A Slice of Vinyl Record Shop in Gosport

I recently arrived on one of our blazing hot days this summer to take some photos of Later Youth who was at A Slice Of Vinyl for an "instore" to promote his album. Having arrived early I had a chance to meet and talk to joint shop owner Emma while her partner Kieron was busily attending to the sound and mix of Later Youth.

The Shop is independent and that is not just a label, it is an work ethic in how the shop is run and partakes in the local community. As we know there are less places for like minded souls to spend their time and pass on knowledge and ideas but throughout the UK shops like A Slice Of Vinyl are part of this. You may be thinking that is a bit over egging a Record Shop but you cannot under estimate what music and the buying of said music does for people.

Emma and Kieron know what they are doing and have created their own piece of heaven in Gosport. I took some photos before it got busier and we agreed a piece on Return To Sound was a good idea. I had not been to the shop before and it was interesting hearing how it came together and both Emma and Kieron's infectious enthusiasm is the hidden ingredient in this shop's success, so please read on and judge for yourself:

Kieron and Emily ready to serve you the latest "Hot" Releases

Return To Sound: "Could you provide us a potted history of yourselves and how you got to be partners in A Slice of Vinyl?"

Kieron: "After finding myself unhappy in a 9-5, I was looking for something I could enjoy and really get stuck into.  I began A Slice Of Vinyl on a local market stall nearly 10 years ago, which quickly changed into a stint above a local cafe, then our first ever shop where Emma was able to join.  Very soon after we moved into our (hopefully!) forever home here, on Stoke Road in Gosport. I do miss the market days, and we often chat about doing some pop up stalls for old times sake. It’s very nostalgic for me." 

Emma: "Myself & Kieron have been partners in life (sorry, ick!) for just over 20 years, so when the opportunity came up for us to work alongside each other it was a no brainer, and I left my full time job to jump straight in. I’d been self employed previously in a creative job, so to come into something that was more relaxed again was wonderful." 

RTS: "Have there been any rocky patches where the vinyl dream seemed a step too far?"

Emma: "There’s definitely overwhelming moments when we think, ‘what are we doing?!’ running your own business in today's climate is very tough, but it’s very quickly drowned out by the positives. We always say running a record shop is a lifestyle, rather than a job.  We’re able to be creative, have the freedom of working for ourselves and supporting the things we believe in as people."  

Kieron: "We also get to experience and meet people we just wouldn’t get the chance too if we didn’t do this. I can’t see myself not being involved in music in some way!" 

RTS: "Is it just yourselves who run the shop? do you have a roster of staff?"

Kieron: "It’s mainly us, but we have a few regular staff members that cover holidays, and one permanent staff member to cover 2/3 days a week.  We’re very lucky that our staff members become more like family, so they never really leave!"

Emma: "Our daughter also puts a shift in with us on a Saturday, we really are family run! It does mean some arguments over who gets to choose the album of the day on the weekend though (we always lose!)"

RTS: "Do you cater for specific music genres? what's hot!! in Gosport right now?"

Kieron: "We make it our mission to cover all genres but metal and punk has always been a favourite for our customers." 

Emma: "We also have a big pop, hip hop & growing country base too, which we love." 

Kieron: "It’s great, we love when our Swifties are chatting with our metal heads, recommending songs to each other to listen to! There’s a great sense of community." 

Emma displays some of her favourite recent albums

RTS: "You have second hand vinyl (I still can't call it preloved I'm afraid), do you get any high price items being offered, any examples?"

Emma: "Ha, we do! We started as purely a pre-loved shop - sorry - second hand…" 

Kieron:  "We get some great rare gems in, at the moment we have a 7” Simon Le Bon record, the first time he was recorded in his church choir, with only two in existence!"

RTS: "I guess you have many regulars, is there a sense of a social club as well as a record shop? this is often the case with independents."

Emma: "We have some great regulars, and they often become friends as it’s so easy to get to know someone through their music tastes, we end up spending hours of our day just yapping!"

Kieron: "Oh for sure, we like to focus on keeping our ASOV community going & remain a safe space for everyone.  It’s a really special thing to have support from our community & be able to build a buzz around exciting new music and bring artists to Gosport for us all to meet."

