Held on a Saturday in April, the event brings together record store owners, employees, customers and artists as they revel in their shared love for music.

One such store in a neighbourhood here that observes this special day is Teenage Head Records. Of course, there’s no physical celebration this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“In fact, April is usually known as the ‘music month’ as there are all sorts of events held in conjunction with Record Store Day,” said Faisal Hariz Roshdi, 32, manager of Teenage Head Records.

Established in 2014 by husband-and-wife-team Radzi Jasni and Linda Hat, the store sells records, CDs, cassettes as well as merchandise from both local and international artists.

“We focus mainly on alternative music, but we carry all kinds of genres. In fact, our current bestseller is pop star Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album,” he said, grinning.

Since music is a universal language, it’s only natural that the store attracts customers from all walks of life.

“They’re mostly college students, gig-goers and those who listen to indie music, but we also have a lot of customers who are fans of the older records, in addition to those who request for niche genres,” he said.

Record Store Day

Needless to say, Faisal has fond memories of previous Record Store Day celebrations.

“Besides the sale of special release records and a flea market, we also get independent musicians to perform. It’s nice seeing everyone come together and have a good time,” he told FMT.

Over the years, he has witnessed the crowd grow steadily. “We didn’t have sponsors back then; it was all very DIY and there was only a small gathering when we started.

“But it reached a point where it felt like it was a block party – so many people filled the street outside the store,” he reminisced, adding that it’s a way record stores give back to the community.

According to Faisal, some customers would start lining up outside the store as early as 6am in order to get a particular record released on that day.

Those who showed up later would inevitably miss out on the special releases as they would have sold out. “You could see their disappointment; this was when the Record Store Day trend was at its peak,” he said.

In addition, Teenage Head Records also typically celebrates Cassette Store Day, held annually in October.

Vinyl guide for beginners

Faisal often gets questions from those who want to start collecting vinyls.

“First and foremost, you must set your budget; expect to play the long game, because record collecting is a long commitment, and it is expensive,” he explained, adding that a basic set-up of a record player and speakers could cost around RM1,300.

And while new records are usually sold at RM100, there are plenty of second-hand records in the market that go for a lot cheaper.

Besides that, Faisal also advises newbies to buy music that they actually listen to. “Don’t just buy the records your friends have. If you buy the ones you like, you’ll enjoy them, and you’ll grow your collection from there.”

In addition, he encourages newbies to ask around for tips and advice. “If you don’t have anyone to ask, just come to the store and hang out with us; we’ll try to help as best as we can.

“Ultimately, record collecting doesn’t have to be daunting; just remember to be patient, and to not spend too much,” he shared.

Faisal says that of late, a lot of big local music labels release singles instead of albums as it’s the quickest way to reach the masses. “It’s the opposite with the punk scene, which embraces vinyl and physical formats in general.”

Despite the digitalisation of music, record stores are here to stay. “There’s nothing quite like holding the physical copy in your hand, both for listeners and artists alike.

“In addition to enjoying the artwork, records, CDs and cassettes also allow the listeners to get to get to know and appreciate the musicians better through the album liner notes.”

And just like the regulars at Teenage Head Records, Faisal looks forward to celebrating the next Record Store Day.

“Even though we’ve set up an online store during the pandemic, nothing beats going to the record store. In fact, that’s what Record Store Day is all about; we want people to come to the store and mingle. It’s also a nice way for newcomers to experience the record store culture.”

For more information, check out Teenage Head Records’ website, as well as its Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Teenage Head Records
No. 20, Jalan SS14/1
47500 Subang Jaya
Selangor

Business Hours:
11am-7pm, daily
4pm-10pm (during Ramadan)