Hartford Needs A Record Store
WHY THIRD SPACES LIKE SEMILLA ARE IMPORTANT.
Hartford has a lot of things, but one thing the city lacks is a go-to record store. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to dismiss the importance of a third place outside of work and home. However, the absence of communal spaces outside of bars with $15 drinks, results in a dull and boring environment. Hartford has its moments, but let’s face it – our city can be dry. Without meaningful gathering spaces, our phones have become the alternative to our offices and apartments, connecting us on the surface, but subtly keeping us apart. While social media provides an escape, a number of us are returning to older formats for solace – among them are vinyl records.
While Hartford may lack a robust record store, thankfully, we have Semilla Cafe + Studio. Cafes have a long history of serving as communal spaces, but as Joshua Jenkins shares, Semilla has something special. “Semilla has been this oyster for creating shared music experiences, through the Maroon and Pressing Plant events” – the latter being a new vinyl event series conducted by Josh and Semilla co-owner Elijah Hilliman. “[Pressing Plant] basically takes the at-home record listening experience and brings it to the general public. Music has such a rich history in Hartford from the jazz scene and Jackie McLean to the Hart School. A record shop is a way of paying tribute to music’s central role in Hartford’s culture.” Semilla has been trying to solidify its presence as a record store from the very beginning as the cafe launched a Technicity exhibition when it first opened.
Whether you grew up listening to your parents’ collection or have just recently discovered the medium, there is something undeniably sacred about listening to a record that Spotify Wrapped can’t touch. Record collector and photographer Max Gigle can attest, explaining, “The experience with a vinyl record is much different. You're engaging with something physical. You can often see art that's not just the music, whether it's the cover or the liner notes. You can often read about the artists or their thoughts and what the artist wanted to show you as a product. Then you put it on and playing it is another experience unto itself. You smell the old cardboard. You put on the wobbly record and you can hear the information that is coded into those grooves come through a mechanical system for you to hear. If there are scratches or pops and hisses, those supposed ‘flaws’ denote time. There’s this inherently romantic quality in listening to this produced item for your enjoyment. Engaging with that is an experience that I want more than just listening to music.”
The magic of making music tangible and experiencing it come alive brings people together, perhaps even inspiring them to pursue the art form themselves. Music at its very heart is a shared experience. Record collector and photographer Max Gigle can attest, stating, “In many places, a record store is also like a hub and a center for artists who also want to broaden their horizons, connect with a community or just have a space that they can identify in.”
Reflecting on his experiences in other cities, Gigle adds, “You go to a record store and in Boston or New York and you'll see just people talking to each other. That's one of the beautiful things about record stores. I can't tell you how many times I've been talking to the person behind the desk and someone that's been searching the stacks throws an idea out and suddenly there’s a group of people talking about the music they've explored and shows they've been to. Those kinds of experiences would absolutely add to Hartford's cultural fabric. Record stores are businesses at the end of the day, but many cities treat long-standing record stores like art centers and Hartford needs that.”
Home to countless vibrant cultures and rich musical traditions, Hartford is in need of a record shop where people can not only explore new artists and genres, but cultivate a love for music that will grow into its pursuit. Semilla provides a gateway to the hallowed format, inviting the community to engage with records, as well as our cultural heritage. That is why it’s our pleasure to announce the opening party for Hartford’s newest little record shop in collaboration with the cafe. Join us Sunday, December 17th at12-5 PM for wine, vinyl sets, and plenty of crates to dig from a bunch of our homies including Uncle Joe’s Records, Yankee Vinyl, and Little Lost Records. Wine will be provided by Palm Wine and Semilla will be serving light offerings from their menu. We hope to see you there.