RTS: "A slice of vinyl holds regular "instores" with artists playing there for your customers and to demonstrate their latest material, who have been your highlights so far?"

Kieron: "I think each one has been incredible if I’m honest, and we feel very lucky to be able to put them on here but I was in awe of Starsailor & James Walsh’s voice… woah!" 

Emma: "Starsailor for sure! CAST were also fantastic and such nice guys.  Same with Massive Wagons & Kula Shaker - but honestly every band / singer we’ve had in has been absolute dreamboats."

RTS: "Do you have anyone booked coming soon?"

Kieron: "We have a few unannounced instores & book events lined up - you can subscribe to our little news letter via the website!"

A regular customer chuffed with the vinyl for sure

RTS: "If you both could pick any current or past Artist to come and perform in your humble shop, who would you pick?"

Emma: "I’d love to have Self Esteem, Kate Nash or CMAT here.  Dream!!"

Kieron: "Get Down Services for sure! Obsessed with "Dog Dribble", what a song!"

RTS: "Do either or both of you collect vinyl or music memorabilia?"

Kieron: "I am more of the physical collector in terms of having multiple variants of albums, I love to collect them all…"

Emma: "I’m a "one variant and done" kinda girl, but it’s hard to choose some times! Especially when some releases have different songs split across the variants… that’s when a few more cheeky copies turn up in my collection."

RTS: "What current song is floating your boat so to speak?"

Emma: "Anything Olivia Dean but her colab with Sam Fender on "Rein Me In" is chefs kiss." 

Kieron: "At the moment Deep Purple’s remastered "Child In Time" and obviously anything Get Down Services!"

RTS: "Do you take part in Record Store Day? do you think it has a benefit for shops like yours?"

Emma: "We do! I head it myself each year for us because I honestly LOVE it. Each year it surpasses our expectations in terms of footfall and the range of titles up for grabs & I honestly feel there’s something for everyone, especially in recent years. It’s such a wonderful feeling having all of our regulars and new faces come and join us for what is essentially just a big day of celebration.  We do goodie bags, give out free breakfasts, cakes and have live music."

RTS: "Any plans for expansion, to compete with HMV maybe?"

Kieron: "The dream has always been to open in a city, so who knows! We’ll always have a shop here in Gosport though, our community here is the driving force for A Slice Of Vinyl, and without them we wouldn’t be us!"

RTS: "Do you have pastimes not relating to the shop and music?"

Kieron: "Hate to be that person, but outside of family time, it’s still music! I’ve been in bands from a young age and dreamed of working in the industry in some kind of way.  This has just been a natural progression for me."

Emma: "We have two children, so pretty much spending time as a family and just having fun when we’re not working. F1 is a big deal in our house and honestly whenever I can get to the beach to stare dramatically over the water for an hour to recoup is a great day! Living by the coast is one of my most favourite things." 

RTS: "What would you like to see changed in the world of music?"

Emma: "I think there’s so much that could be changed to make it a safer place for artists, but I feel like that movement is progressing now which is hopeful."

Later Youth signing copies of the new album (brilliant album too!)

RTS: "Who deserves to be the next big star who currently isn't?"

Emma: "We had solo artist Ann Lu Cannon in the shop a little while ago, and OMG what a voice, I can’t wait to see where her music takes her."

Kieron: "For me Jo Hill & Later Youth - they both came for instores with us and you could hear that everything was there, and they were genuinely nice people." 

RTS: "Are there any Gosport bands knocking on the door of fame? have you ever considered a record label?"

Kieron: "I’ve spoken about starting a record label for so long now, never say never! But it’s a lot of work and I’d want to do it justice." 

Emma: "There’s a local band called Rats! Rats! Rats! Who have released their own physical media and gig a lot in the area, if anyone was to do it, it’d be them!"

Contact details for A Slice Of Vinyl:

website - https://asliceofvinyl.co.uk/

instagram - https://www.instagram.com/asliceofvinylrecordshop/

facebook - https://www.facebook.com/asliceofvinyl/#

Interview by Dan Reddick

Photos by Dan Reddick