving,
or you know, just have deeper knowledge that they can
kind of share with us, and even like learning from
the record shop owners like their day to day process.
(13:33):
So I do like doing those we've only done too,
but I would love to see more of those happen
here on the East Coast and even on the West
Coast too, since we're occupying like heavily in those suit spaces.
Just kind of anything that really is about, you know,
kind of educating us even like audio foul cultures is
(13:55):
important to me to like learning that and have an
exposure to you know, high end equipment and you know,
more like dialogue storytelling type of events. I think is
also important. And sharing like our music tastes because I
have like a lot of different collectic like genres and
things to you know, collecting like a few Japanese records
(14:16):
and stuff like that, Like I would love to share
those in spotlight those things, and also honing in just
on my network of people that I know in the
industry and just you know, sharing space with the platform
of those people as well taste makers and you know
you all as well, Like anyway we can just like
(14:38):
bring in the right people that can share information.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
I was gonna say, I smell it. I smell a
team up here.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
I would love to.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Yeah, yeah, what part of the music business are you working.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
In so right now, Okay, So I've worked in all
different as. I was in marketing, single licensing, and also
like operations at the Recording Academy was like my last
more full time role and then now I'm working on
a TV project.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
It was just announced Little keV.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
It's a Kevin Hart animated series that's going to be
on beut Plus. I worked in the music supervision department
under a music.
Speaker 5 (15:23):
Supervisor as the music assistant.
Speaker 6 (15:25):
So that has been like a very role that I'm
very passionate about in that field, and so I'm excited
to keep pushing.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
Forward with the.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Yeah cool, congratulations, thank you, thank you. That little Dynamo
has got lots going on for him. It's a big
little guy. Yeah yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (15:53):
So I mean we talk about community and how like
inclusive and happy our own little things like we're like,
oh yeah, I haven't been a cover of the party,
but this ride has not always been like that for everyone.
So I mean, if there's anybody that's listening that is
(16:14):
maybe a black woman that is interested in records that's
either on the West Coast or the East coast or
the North coast, step by me up here in Canada.
What would you recommend to them to get involved with
either your organization or a record collecting initiative in their area.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Yeah, I mean even start your own you know, like
I'm still building, you know, I rather go slow and steady.
They try to be super fast and get it wrong.
So yeah, I think for me, like though it's been
like seven years, has been a good seven years for me,
like pacing it out, and I'm still trying to get
the logistics down for like collectives to operate in spaces.
(16:56):
So I'm about the slow build. But you know, you
can are now, like you can kind of form your
own meetup or something like if you're in Canada, like
have a meet up there, and you know, in these
different areas and you know, obviously use resources like Women
in Vinyl to learn more about who are in the
spaces as well, and obviously my platform as well, Black
(17:19):
Girls the Vinyl. So it's it's different communities to tap into.
And there's probably already one you know locally that's already happening.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
There's a lot of DJ communities obviously starting there too.
Speaker 6 (17:31):
Vinyl DJs has been a thing for a long time,
so it's been around, so just continue tapping in and
being open minded.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
So yeah, I think.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
That for sure, that's great.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
What about I know that there sometimes feels like the
barrier of entry.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Have any advice for that For collecting records the hobby, Yeah,
I think.
Speaker 5 (17:57):
You really should go in with an open mind.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
When I started, I was on a budget, like I'm
talking about deep budget. I was like, I'm not going
over ten dollars.
Speaker 5 (18:07):
I love it for records.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
I was like, if it's not Hunderton, I'm not getting it.
So I think having that curiosity of discovery because that's
the first record I've bought, Like, I've never heard of
Hroshima the time, So having that in my collection just
kind of kept forging the relationship and trust of my
intuition to find records like that and just be open minded,
(18:29):
while also along the way adding you know, records that
I'm familiar with, then just being patient. I think now
it's a little bit different because it is more expensive.
So you know, we were lucky getting kind of like
those known records maybe that you were brought up on
listening to for a cheaper price and for good quality too.
