Graveface Records jams out on Record Store Day

Written and Photographed by Elise Mullen

Ryan Graveface, owner of Graveface Records, opened shop in Savannah nine years ago and has been participating in Record Store Day ever since.

It is an amazing way to get good music and support local shops, since just ten years ago, the industry was dying off. “Record store day is a celebration of independent releases,” said Graveface. “Record Store Day hit at a good point when things were crashing. I don’t think it saved stores, but it certainly helped.”

For the day itself, a certain amount of records are released, and it’s up to the public to tell the record stores what they want in stock. “It’s not a preorder thing in a traditional sense,” Graveface said. “If eight people tell me I need to get Fleetwood Mac, I’ll get twenty. If zero people tell me to get Fleetwood Mac, I’ll get five.”

Graveface admits that he likes the way the day runs but that there isn’t enough customer engagement, leaving some disappointed. “We had a line that wrapped around our store, probably a thousand people so far today and I probably heard from sixty people,” he said.

The cost of vinyls makes it difficult for store owners to buy an infinite amount which is why customer engagement is so important. This way, the shop does not lose money and the customers can be left satisfied. “Vinyls are non-returnable, I will die with these records. That’s why record store owners can’t be frivolous in their spending for Record Store Day. And that’s why it’s important to have the communication,” Graveface said.

In addition to owning Graveface Records, Graveface also runs multiple recording labels which he thinks is more important than distributing records in retail. “Making sure people are recording good music and getting it pressed and manufactured and distributed” is the most important part of the job he said.

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Although his storefront has only been participating in Record Store Day for a couple years, Graveface is no stranger to the celebration thanks to his own recording labels. “The Graveface recording label has been around for twenty years so prior to opening retail I was doing Record Store Day releases strictly on the other side, where I was releasing them,” he said.

“Retail is fun, but it’s easy. Literally anybody could do it. I don’t think I’m special in that way, but I think what makes what I do special is that it’s coming from a different place,” Graveface said .

In order to check out Graveface Records, visit their website.