Based in Eugene, Oregon, Moon Rock Records is a locally owned record store. When the co-owner Callie Dean opened the shop in 2017, it was motivated by her passion for the music and vinyl record industry. Dean grew up with a collection of records passed down from her dad and picking up records from yard sales. She was immersed in the record industry at an early age when she began interning at a record store. I had the chance to talk with Dean about her history within the industry and the ebbs and flows vinyl records have experienced over the years.
When asked “what type of musical knowledge does it take to be in the position you are now?”, Dean responded,
“An appreciation for all kinds of music. It’s not a bad thing to be an expert on some genres if that’s your thing, but it’s important to have a wide range of knowledge for all music.”
Moon Rock Records carries a broad selection of music genres, ranging from underground, punk rock, pop favorites like Taylor Swift and a consistently stocked section of MF Doom. They also have an international section for music from around the world. Working in a record store with such a variety of genres takes a special kind of knowledge and open mind for different types of music that defy what’s on the radio every day.
Dean and I spoke about the modern day appeal to vinyl records as being a combination of mental, emotional and physical experiences. With the popularization of the CD in the 1980’s, along with other mediums for listening to music, vinyl records have weathered countless storms only to remain prevalent in the music industry. Is there a specific quality vinyl records have that other mediums don’t reach? Dean spoke about the incomparable experience of listening to a vinyl record. She said;
“A lot of people comment on the physical experience of owning a record; looking at the cover, seeing if there’s anything inside the sleeves, and turning the record.”
Despite many other modes of listening to music that emerged with the advancement of technology, vinyl records continue to remain captivating. Depending on the medium, the sound and feeling varies. With a vinyl record, it’s a warmer and softer feel that CD’s or IPhone’s just don’t reach. When asked, “what do you hope for the future of vinyls?”, Dean replied,
“I hope that people take care of their records; the vintage classics and collectibles. They are time capsules.”
The fate of the record industry lies in the hands of future generations. With the constant change of standards and evolving generations, it’s almost certain that the record industry will remain after already enduring almost 80 years.
Cover image sourced from: “Moon Rock Records.” Visit Downtown Eugene, https://www.downtowneugene.com/explore/shop/moon-rock-records/.