(18:50):
But I think just being open minded, even spend time
in the record shop for a minute, Like if you
see something that you've never heard before, and maybe the
cover art is what I would take you go beyond
the cover art, you know, maybe have your phone and
I don't know, look up any songs or you may
see like the credits or something in the liner notes
about like Stevie Wonder might have produced something that you
(19:13):
didn't know that but that interests you. So just go
beyond the cover art and just be open minded, explore
different genres, just you know, all the things.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
Just have fun.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
Yeah, have you ever picked a record based on the
cover and then just been like, oh, yeah, that that
one just didn't hit right? Nope, Nope, absolutely okay, because
I mean I always have. I used to go record
shopping and like go through the dollar bins and I
be like, oh, yeah, this one looks cool, and then
oh yeah, that one was not that cool, and then
(19:47):
you just kind of like you still hang on to
it because you're like, oh, maybe I'll give it another chance.
Maybe I just you know, maybe maybe future maybe future
me will like it better. And it never happens, never happens.
I'm glad that I'm not alone. I mean, no, you're
not alone.
Speaker 5 (20:04):
In terms the cover is awful, and then you're.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Like, yeah, that happened a lot in the eighties though,
you know, they were very experimental.
Speaker 5 (20:14):
When you have to go beyond the car so that
weighs no money.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Yeah, it's true, it's true. I mean I love a
I love a bulk jacket for that reason. When the
record store is just like, oh, this one just came
in super thrash, so we're just gonna throw it in
a white like a white disco bag, and you're like, yeah, Finn.
Speaker 7 (20:37):
Well the luxe edition series h that you have. Could
you collaborate on that or collaborate on that?
Speaker 5 (20:45):
The impact? Oh my god.
Speaker 6 (20:48):
Yeah. So that started when I was working at the
Recording Academy, So I was heavily doing events there with
them and the nominee celebration and going to all the events.
And I actually met some of the ladies that has
been following the platform at a Grammy event, and so
it was so funny because they didn't even know who
(21:08):
I was, and I'm just over here taking content doing
all the things, and they're like, oh, yeah, she wants
to get content.
Speaker 5 (21:15):
Gathering together and stuff.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
And then eventually I'm like, oh yeah, I'm Alex with
Black Girls Leviny like thank you so much for your
support and all those.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
Things, and they were like, wait, you're Alex.
Speaker 6 (21:24):
You've run the whole thing. And so they were like,
we have to do something. How long are you in town?
And I'm like, yeah, we should do something. So I
connected with jay Lee, who's an amazing DJ. Shout out
to her Jaylee Daniel, and we just you know, kind
of build through conversation over the phone while I was.
Speaker 5 (21:43):
Out in LA and then I was like, you know what.
She was like, let's do something.
Speaker 6 (21:49):
I have like a space and I was like, okay,
I'll come up with an event name because I'm so like,
I'm a person that has a bunch of notes of
like ideas of names, like a ton of names just
my notes app.
Speaker 5 (22:01):
And I just couldn't come up with a name like immediately.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
And so over time, like maybe two or three days
because we were like in crunch time, because we already
had locked in the venue. So I was exploring through,
you know, my list, and then I just went on
to like Apple Music on my phone and was like
looking at different albums and then I saw obviously like
deluxe edition.
Speaker 5 (22:23):
Parentheses and I'm like, deluxe edition, how does that sound?
Speaker 6 (22:26):
I kept just saying it out loud and running it
by my friends and stuff, and then I was like,
you know what, we're gonna go with that because we
don't have time, you know, locked in the flyer and everything,
and just we already knew what DJs because I had
met them actually on Valentine's Day, like all at once
at Go Line Bar. So yeah, so it was just
(22:50):
nice that we ended up making that a series and
a thing, and it's just been a hit, Like everyone
loves coming out to them, and it feels like a
listening ex experience.
Speaker 5 (23:01):
You know, more than a night life. Like in New York.
