Curiosity Rewarded
THE RESURGENCE OF VINYL
WITH OWNER OF SECONDHAND RECORDS, FATIK
Photos By: Ashvini Navaratnam
Interview By: Anna Carlson
What goes around comes around, quite literally. Spinning somewhere deep in Bushwick is Fatik, DJ and store owner of Second-Hand Records. Since the pandemic, the vinyl revival is in full force, with manufacturers besides themselves selling vinyl at the highest-grossing point in the century. Fatik knows that records didn’t die in the 80’s. A veteran of over a decade in the vinyl-selling business, Fatik spends his life meditating on the magical rhythms of 12-inch black glossy dishes.
“For me, this is a feeling that has always been the same since I first discovered what [music] is and the joy it brought me.
We’re always chasing
pleasure and joy,”
shared Fatik, explaining his origin story in music. He got his first record player right out of high school and felt mystified by the process of DJing.
Within the modern music industry, Fatik feels that it’s important to continue to keep record stores alive. “It’s essential. It’s culture. It’s communicative and I love being communicative in that way,” explained Fatik.
The recent high demand for records can be due to lots of reasons; aesthetics, passion, boredom, or tangibility. LPs are physical objects. Music lovers and consumers alike take pride in owning artistry that resonates with them. However, the popular argument for increased vinyl sales is the rejection of digital distraction.
Listening to vinyl can let you absorb a whole album in its entirety. No skips! There is a present attitude associated with just listening. The methodical process of unzipping a record from its sleeve, putting it on the turntable, and the gentle lowering of the needle involves the listener, making them feel dedicated to slowing down.
At Second Hand Records, anyone who walks through the door is welcome. Fatik strives to create an environment that lets people discover music to their content. “We’ve all started somewhere, not knowing anything, but being super passionate about it and knowing there is something inside of you that brought you in here,” said Fatik. The notion that “records are back” is not very foolproof.
It’s evident through Fatik’s observations that vinyl music journeys are circular. “Sure, there are people retiring or giving it up, and in the same breath, there are a ton more people just walking into it. The inclination - it’s a natural progression.”
What gets store shoppers jazzed up is the unique collection of records at the shop. The curation aspect of the records is a reflection of Fatik’s taste. From queer club music to Japanese jazz to 90’s East Coast hip-hop, Fatik mentioned how he takes inspiration from certain parties he’s gone to in New York and the city of New York itself. Fatik is essentially a librarian, sharing his breadth of interest with others and hoping there's a crossover. From a business standpoint, Fatik makes sure the conditions of the records are sellable and of good quality. “The more records you end up getting is more so because of your own drive to keep fishing for more,” said Fatik.
Sourcing records is a social game. “You go to other record stores; you end up meeting diggers, you end up meeting dealers; you end up meeting people who don’t have record stores but end up selling records out of their homes,” Fatik shared. “It’s a super cool community because, ultimately, we are all mostly coming from the same place. If you ask each of us our own story, there's so much overlap. The act of a record store is this super cool way of discovery. You could get 100 records and they’re pretty much trash, but there’s one record that you’re like, how did this get here?”
Second-Hand Records doesn’t necessarily have dozens upon dozens of “best-selling” records. Previously, Fatik worked at a store that only sold new records, so focusing on selling second-hand records was a learning curve for Fatik, but the selection is still reflective of the music that shaped him. “There’s so much amazing music and so much great stuff that’s available—backward and forwards. There’s stuff being made right now that we won’t discover for years,” said Fatik. He mentioned how “availability” is nuanced since exposure to music and top artists is more accessible on streaming services, and record shopping is a luxury. “There’s a pursuit of trying to find affordable music that talks to you, but it is inhibitive. As part of rewarding curiosity, that energy comes from people who only live in dollar bins and there’s no wrong in that. They’re interested, and they’re curious. Even if there’s music people can’t bring home, it’s cool to be able to put them on,” shared Fatik.
INTERVIEW + PHOTOSHOOT
Featured: Secondhand Records NYC with owner Fatik // Photographer: Ashvini Navaratnam // Interviewer + Writer: Anna Carlson // Assist: Kerishma Nara