[Instagram Walk] "Would You Like to Listen to an LP in the Alley?" People Who Go the Extra Mile to Hear Songs

Used LP Shop Nestled in an Alley
Uncomfortable but Fully Enjoy Music
See with Your Eyes, Choose with Your Hands
A Special Way to Own Music

Interior of the used vinyl store 'Mosaic Seoul'./Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Juhee Kang] In an era where the convenience of watching movies and listening to music anytime and anywhere has reached its peak, there are still people who go out of their way to find 'vinyl' (LP·Long Play Record). Compared to music applications that automatically select music based on personal taste and recommend the latest songs, LPs are truly 'inconvenient items.' In an environment where you can enjoy any song worldwide with just a tap on your smartphone, listening to music on an LP requires several essential devices.

First, a turntable and speakers must be basically equipped. These devices cannot be carried in a pocket like a smartphone. Rather, they require at least a minimum amount of space. Maintenance is not easy either. Since they are made of materials prone to scratches and can bend from minor shocks, which should never happen, this directly affects sound quality. They are also sensitive to heat, so direct sunlight must be avoided, and they should always be stored upright in a cool place.

However, there are people who willingly endure these hardships. This 'inconvenient space' called 'Mosaic Seoul' is a place for so-called 'LP music enthusiasts' who are deeply immersed in the unique charm that only LPs can offer.

Exterior view of the used vinyl store 'Mosaic Seoul'.
Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@asiae.co.kr

From Exit 3 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station on the Seoul subway, crossing the main road leads you into an alley where low houses are clustered together. After walking about five minutes while feeling the atmosphere of old buildings and alleys, you can find Mosaic, a secondhand LP store on the first floor of a red brick building.

Behind the glass door, which lacks even a single common poster featuring the flashy gestures of singers performing trendy songs, shelves are densely packed with LPs. It inevitably sparks impulsive curiosity in viewers, such as 'Whose album could this be?' or 'Who sings this song?' It is a peculiar charm.

Upon entering, the music softly playing in the space surrounded by LPs perfectly matches the shabby alley atmosphere, making it clear that this is an ideal place to listen to and enjoy music. In other words, it is literally a space for music appreciation.

Curtis Gambuga, the owner of the used vinyl store 'Mosaic Seoul,' is explaining about LPs.
Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@asiae.co.kr

The owner of this place is Curtis Kambuda, a French national who has been living in Korea for nine years. He started operating the store in May of this year. Curtis created this space to introduce the charm of LPs to people interested and curious about music. He explained, "People who are deeply into music visit here often. Once you get hooked on one piece of music, you discover related music, broadening your listening range. There is a pleasure in searching and listening."

Most of the LPs Curtis brings into Mosaic are secondhand records. He introduced that you can find music here that is hard to find domestically and unfamiliar.

Regarding the criteria for selecting albums, he briefly said, "Interesting music." He added, "New releases can be easily found anywhere. I don’t stock music that everyone knows. Finding lesser-known music is more fun and fresh."

This space filled with LPs is neatly categorized by genres such as soul, funk, jazz, hip-hop, techno, and reggae. It also houses albums from various countries including Korea, France, Japan, India, and Africa.

Curtis takes great pride in the space, stating that he puts a lot of effort into sourcing high-quality LPs. The new albums arriving once a week all go through his hands. He listens to every record, writes comments containing information about the album, sets appropriate prices considering the LP’s condition, and finally cleans each LP to present it to customers in the best possible state.

Though time-consuming, Curtis says he enjoys this process. He said, "I import good LPs from abroad and sometimes acquire them from personal collections. It’s not easy, but I believe music has value, and I want to convey that value, so I continue."

Inside the used vinyl store 'Mosaic Seoul.' Various LPs catch the eye. Photo by Joohee Kang kjh818@asiae.co.kr

The name 'Mosaic' also carries a special meaning Curtis pursues regarding music and space. He explained, "Mosaic means that individual materials with different characteristics come together to create an overall 'harmony.' It also means I hope people with different personalities gather and mingle here, not just music."

Perhaps because of this, the album jackets displayed on one wall caught the eye. Like a mosaic, the jackets exude their own unique characteristics, making one even more curious about what kind of music is contained inside. Curtis said, "An album is like a complete work of art. Listening is important, but seeing is also important. Every album has a different feel depending on its cover, material, size, and all its components."

Choosing songs myself and feeling their texture with my hands and eyes is therefore a more meaningful experience than the typical music that is recommended mechanically and fragmentarily according to people’s daily moods.

Curtis hopes that visitors to this place come with at least some intention to purchase. He said, "LPs give you a feeling of owning music and carrying it with you for life, like traveling together. Digital music files don’t give that sense of possession. Owning an album allows you to feel the richness and stability that music provides even more."

There is also a space in the store where customers can sit and chat. Curtis sells coffee brewed by himself and fragrant mint tea here. Although there are only two menu items, they add flavor to help visitors relax comfortably while listening to music. He said, "This is a space for conversation. I hope people talk a lot about music here, learn how to use the turntable, and have an opportunity to expand their hobbies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.