Speaker 6 (23:04):
It's a totally different energy than it is in LA.
Like a lot of people are like dancing a lot
in New York at the events. Even I was dancing,
Like there's footage of me just you know, having an
amazing time. And while in LA it's the same thing,
but we're all able to like chill out and maybe
just kind of absorb the music. And then all the
(23:24):
ladies have different tastes sharing their record collections and you
can just.
Speaker 5 (23:30):
Two DJs here in New York. So yeah, I love it.
Speaker 6 (23:36):
And it's just evolving too and looking forward to the
next one.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Do you do a limited number of them per year?
Are you looking to do like one a month or
what's what's the what's the goal?
Speaker 6 (23:47):
We strive to have a plan. It all depends on
locking in the venue, you know. I think that's kind
of what kind of navigates timony we have, and also
working with everyone's schedule because you want to make sure
that you know who you want involved is available. So
I think I don't put too much pressure on myself
(24:08):
around like we've got to have a set number, but
you know, the ladies will kind of be.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
Like I missed doing it, So when is the next one?
Speaker 6 (24:15):
And then that's when we will be like okay, like
we got to get on it somewhere and lock in.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
So yeah, I love that.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
So, I mean you've talked a lot about like storytelling
and how important that is to the original creation of
Black Girl's Lub Final. So where did that kind of
through line come from?
Speaker 6 (24:38):
Yeah, I mean, like I said, during college, like it
was the most depressing time of my life honestly, and
like collecting records really did save my life starting in college,
and I believe like the emotional connection that music really
kind of brought to me and just having because it
was times where I wasn't going to class, so I
(25:00):
was really yeah, I was just really down, like bad mentally,
and so I think for me, I just knew like
it was something deeper, and you know, like I don't
use my science degree, which we all make a joke about,
but I really don't and don't worry. So for me,
(25:21):
it became like expression and so like photos for me
were kind of helping with the storytelling. And you know,
I would like literally challenge myself to go out my
comfort zone because I was really shy too and I
wouldn't talk to people. So I've never been like a
social person or anything like that. I'm more of that now,
but I had to break out on my show, like
(25:43):
I didn't even meet a lot of people in college
like that. So I think this just really helped me
like get closer to my own story and journey and
realizing that my upbringing also too had a lot of
connection to me starting a platform like this like my
mom had me, and a lot of different things in
the community back in Saint Louis, just educational programs, dance,
(26:09):
I played like the flute and the piano, so play tennis,
just all doing these different hobbies and stuff. But the
music too, like going to school like she would play
smoo jazz. I'm like Paul Sup in a car. But
you know, like things like that really is a part
of the story of my life. So I just wanted
to like find community around that. Like I just knew
(26:33):
it had to be more women out there too that
connect to music on an emotional level. Not all the
time of like who's on this song, like who's playing
the flute here, who's like on the percussions or you
know those details, but also how are you able to
connect and how is the music changing your life and
how does it affect like your journey.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
So yeah, well so many of us are introverts, I feel,
and so it's nice to.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
And music help us all connect with each other.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
I mean, we were joking that as an executive board,
like this year, we decided to all take those personality
tests just to kind of maybe like collaborate as a group,
and all of us on the executive board were like
some version of an introvert. But then our executive board
are all extroverts, so we're like awesome at.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
Little Sparklers, Run Run, go do the thing. We'll encourage
you from behind our computers. Yeah, so you did you
find that that was a way that like your own
storytelling through the photos and like talking about a specific record.
Was that a way that more people started to gravitate
to the platform and ask you questions and want to
(27:49):
get involved and it kind of grow like that or
were you like, hey, lady DJs, so what do you
think about Stevie Wonder or this record? Like I can
just picture my self trying to start something me like, hey,
cool kids, this record. How do you feel about it?
Oh you don't?
Speaker 3 (28:06):
Like?
Speaker 6 (28:07):
Okay, that's exactly kind of what it was.
