Re-covered in VINYL

FULLY HALF the modern world seemed to be covered in vinyl back in the ’50s and ’60s, and of course these days everyone is collecting vinyl records again. They might indeed sound better than their digital descendants, but there’s no denying the vintage appeal of all things vinyl.
So it’s vinyl on centre stage as the collector’s collective Made by Legacy, which specialises in organising American-style flea markets, mounts its latest funky retail extravaganza tomorrow and Sunday on the roof of Bangkok’s Fortune Town mall.
This is the eighth edition for a dazzlingly diverse flea market that has previously evoked nostalgia for Vietnam-era GIs, childhood toys and classic cars. This year’s 150 booths will be piled high with vinyl stuff – and a whole lot more besides.
The theme is “Olympic”, since Made By Legacy sees collectors of vintage gear as athletes competing with each other to get the best deals. Okay, they don’t exactly go through a lot of rigorous training for it, but expect to see quite a few “gold medal” collectibles flaunted.

Vinyl records and vinyl-covered collectibles are always sold at thrift markets, but they're in the spotlight for this one.
“What makes this edition special is there will be a big group of vinyl-record fans gathered as #recordstoredaythailand,” says Made by Legacy founder Vudi Somboonkulavudi. “They’ll be bringing a selection from the legendary records shops and private collections.
“I’ve always wanted to host a vinyl market, but the timing was never right. This year we’re ready, though, thanks to Joy – DJ Nanziee – who’s right at the centre of the vinyl community in Bangkok. He’s been collecting vinyl for decades and he’s the one who’s brought the community together for this event.”
That’s Nattavut “Joy” Ninkum, who’s always wheeling a monster suitcase around to his DJ gigs at Sugar Ray, Q&A and Wild & Co. He plays nothing but vinyl records in his instrumental hip-hop-jazz sets and claims to own more than 10,000 plastic platters after two decades of serious digging.
So what’s the problem with CDs, Joy?
“It’s different when you hold vinyl in your hand – you feel like you really own the music,” he says. “With CDs and tapes you have to squint to read the text, but vinyl has that big visual impact. That kind of in-your-face really excites me.
“Collecting vinyl is addictive because it’s priceless and rare. Every new find is worthwhile and every time you go digging it feels fateful. Rarity is subjective, of course – what I consider rare might not seem rare to other people. I don’t listen to Thai music, for example, so I don’t get excited when I find vinyl by Moderndog, even though it’s much sought after by some collectors. Vinyl collecting is deeply personal, as if you’re making a true connection with the music you love.”

DJ Nanziee is likely Bangkok's foremost expert on the fine art of digging through record bins for hidden treasure.
Joy takes his vinyl fetish overseas with him, constantly hunting out hidden musical treasures, though he carries neither a list nor any expectations.
“Whenever I suddenly come across something I like, I get goose bumps – a natural high that nothing else compares to. Going digging is like going fishing – you never know what you’ll get and you might go home empty-handed. But each and every find is special and unique. I remember where I found every single record and how I felt when I found it.”
The guy is beyond serious about his habit. He once rented an apartment for two years close to Vinyl Die Hard, the beloved Bangkok record shop formerly known as PS Audio, just so he could go there every day and dig through the stocks.
“I could always go online and order records, but it’s a totally different feeling,” Joy says. “You can buy fish at a supermarket or you can go to the ocean and do your own fishing.”
Rookies can get sound advice at Joy’s online shop-and-community @VinylFeeling.
Another of the 20 spinners who’ll be playing that funky vinyl music this weekend is Arthit “DJ Sonny” Promprasit, a noted music columnist who got hooked 25 years ago when he found a vinyl copy of “Vienna” by British New Wave band Ultravox at Central Silom.
“I think vinyl is the best format to listen to any kind of music,” he says. “Vinyl is an art in itself. It just gives you a warm feeling and a deep connection with the music.”
Its resurgence is a good sign, Sonny says. “I don’t want this to be just a fad. It would be great if music listeners permanently changed their ways and came back to vinyl.”
He’s got 15,000 vinyl records, including rare items he’ll be playing at the market by Fra Lippo Lippi, Tomboy, Kevin Morane, Hong Kong Syndikat and Hiroshi Sato.

DJ Sonny owns something like 15,000 vinyl records, including rarities he'll be sharing this weekend.
Natthawut Saengchuwong, deputy editor of GQ magazine’s Thai edition, is relatively new to vinyl collecting but is gradually replacing all of his CDs.
“I decided to start buying vinyl copies of the albums and singles I already had on CD,” he says. “Then, as I got more exposed to the older stuff and a broader range of music, I started listening to music from the ’60s and ’70s that I never expected to like, even jazz. I have about 300 records now.
“It’s not like downloading music – you need to get out there and dig. For me, it’s not about the sound quality – it’s about culture and a certain lifestyle.”
The big vinyl comeback is “both good and bad,” Natthawut says. “It’s a new lease on life for vinyl that benefits both the listeners and people trading in vinyl, but now it has the record labels re-mastering old releases in vinyl – but from CDs, so the sound quality is far worse that original vinyl. You still have to look for first-pressed vinyl rather than reissues.”
The folks involved in Made by Legacy come from all walks of life but bond over a shared interest in vintage fashion, furniture, vehicles and the pop culture of the past in general.
The 300-plus members hail from countries other than Thailand too and some will be flying in just for this event from Japan, Singapore and the US. The network is growing all the time.
The markets have generated enough enthusiasm, in fact, that there’s interest in more frequent sales events and possibly consignment thrift shops overseas. To begin with, at least, a Made by Legacy e-commerce website will be launched later this year.

The Made by Legacy vinyl market takes place tomorrow and Sunday on the 10th floor of Fortune Town on Ratchadapisek Road, adjacent to the Phra Ram 9 MRT station.
It’s open both days from 3pm to midnight and admission costs Bt120.
Check out www.MadeByLegacy.com.