Lavender Vinyl

As a writer, I constantly look for ways to express the joy of vinyl records. I’ve touched on the tactile feel of the format, the intention of listening when you place a record on the turntable, and then there’s this…

“You can’t mindlessly skip tracks halfway through the song or shuffle your record player to today’s pop hits. I think it’s a way to slow down and enjoy one of the greatest art forms in all its intended glory. In this new fast-paced, NOW! Culture, it’s nice to fully take in an album, and it’s art just the way it was thoughtfully put together for us.”

I love that.

That quote is from Kye Hallows, co-owner of Lavender Vinyl. Lavender Vinyl is situated in beautiful downtown Ogden, Utah. If you step out of the store and look to your right, you will see the majestic mountain range of the Nordic Valley.

Shop owners Kye Hallows and Blake Lundell are no strangers to the music scene in Ogden, having worked in independent record stores since 2007. In 2016, they decided it was time to open their own. They started with a small inventory picked from their own personal collections. Over the years, they added to it. Now, five years later, they have a selection they are proud of. 

“I feel like we’ve shown a lot of growth,” Hallows says. They are now known to have “a diverse collection”.

Part of that diverse collection includes records put out by Lavender Vinyl, their own indie label. The label boasts three vinyl releases to date – two from Salt Lake City artist Josaleigh Pollet and one from Cop Kid. 

What sets Lavender Vinyl apart from other record stores is what Hallows and Lundell are most proud of – it’s a safe space and a haven for those who want to express themselves and their identity.

“We are a proudly queer-owned and operated shop,” Hallows adds. “We think it’s important to be clear about that and take up space in our identity.”

Lavender Vinyl caters to a clientele with mixed musical tastes. Be it jazz, classic rock, or Kanye West, it’s an eclectic mix. They themselves echo that sentiment, and it often culminates in some strange and exhilarating discoveries. One such find involves a rare and obscure record that Hallows read about in the online music journal Wax Poetics.

“They would interview DJs about some of their best finds and weirdest records, and this particular person chose Exuma’s self-titled album from 1970. I was reading about how it was this fairly uncommon find that was a fusion of Caribbean music, jazz, and freak folk, and of course, I was intrigued.”

“Freak folk”. Now there’s a term I’ve never come across before. Color me intrigued as well. A week after reading this article, a seller walked in the door with a stack of records. Included in this stack was the same record from the article. “I discovered something new and exciting to my ear. It’s got some cool voodoo vibes, and it felt like happenstance. This kind of thing happens all the time. Music finds you when you need it most!”

I can attest to that. My record buying journey is often punctuated by similar surprises.

Vinyl records are here to stay. For those just now discovering the joys of vinyl, Hallows grins, “Welcome to the dark side.”

There may be a dark side, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel to be found in Ogden.