Speaker 5 (28:11):
I mean, like, I'm gonna be honest.
Speaker 6 (28:12):
I hid behind the Salange record so I didn't want
anyone to see my face. And I took that photo.
A friend of mine he captured that moment. But yeah,
I wanted to be.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
Behind the scenes.
Speaker 6 (28:24):
I just wanted to hide and like let everyone else
tell their stories. Because again, like I had the music
blog glow Summrise where I had a page and I
deactivated the page, but I had more of those photos
where you can see me kind of like all around
Los Angeles.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Modeling my records.
Speaker 6 (28:41):
But I would just start, like I started with that
one post, and then people that I knew already that
I that I knew that collective records and just asked
them to you know, answer a few questions and things
like that. I remember seeing like obviously women in Vinyl
and Vinyl LUTs, which is another amazing community and platform too,
(29:02):
So it was just nice already see like these things
happening too, and just expanding on the storytelling and reaching
out which again I'm going out my comfort zone and
that just was beautiful to see and drafting them up
on the website and yeah, so it's pretty much kind
of grown through others and.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
Not myself, which is a nice thing too. Kind of
validates your point of view and your idea where you're
just like, oh yeah, hey, people like this, so that
is great. Yeah, yes, but it's I mean, it's a
it's a nice way for you to like, you know,
show that a bunch of people like the same thing
and it's not just an old white guys club, because
(29:44):
I mean the second you said audio file, I was like,
oh god, no, don't do it, don't do it. I know,
but I mean, I get it, I get it. I
get it, but I don't get it at the same.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
Time, got to change the trajectory.
Speaker 4 (30:02):
Well, and that's why we're here, mama. That is what
we're doing. The way we're trying to use.
Speaker 5 (30:10):
We're doing it. We're all doing it. All of a sudden,
this is call. We're doing it.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Well, and what is a Vinyl community can we do
to better uplift like black women Vinyl?
Speaker 5 (30:25):
Stay that question one more time?
Speaker 3 (30:27):
So what can we do as a Vinyl community to
help uplift black women in Vinyl?
Speaker 5 (30:34):
I mean, I don't know, like support plafors like me.
I don't know. You can ask questions, just I don't know.
How do you all kind of see that too? Like
the expansion of.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
I mean, I think helping spread the word and kind
of creating ways for to amplify those voices, and like,
that's really something that we strive to do.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
I think that giving space for.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Those people to express themselves and share their point of
view is really important. I think a lot of times
people will be very loud, and sometimes it drowns out
the voices of the people that are trying to say
something and those of us who aren't extroverts or don't
feel comfortable necessarily or have imposter syndromes, and then you
(31:23):
talk about a lot don't really feel comfortable and so
but if they had that support, I think that would
make a difference.
Speaker 6 (31:33):
Yeah, I think exactly what you're saying, and just kind
of building off of that, like if there's any way
I can help obviously, you know, like I have the community,
so if anyway there's an extension there, like, I'm sure
there's ways now.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
We can work together.
Speaker 6 (31:48):
I think, you know, even this is a start, and
even before you all have been doing stuff too, so
I think just like keeping the open mindset to find
out different ways, which I believe that you all are doing.
So yeah, I mean you all have like a great
resource tab to like I've been exploring you all's like
resources and websites. I think I even apply to some
(32:10):
things you all have. So I think if there's ways
we can just collaborate on things more too, that also
would give you know, for all of us to kind
of help and pitch in, because I think it's super
important that we do merge together and celebrate the platforms together.
Speaker 4 (32:28):
Yeah, totally, I mean that that's kind of the thing
right because we're like we're just a bunch of little
I mean, we're white ladies over here, and we don't
want to be like, hey, do it our way, because
that is stupid. So I mean that's I think that's
one of the reasons that we ask, because we're like,
we don't want to tell you how to do your thing?
How can we how can we kick the ball together?
