Resolution #1: Be Attentive

I think our modern technology has made some amazing changes in our world. However, our relationship with the things that really matter can suffer if we surrender all aspects of our lifestyle to convenience. Like with anything we love, it deserves time and attention. That’s when we get the most in return. The process involved with selecting and listening to vinyl encourages attentive listening. You are more likely to sit down and do absolutely nothing but listen when you’ve gone through the motions of putting on a record. Listening to vinyl can help rewire the brain for just this sort of meditation. My personal ritual is to try to listen to one album, every day. Meaning, I sit down and do nothing but listen to that album, all the way through. I don’t always get around to this. But I find that when I do, I am more mindful of the moments throughout the day. I’m not so quick to pull out my phone in moments of silence or awkwardness. I can just let the moment wash over me.

Resolution #2: Slow Down

“I just don’t have the time.” This is the mantra of our modern age. With all our conveniences, we seem to find less and less time in our day. Some may blame a sort of cosmic quickening. I think we’re just so distracted that we forget to stop, take a breath and just let life happen. Let the hypnotic rotation of a vinyl record remind you that some things need to go at their own speed.

Resolution #3: Be Happy With What You Have

This might seem counterproductive for a record store employee to talk about, but I think it’s important to maintain a healthy relationship with your vinyl. Like any healthy relationship, this means appreciating it for what it is and not what it will be. It’s easy to get obsessed with your vinyl collection and have that nagging feeling that it isn’t complete or isn’t big enough. But, maybe just occasionally stop, take a breath and ask yourself “have I spent enough time appreciating the things I have?” I’m sure some of you can relate to the other side of this, when you look at your collection and think, “this is too much. What have I done?”

Resolution #4: Appreciate and Accept the Ephemeral Nature of Life

I have an old, hand-cranked phonograph that only plays 78s. Over the years, I’ve acquired a handful of amazing titles that are in OK condition. My favorite thing to listen to are my Billie Holiday 78s. The way the music resonates off the resonator and cone makes it sound like Billie and the band are in the room with you. Here’s the thing about 78s… they are played with a very heavy, very sharp needle. This needle slowly eats away at records. On some of my 78s, I can hear how the sound has degraded from the first few listens. I’ve thought that maybe I should try to preserve these records and never play them again. But, what am I preserving? I’m simply preserving a material. I’m sure the recordings have all been digitized and are available on multiple CDs and 33s. But living isn’t about preservation. Life is what happens till death and death is simply the result of living. I play those records and I listen to them the way you listen to someone you love who has reached their twilight years.

Resolution #5: Be Your Own Person

Part of my grievance with the digital age of music is the lack of encouragement of you to choose your own path. The adventurous spirit has be replaced by algorithms. You can claim all you want about how your streaming service helped you find so many amazing bands. But those bands are selected based on an algorithm that wants to make the quickest path to the thing it’s programmed to think you’ll like. I’m not saying those bands are bad. In fact, it is broadly understood that those bands are good. So good in fact, that a computer has determined that most people like them. This is encouraging your brain to play it safe; only listen to stuff you immediately like; the stuff that sounds like all the other stuff you like. Imagine if that’s the way you listened to music your entire life. We need to grow as people. Part of that growth is finding new interest. If our interest are determined by machines, then who are we as humans.

Happy New Year, Everyone! Dario Miranda