One of the last bastions of analog music recording is vinyl. It is probably in the deep sound and of course in the direct control over the mixing lies the magic of this medium.
Despite the emergence of many new opportunities, some artists have never given up black records as a means of expressing their expression. One of such characters is Dominic Leix – a DJ, producer, radio personality and promoter of electronic music, recognizable primarily by fans from southern Polish.
What is the current status of vinyl as a carrier? Is it a niche format or maybe still enjoying the interest of a wider audience?
Vinyl is doing pretty well. It is known – the main audience is DJs, but of course this is not a rule. A lot of people buy CDs for listening at home, which for the electronic times in which we live, is a real sensation for me. This is partly a fashion and a desire to return to the times when analogues led the way. At the same time, it is difficult not to appreciate the tangibility of a physical plate.
Was your musical activity connected with vinyl from the beginning?
Almost. It was an interesting story. Since high school, I’ve wanted to be a DJ. After a long research, I bet on Pioneer CDJ-800 CD players – it was really cool equipment. I remember long evenings when I practiced mixing at home. The teaser was amazing, but something was missing in it. The disc disappeared inside the device and the whole interaction was based on short stroke buttons and small jog-wheels. I needed something more. After just a few months, I made an announcement that I would trade for turntables. Soon after, a guy called who wanted to give away two Technics in exchange for CDs. We agreed, he added a lot of vinyl and in addition he got me into the first club parties. Then everything went snowball…
Did playing from vinyl affect the better reception of your events by the listeners?
I think in terms of sound it’s hard to tell the difference and depends on a lot of factors. However, many people come to my parties because they know that I play from analogues. It is the magic of experiencing a kind of ritual. Not to mention the real cult of this medium prevailing in the environment of the artists themselves, it creates a great sense of unity. Vinyl is not just a way to play music, it’s a subculture.
So what is so special about it? What is the magic of vinyl?
The magic is in the tangibility of the medium – that’s for sure. Recently, a friend asked me if I use Spotify in the free or premium version. I was very interested, because he did not assume at all that maybe I do not listen to music from streaming only, for example, from vinyl or cassettes:) For me, the difference between having a physical disc and playing music from the cloud or flash drive is of great importance. When I see my collection of records, i.e. nearly 800 vinyls that can be found in every part of the apartment, I just feel that I have spent years researching these titles and that they are now with me. And they always will, they won’t go away with a hard drive failure or the end of a subscription to some streaming service.
The second issue is that at parties vinyls have always added rank to the DJ. Say what you will; that skills determine either the popularity of the DJ – yes, too, but the same DJ opening the bag with the black twelve instantly changes the rules of the game! Would you be more impressed by an artist walking through the door of a club with a trolley full of vinyl or with a flash drive in his pocket [laughs]. For others it may be just a gadget or a curiosity, for me it is respect for music by cultivating this analog medium. The best analog music carrier ever made.
Maybe it’s a stick in an anthill, but do you see any disadvantages of black plates?
Of course not. And seriously, it depends on who considers it a minus. If someone is bothered by the size and weight of the plates, which need to be stored somewhere, he can say that this is a drawback. A bag with plates for a party can weigh 15kg or more. After carrying the plates on my shoulder for a few years, I got wise and bought myself trolley;) Usually, you drove a taxi, so the problem of lifting was eliminated.
And the sound quality?
It is undoubtedly better than the digital format. Of course, it depends on the configuration of the equipment or the degree of compression (or not) of digital files, but here vinyl is definitely better. The sound is deep and clean, the bottom is always well built, nothing compares to it – contrary to some opinions.
What do you see as the future of vinyl records, since in your opinion it is the best audio carrier, and at the same time we can observe the progressing digitization and miniaturization of everything?
In 2009, Technics announced the cessation of production of its turntables, heralding the rapid end of the vinyl market in the world. Meanwhile, less than 10 years later, we are witnessing another boom in analogues, to which the club environment undoubtedly contributed. Some companies have just introduced turntables to their offer, which clearly indicates an increase in interest in this business. It’s amazing. I think that for a long time we will be able to buy both discs and equipment to play them. However, after the end of production, if it ever happens, their collector’s value will naturally soar, which will further contribute to the glorification of analogues. I hope, however, that I will not experience it for a long time, and my children will still have access to new products released on vinyl, as is currently the case.
Thanks for your time!
Stay tuned!
Instagram: @dominicleix_dj