(32:50):
But like you know, we don't want you to do
the heavy lifting, but we want to definitely like you know,
know that we got you and will help to do
whatever whatever AIMSA that you have, Like we're obviously the
viewpoints are aligned, so yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 6 (33:09):
Yeah, And I just believe in right timing too, Like
you know, I don't think everything needs to be rush,
like you have to build out things and it takes
it's a step by step, and I know you all
understand that. So it's not like there's this pressure around it,
you know, like now it's unfolding and like now we're meeting,
and so it makes sense. And so I think now
(33:31):
we'll just continue to like champion each other and navigate
and find ways like you all are learning too that
I like stuff to be done a certain way, and
you know, likewise because we like to keep the taste
of it and not dilute the brand. So I think
having that understanding too really helps, you know. So it's
(33:54):
just not hey, we're just doing something, but it's actually intentional,
you know.
Speaker 3 (33:58):
So yeah, I love that, and I think everything you
said I agree with one thing too. I think that
you probably also have seen is people ask like how
they can be involved, and they want to be involved,
but they don't have any idea as to how, and
sometimes like we are just grassroots organizations and we're like,
like you said, like we're doing our best as quick
as we can to make an impact. So like if
(34:21):
you want to help how much? Ideas like how can
you help us? Because you must be coming to us
for some reason, you know. And so I find a
lot of times people toss the ball to us and
then I'm like, okay, but like, how do you want
to support us?
Speaker 6 (34:37):
Yeah, I think that's so important what you said too,
because there's people that say.
Speaker 5 (34:42):
Oh, I want to help, and then I'm like, okay, well,
because I'm doing the work.
Speaker 6 (34:46):
We're the work is already happening, you know, So like
I'm a person that I turn you know, ideas into
action and likewise too, so when people saying they want
to be involved, like definitely get involved. And I that's
also I don't reach out sometimes too because it's like, well,
I'm doing the work, so why worry about everything else
(35:08):
when it's happening. And I'm sure you all feel the
same way, like you all are doing the work, so
what else?
Speaker 5 (35:16):
But you know, but yeah, I think like, of course
there's with intention.
Speaker 6 (35:21):
I think that's super important. Like I'm sure that's why
you turn it into a nonprofit. That's very intentional, So
keep it, you know, that alignment.
Speaker 5 (35:32):
So yeah, but.
Speaker 4 (35:35):
If you need uh, yeah, I mean, if you want
to do like some zooms or something with your with
a collective, we could do like some info sessions where
like Jet and I can talk about record cutting or
something if.
Speaker 5 (35:51):
You really want to. Ye, I've been to her studio
when she had it at any Lot.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
Yeah, the new one looks hype really, Oh my god,
it's so cool. Yeah, shout out to Jack Galindo. Yeah.
But yeah, I mean all that kind of stuff is
you know, we can absolutely make those kind of things
(36:21):
available to anyone also, not just not just you mis
shut it, but I mean we want to we want
to make it, we want to take this. You know,
worldwide is the is the goal? What's the goal for you?
What do you what's the blue sky? What's the blue sky? Aspirational?
(36:42):
What do you? What do you want to see for
yourself in like the next year?
Speaker 5 (36:46):
Yes, worldwide? You didn't, losers, We're going to Yeah, Yeah,
I think that's the thing.
Speaker 6 (36:56):
Like really having the collectives and having the communities actually
be able to spotlight like their local communities is super important.
So doing that, I know, that's like a slow build
because like right now I have it as like an LLC,
So I'm still trying to navigate what I need to
be doing, you know, properly to make those expansions happen.
(37:21):
But yeah, I'm like into doing actual like intentional projects
and personal projects that like integrate into Black ros Lavinyl
as well that kind of do with some more storytelling
and archiving in a sense too. So I think just
kind of bringing in the art of other aspects to
(37:43):
my personal art and working with more artists that I know,
and you know, just all the things that can really
kind of forge communities to be built out well.
Speaker 5 (37:58):
In different areas, so awesome. Well, why thank you.
