Vinyl. The legendary black disc some of us still remember listening to as kids. Some others will find it hard to imagine that music can also be reproduced in an analog way.

One thing is for sure, though. Vinyl is back. The spectacular spike in album sales numbers from the last decade is a testament to that.

So, let’s talk about what that means for the music business in general, and the Australian industry in particular. And who better to invite to have that conversation than a co-owner of a vinyl pressing plant?

PART 217 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE / THE SILLY & GREEN PROJECT

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Kathy Wilson from Suitcase Records initially approached me with a different proposal.

Apart from its core business, the Brisbane-based family-run company wants to create a real connection between artists and their fans, going beyond pressing vinyl. So, they engage people who have something worthwhile to say about music to review albums of the acts they have pressed for. 

When the company’s co-owner invited me to participate in the “I just heard a new album” segment, I immediately jumped on their website to see what they’re all about. And that’s when I realised how little I knew about the disc itself and its production process. So I asked Kathy if she’d be keen on guiding me through the ins and outs of vinyl pressing in return.

I remember listening to records at home with my parents when I was young. But I don’t have the player anymore, so I don’t have a chance to appreciate or understand it anymore. Hence, my knowledge about vinyl is pretty vague, to say the least.

It turns out that pressing vinyl is soooooo much more than just plugging in the machine and pressing “enter” on the production line.

Yes, the process is largely automated. But it’s also tweaked by humans because the machine’s settings react to atmospheric conditions – air humidity, for example. And since Suitcase Records has suppliers in the UK, certain risks, like damaging a part of the shipment at customs, must also be factored in.

However, heaps of other elements influence the making of a great-sounding and aesthetically eye-pleasing record. There’s the engineering part of it and the artistic side, too. It’s amazing what can be done on that creative front these days. It’s no longer just a black disc – it’s real vinyl art if you ask me.

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Amongst the many topics Kathy and I discussed during our virtual catch-up, sustainability was one of the most intriguing ones. “Weirdly, if you go back two and a half years ago, it didn’t occur to me that we were buying a plastic business,” Kathy admitted openly.

However, once it dawned on the owners, the whole company started to look for ways to make their operations more environmentally friendly. So today, it’s one of the things Suitcase Records is wholeheartedly committed to, as proven by their “Sustainability Statement.”

There is more than one way this can be achieved at the plant. Being more sustainable means, naturally, making the final product less plastic. But before and after it is produced, other things need to be considered, like energy consumption, water usage or transport.

So I decided to give Suitcase Records a voice in my “Silly & Green” segment, highlighting their sustainability efforts. I’m certain Kathy’s observations and lessons learned will help all parties in the music business better understand the vinyl revival/revolution.

But that’s not all.

The entire chat with Kathy is coming to my “Silly Talks Music” podcast next week. Follow the show today so you don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about the magic, engineering and craftsmanship that come into play when it comes to vinyl pressing.

_{Cover image: Suitcase Records FB}

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