Esa Laakkonen lives in Finland, in a small town called Loviisa. He works in a laboratory and tries to keep a balance between a sporty and bohemian life style. Esa is also an animal lover and movie nerd, and he tells me that he spends a ton of bank on his music addiction.
With that, I welcome Esa to the Record Collector club.
How long have you been collecting records?
I think I was maybe 8 or 9-years-old when I bought (or maybe i stole it, but don't tell anyone) my first CD: Iron Maiden, Live After Death. But in mid-'90s, I really started to collect records. Green day, The Offspring, NOFX, and a Finnish band Apulanta really got me started collecting. Vinyl I started to buy a little bit later. So, basically, I've been collecting over 20 years, sometimes more often than other times.
Where/how do you usually find your records these days?
I live in the middle of nowhere and the closest record stores are quite far away, so I buy most of my records online. I love hunting at nighttime, surfing online on different websites searching for records. But the best thing is the actual digging at the record stores and flea markets. And I love to do that especially when I'm travelling in other countries.
What is the most you paid for a single record, where/how did you obtain it, and what was it?
Nine Inch Nails' With Teeth LP for 150€. The record store where I buy most of my records sent me message that they got this item on sale. I bought it right away without any hesitation.
Of everything in your current collection, what is your most prized record and why?
I have to say NIN again. I have the original press of The Fragile, which is one of my favourite albums and its really hard to find. Beautiful press.
Is there anything that frustrates you about the current record collecting scene?
The record prices are very high in Finland, both new and used ones.
Which records are still on your want list that you've had a tough time tracking down through the years?
Eels vinyl, Smashing Pumpkins' older stuff... I don't know. Actually, there are many records that I would like to have. The hunting never stops.
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Follow Esa on Instagram.
Tagged: record collector