Speaker 4 (38:06):
Well, Robin? Oh yeah, I don't know. I didn't give
her heads up on this one. Have you listened to
the podcast before?
Speaker 5 (38:15):
I was saying close forgive me right?
Speaker 4 (38:19):
No, No, it's perfect. No, it's good, it's good, it's good.
Not so you know, everybody always asks like a silly
question on a podcast, and mostly I find that when
people have record podcasts, it's like, what's their desert island record?
Blah blah blah blah blah. And I thought that that
(38:41):
was far too easy, so we incorporated if you could
make your own custom seven inch record with anything on
the A side and anything on the B side, Because
I'm a liathe gutter and I could do that kind
of stuff, even though I don't make bootlegs. I don't
do it. But hypothetically, if you were going to make
(39:02):
your own Alexandria Shade custom seven inch record, what would
be on the A side and what would be on
the B side?
Speaker 5 (39:10):
Okay, Lannie Lissa Smith a gardener piece.
Speaker 4 (39:16):
She's so prepared.
Speaker 5 (39:17):
No, I'm not.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
I didn't even blink.
Speaker 6 (39:22):
No, I've picked that one because that's a song that
I replayed a lot when I started collecting, So do
you have do you have that record?
Speaker 2 (39:32):
I do?
Speaker 6 (39:33):
Okay, great, Okay, go sound cliche.
Speaker 5 (39:38):
I'm trying not to say, by the.
Speaker 4 (39:40):
Way, I mean, she's an icon. It's fine.
Speaker 6 (39:44):
So I'm trying to think. So that's why I'm not prepared,
especially for a B side.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
Yeah, sometimes the B sides get wacky. Then you can
go there, mm hmm.
Speaker 5 (39:56):
Yeah, that's a good one.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
Yeah. No matter what you pick, it's not wrong. That's
that's the other thing, like, there's no wrong answers. Here's side.
It's not science.
Speaker 5 (40:10):
I'm trying to think of something that I play a lot.
Speaker 6 (40:12):
Okay, I'm gonna pick something really kind of left, but
it's on the hip hop side, right, I'm gonna go with.
Speaker 5 (40:22):
See, this is the thing. I'm trying to figure out
which song from this person.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
I mean, if they're under like three minutes, if you're
a good record cutter, you could get two songs on
the B side. I would give you. I would give
you a two songs B side.
Speaker 5 (40:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (40:38):
H nobody's really ever asked for it before you.
Speaker 6 (40:45):
Only because it kind of okay, a West Side gun song.
But I'm not sure what track, especially because I've been
listening to this new album and I really like the
Gumbo Yah yah song, and it really just makes since
versus my let He's a Leo and I'm a Leo
and sometimes he kind of says my imposal adults.
Speaker 4 (41:07):
Praps.
Speaker 6 (41:09):
So I'm really gonna go left with that, especially because
like if I have Lannie was smooth and.
Speaker 5 (41:16):
Over hey makes sense to me.
Speaker 4 (41:21):
No, that's that's exactly what it's for. I mean, I
don't know that I've actually ever answered the question for myself.
So yeah, so I I mean, I'm sure mine would
probably be pretty pretty eclectic too. Yeah, probably like a
probably like a hardcore A side and then like a
country B side.
Speaker 5 (41:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
I feel like I would probably do something like Black
Sabbath on one side, of course, and then Rupaula on
the other.
Speaker 4 (41:50):
Yeah, just super model Supermudel on the B side.
Speaker 5 (41:54):
Or something. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (41:57):
I was thinking even like Missy Yello, Missy Elliott or
Calice too.
Speaker 4 (42:01):
But I have that I have. Uh, I hate you
so much right now, I have that twelve inch I do,
I do?
Speaker 3 (42:08):
I do?
Speaker 4 (42:09):
Yeah? I used to DJ that too?
Speaker 5 (42:11):
Nice?
