“I’m originally from the Northern Beaches of Sydney then a blow in from Byron, which is the opposite of what most people do. I came from Byron to Lismore. I lived in Byron for 10 years but it was getting busier than the Northern Beaches so I came to Lismore. Not knowing much about Lismore the attraction was the Conservatorium of Music and the University so I thought music and art, can’t be all bad. Lismore’s probably the least prestigious place I have ever lived but it’s the happiest place I’ve ever been. I love Lismore, it’s fantastic! It’s not a transient population like Byron, most people here are local or have lived here a long time. I’ve been here now 17 years which is still a blow in really.
I came to the North Coast to get out of the city, not to start a record shop and I didn’t do that as I thought the way things are going, digital was the go, little demand for turntables so I went and studied organic farming, bought some land on the Alstonville plateau, did my thing.
Ten years later customers from Sydney were telling me to go back and I’m like, there’s no way, I love my life here. So people payed me to fly back to Sydney or Melbourne or Newcastle to work in vinyl. At that time Lismore represented only 20% of my business. Today it’s 40% which is a good thing.
It’s all about the music for me and the shop here is all about music played in it’s best format which in my opinion is vinyl and to do that you need a record player. I’m not a record shop, I’m a turntable shop. The records are there to feed the habit of people wanting good quality vinyl. I’m actually doing what I love doing and living where I love living so how good is that!. Great food, great friends, great people. If you enjoy doing something you never have to work again. It’s not about selling things, not about turnover, it’s about giving people enjoyment and it does change their lives. Helping people find something that takes them to another level, it’s not just buying a fridge, it’s a lifestyle. Music soothes the savage beast!”
The Audio Room – 61 Magellan St, Lismore.