Stop, Look, Listen: The resurgence of vinyl and sound systems as the heart of our shared spaces

“From a vinyl collector’s perspective, it takes a tremendous amount of time, money and effort to build a record collection,” reflects DJ/producer Free the Robots (Chris Alfaro), who has been collecting and spinning records “since the use of turntables and vinyl was the only standard”. He is also one of the many names behind Barbosa, the new surf and music-centric restaurant and bar in Siargao. “It’s just something we connect with more on a personal level,” he explains. “The amount of energy it takes to make records tangible, from the artwork to the sound in its purest form is something that has stuck with us since our earliest memories of collecting music.”

Read more: Why I Love Vinyl: Cocoy Puyat, Toti Dalmacion, and more on their obsession 

Nonetheless, the growing fondness for vinyl goes hand in hand with the hunger for superior sound. Homegrown manufacturing company Fatima Sound Practice produces high-fidelity loudspeakers with a no-nonsense approach to sound. “We started Fatima Sound Practice because we wanted to offer a higher standard of casual listening to the Philippine market,” explains Patrick Casabuena, co-founder of the company alongside Matt San Pedro and Brian Ver. “We noticed a lack of high-end audio equipment manufactured and designed locally, so we decided to fill that gap.”

Their introductory product, the Jacinta, looks as good as it sounds. Handcrafted using local materials, the semi-large format home and commercial speaker utilises a distinctively Filipino vernacular design you can proudly display in the centre of any space. “In today’s increasingly fast-paced world, we tend to hold the things we truly enjoy to be sacred and ritualistic,” he shares, musing on the increased appreciation for quality music and audio in both local and international markets. “Although high-end audio is purchased primarily to be ‘heard’, it is still a consumer product at the end of the day. You’re paying a premium for these products, so it should look and feel good too, right?” 

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It’s no surprise that such a personal but powerful experience has found its way into shared, commercial spaces, too. One of the first things that catch your eye at Barbosa is the team’s illuminated wall of prized records, which their DJs regularly spin by the bar. The artwork of these album covers, each conveying its own poetry, is granted its due reverence. In an age where streaming and playlists have become the norm, it’s an art form that’s often overlooked by listeners. Placing them front and centre asks you to revisit a time when cover art was the first thing that drew you to a record, the artist’s introductory mode of storytelling. 

Respecting the art of vinyl goes beyond just recognising its visual or romantic appeal—at the end of the day, it’s got to sound good. “As music lovers, quality sound plays an important role at Barbosa,” shares Free the Robots. “We’ve integrated club-quality speakers into an intimate, stylish living room space with a pure balance of all frequencies—it’s not just about being loud, it’s more important to be able to feel the music.”

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Located at Mitsukoshi mall, Key Coffee Kissaten has drawn in droves of staunch coffee lovers and foodies with its famed Japanese brews and creative café fare. But the first thing you see when you enter the space is their vintage 1980s Japanese Micro Seiki turntable, Wharfedale speakers and Japanese record collection. “The best seats in the house are in front of the bar, where you can see and smell the freshly-made poured coffee while experiencing the music right in front of the speaker,” reveals Marvin Chua, partner and co-owner of Key Coffee Kissaten. “Music has always been and always will be a vital part of the hospitality scene”, Chua observes, “but there has been a new wave of appreciation from a younger audience who are attracted to the traditions of the past.”

In case you missed it: Key Coffee Kissaten, an East-meets-West Japanese café at Mitsukoshi Mall BGC

When curated well, fortified by high-quality sound systems, and utilised respectfully, music can make these shared experiences all the more memorable, and even establishments outside of F&B have taken notice. Sound systems are no longer something people seek to minimise or hide away—they’re front and centre. At their gallery warehouse space MCM Play, Midcentury Manila has begun to make music a central part of their exhibits and has even thrown a music party with Fatima Sound Practice to enhance the retail experience. “Music is so powerful. It’s the heartbeat of all art forms,” Mishuku remarks. “It’s changed entirely how we present furniture. The exhibit moved them, it was now more meaningful as music tied it all together.”

“Dancing and listening is a language wherein we don’t need to speak,” Casabuena adds. “Music, as an experience with people— especially people you love— is something that will always be part of our communal desire as humans.”

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