Speaker 4 (42:13):
So are you do you do you DJ out? Are
you DJing or are you just clickeding on and like
playing some records on the side sometimes?
Speaker 5 (42:22):
What are you doing well tomorrow?
Speaker 6 (42:25):
Oh so I was asked to come on the Lot Radio,
which is here in New York City in Brooklyn, to
kind of bring some of my favorite records and play
some tracks.
Speaker 5 (42:42):
But is it not be like this full fledge. You're
not about to get blenden for me, none of them.
Speaker 4 (42:48):
Nobody, nobody asked you to mix. That's fine, it's fine mix.
Speaker 5 (42:52):
But I have actually studied a little bit at.
Speaker 6 (42:56):
The Beat Junkies their own oh yeah, yeah, their Institute
of Sound in Glendale, believe that location. But yeah, I
did learn from them, and then I had like a
mixer at the time and two turntables. Oh again, this
was like seventeen.
Speaker 3 (43:15):
Would you say, jed you to get your organization, our
organization and beat junkies together.
Speaker 5 (43:21):
Yeah that yeah.
Speaker 4 (43:25):
So what five records are you taking?
Speaker 3 (43:28):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (43:28):
I'm taking like she told me, were like ten or fifteen?
Speaker 4 (43:31):
Oh great, love that. Do you got any? Are those
the ones on your floor right now? Are you like
giving them a test sin to be like, yeah, this
one's good, Oh that one skips? Oh no, I'm taking
this one.
Speaker 6 (43:42):
It's so hard to figure out because I'm also kind
of honored when I am honoring our Black History Month
series that we're doing, so I'm kind of picking two
from each of the prompts. Oh so yeah, I have
like a Grant Green record because he's from Saint Louis.
Speaker 5 (44:00):
I have that. I have Cleisa have Oh Robert roberta
flag rest in peace.
Speaker 4 (44:06):
R I P what a loss today, My gosh to.
Speaker 5 (44:10):
Her and Gwynn McCrae also, But yeah, I'm trying to
figure that out what I would like, uh set confirm
for tomorrow. But I'm very excited about it.
Speaker 4 (44:23):
So yeah, that's great. Do you have any other things
that you want to hype and rap? And like, how
can how can we hype what? What? How can I
be your hype man right now? Because I've got my
hands in the air for the people that can't see me,
they are just listening to me. I live to be
a hype man. I think it's the funnest thing in
the world.
Speaker 6 (44:41):
Yeah, you know, it's so funny because I had this joke.
I don't know why I did this, but I told
everybody on Friday and our last deluxe edition, I was like.
Speaker 5 (44:49):
This is going to be the last or wow. They
were like, no, but that's not true. So I don't
know why I would spread a joke like that.
Speaker 6 (45:03):
In a sense of I meant like how it was
going to be nightlife, not like but they took it
as like, oh my god.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
No.
Speaker 5 (45:11):
But so there would be another deluxe edition.
Speaker 6 (45:13):
It will be introduced in a new way in LA
next month, and there's a couple.
Speaker 5 (45:22):
Other things lined up.
Speaker 6 (45:23):
I'm waiting for some confirmation, so I don't want to
say for sure, but yeah, I mean right now, we're
kind of having things mapped out till May, if everything
goes as planned till May right now, but that's great,
Say just keep looking out for deluxe edition and meetups.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
So cool now, hype your hype, your I G hypier.
Do you have TikTok too? Like how what give us
all your socials? Tell the people how they can follow
you if they don't already.
Speaker 6 (45:55):
Yeah, follow obviously, Black Girls the vinyl you know, just
I said it's built that way. My personal is shy days,
so s h y dot d a z E, which
is a playoff my middle name. We have TikTok, we
have a website, Black girlsovitl dot com. We're also on Twitter,
(46:18):
but we're not posting like that, so maybe we're on
threads things that kind of go from Instagram and go.
Speaker 5 (46:26):
To the threads YouTube as well.
