Even with today’s privileges of digital music and streaming, with almost unlimited access to any song ever produced, people are still drawn to the past and its antique ways of listening to music.

Especially in the past couple of years, record players and vinyls have increased in popularity, for a variety of different reasons.  For some, records present a certain aesthetic that fascinate many people.

Others are simply attracted to the trend set up by popular interest, or, for example, are influenced by companies such as Urban Outfitters.

Urban Outfitters is a widely known store that sells clothes, shoes, makeup, knick knacks, and other things that are appealing to often “trendy” young adults. In most Urban Outfitters locations, there is an entire section dedicated to record players and a large selection of vinyls to go with them. Now, while Urban Outfitters may not have been the sole influencer in this revival of records, it is has certainly impacted the rising popularity of the trend.

In addition to the casual trend followers, there are also individuals who truly hold a special meaning to this specific way of listening to music. Collecting vinyls and records can even be considered a hobby, especially when the type of desired music is older, therefore resulting in the hunt for more dated and original records.

SJHHS senior Milan Babros is one of these individuals who sees the value and importance of these authentic records.

With an interest in music from both the 60s and the 90s, the older vinyls that she collects are seen to her as something unique with a past. She describes that records and vinyls are interesting to her because “you can hear the history and what the record has been through and who it belonged to.” She also explained that “a lot of it is just a physical thing, and having the record can really make you feel connected to the past.”  

Another SJHHS senior, Julia Komosa, is an avid collector of records.

“All of music now is accessed digitally, there isn’t as much of a physical aspect to music and when buying records there’s more of an appeal to having an actual collection than just a library on a phone or iPod,” said Komosa. “Also vintage records are really cool and interesting, just to have this physical history of music compared to buying a brand new vinyl.”

Everyone has their reasons for enjoying certain things over others, and the preference of investing in record players is one of those things. As Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming programs continue on in popularity, there are some that will always be comforted by old-fashioned ways of listening to their favorite melodies.