Secondhand Records NYC will open at 1345 Dekalb Avenue in Bushwick, Brooklyn this Saturday, October 8th.
The shop is run by New York native Federico Rojas-Lavado, who worked at the house label and distributor Downtown304 for four years before setting off on his own. He opened it in partnership with Radio Free Brooklyn, and it will house his vinyl stacks as well as a studio and events space. The inventory—which includes new and used records—will run a wide gamut from house, disco and techno to soul, blues and jazz, as well as Latin and African selections. Rojas-Lavado will also offer manufacturing and distribution for local record labels, taking advantage of his pre-existing relationship with Downtown304. The grand opening is on Saturday at noon.
RA spoke to Rojas-Lavado over email. What is your creative and professional background?
I worked at Downtown304 for four years. I handled the buying, A&R (on select projects) and day-to-day operations, plus all customer interactions. I was born in Venezuela and raised in New York City. Combined with my parents' eclectic background and from growing up in the '90s in NYC, I was drawn to many different sounds.
They would often play all kinds of world music in the house. I was, like most kids in that era, soaking up the sounds of hip-hop. I discovered electronic music in my late teens, having been introduced to the sounds of drum & bass, as well as house and techno in my early years of collage. The importance of dancing, and the release it allows, gave me a kind of joy that I've felt the first time and every time since.
What can we expect in terms of the inventory?
I'm going to carry as much as I can (4,000-record capacity notwithstanding),
ranging from house to disco, funk, soul, blues, rock, jazz, fusion, afro and boogie. My thing is that every generation has some form of dance music. It's all about spreading your ears and mind around what we know and have yet to discover. The shop will carry new records from suppliers that one would usually only find overseas (Juno, Deck, Phonica) or via Discogs. I look to create an environment where new, old and undiscovered music can meet.
What does Secondhand hope to offer that other shops don't?
Along with a unique selection, I also offer manufacture and distribution. Using my relationship with 304, I'm going to be able to reach all major markets—Europe, Japan, South America, North America, Africa and Australia. I also have a solid relationship with a new pressing plant here in NYC, so I'll be able to get projects pressed within weeks, not months. How many artist and labels do we all know that have had nowhere to press or distribute locally? Further more, how many DJs and collectors have buzzed about a lack of new music being offered in record shops? Now there is a solution with Secondhand.