Speaker 6 (46:29):
Black girls in vinyl, all the things, all the things.
Speaker 4 (46:35):
Can't get away from them, nor should you follow them,
help them, hype them. Yeah, so glad we were able
to make it happen.
Speaker 6 (46:46):
Yes, thank you all so much for having me. And
I'm just looking forward to like staying in contact too.
Speaker 4 (46:52):
Oh yeah, get ready, we're all getting my best buddies.
It's I love this. This is great for all of us. Yeah,
this is exciting. I mean there's no way that we
can't get Mona Lisa involved in this too.
Speaker 5 (47:08):
Absolutely. Yes.
Speaker 4 (47:13):
Oh I love Spinderella. She's such a homie yo. That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (47:19):
Beverly Bond too, I think she's amazing too.
Speaker 4 (47:22):
Oh cool, Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's rare.
Speaker 5 (47:24):
With all the people. Whatever, let's make a whole of it.
Speaker 4 (47:28):
Yeah, I mean we'll have to take it offline and
make some plans so that all of you planner box
checkers are happy with the outline suggested before we table
it and take it to a meeting and make sure
everybody's good. Do you guys have a discord?
Speaker 5 (47:56):
No, should we have?
Speaker 4 (47:58):
I mean we're building one right now now, and like
Jet and I are are both very focused on the
discord just because it's like kind of an interesting place
to keep conversations, and you know, it's like a very
real time kind of thing. You can have Twitch integrations
with it, so people can go live and they can
(48:18):
DJ on it, or they can you know, you can
host a meet up live on it and all those
kind of things. I mean, I'm not telling you how
to do your business obviously, but you can. You can
integrate your Patreon and stuff on it too, so you
can put it like with a paywall so that you
can keep the maybe n'ardy wills out of it. So
(48:40):
you have to be a member or invited to be
able to come to it, but then that way, yeah,
I mean, you can like sell tickets through like event
bread and stuff like that. So if you're then all
of those ducats will come into your pocket smam, right,
because that's where we're got to get this. Yes, yeah,
(49:03):
that's right. So so yeah, I mean we'll put out
all your things on all of our things, and it'll
be a really good time.
Speaker 5 (49:13):
Yes, I can't wait to share. Also, so this would
be nice where we want to see.
Speaker 4 (49:17):
Yeah, well, this has been brought to you by Black
Girls Vinyl, Us, Girls of Vinyl too, Women in Vinyl,
all of the people that love vinyl all together, one
happening little LoveFest on this podcast. Like subscribe, comment down below,
(49:38):
go to Deluxe edition. I mean that's worth the plane
ticket for me alone. Let's go and maybe there will
be a little team up in the near future. This
has been the Women in Vinyl Podcast. Go to Women
Vinyl dot com. Check out the job board if you're
looking for a job. Hit up the resources if you
(49:58):
want to learn a thing. Record store days coming. We
have an incredible list of record stores that are women
own't and you can go there support them. All right, well,
Womenivinyl dot Com, Black Girls Love Vinyl dot Com. Do
all the things. Uh, get on our Patreon, give us
(50:21):
some money so we can do some more cool stuff.
We're looking at you, Dolly Parton.
Speaker 5 (50:28):
All right, yance.
Speaker 3 (50:30):
Two, Well, thank you so much, Alex. It was so
wonderful and yeah, we'll definitely be in touch. Heck yeah,
I love it, love heck yeah.
Speaker 4 (50:41):
Yeah, right back atch you girl, Thanks so much for
making the time. Good luck on the radio tomorrow. That's
so exciting. I love it. Let us know how it goes.
We'll do awesome. I want to know what those records are.
Speaker 5 (50:59):
You will know, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (51:01):
Awesome already Hie, Happy Monday.
Speaker 1 (51:10):
This episode has been brought to you by Women in
Vinyl and Red Spade Records. Thank you for listening. Please
remember to subscribe, and you can always contact us directly
by visiting www dot Women in Vinyl dot com
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