7inches to Freedom, Albuquerque's monthly DJ salon, turns one year old on Sunday, April 24. Held the last Sunday of every month, 7inches to Freedom was the brainchild of artist and DJ Drew Keul. When Keul moved from Austin to Albuquerque last year, he brought with him a love of music, records, and the inspiration for a monthly DJ salon. Modeled after Austin's long-running Love and a 45 record party, 7inches to Freedom came to life in the spirited atmosphere of the now-defunct 1Kind performance space (a/k/a Wunderkind, Coalmine, Rio Grande Satanical Gardens). When that space closed, the salon briefly relocated to The Spot, before finding a permanent home at Blackbird Buvette (509 Central NW). And that's where Albuquerque's hardcore vinyl enthusiasts and dabblers alike can be found tomorrow night, celebrating 7inches to Freedom's birthday.
7inches to Freedom works like this: Vinylphiles and those merely "interested in the lifestyle" bring three or more 45rpm or 7" records and sign up to play three tracks. DJ Caterwaul said, "7"s-only is the main rule - 33 or 45rpm is okay, but we don’t want DJs up there for 15 minutes at a time, so please keep it to one song/track, if there’s more than one on a 33 rpm. And no scratching! No genre specifications, no DJ egos, nothing but a love for vinyl and having a good time." After you play your first set, you can sign up again. Spinning continues in this three-track rotation all night.
Things in Light asked some of 7inches to Freedom's core organizers and enthusiasts to share their thoughts on the eve of its birthday. And here's what they said.
Tahnee Udero/DJ Tahnee: "I knew it was something I wanted to be part of when I saw the first flyer. Originally it was hosted at 1Kind, which is a testament to the attitude and people that fostered the venue. Blackbird Buvette is open to what we are doing and has been a great new home. We want to give the vinyl-collecting community a place to gather and have fun while enjoying what each other have taken the time to dig up. You don't have to call yourself a DJ to play vinyl for your friends. We can take a step back to hear and learn what our friends like."
Drew Keul: "The event is about diggin' through crates. If you dig through crates regularly, then you know what it's like to find treasures. So, it's about the love of digging and letting others hear your personal treasures. This is for people that love music, plain and simple."
DCat/DJ Caterwaul: "For me, the focus of 7inches to Freedom is definitely on the freedom. I love that it's open to any genre or source, as long as it's on 7" vinyl, and DJs have the option to go with the flow or trainwreck it, as they see fit. The short and simple list of rules that accompany this 'freedom' actually make a lot of creative room for those that want to explore it."
Mello Sanchez/DJ Mello: "7inches to Freedom is a gateway drug to record enthusiasm and collecting for those who might not have been into it. I really like the fact that it has created a unique community of record collectors and DJs who listen to all different kinds of music. We all enjoy each other's music and company. It's created an environment for Albuquerque DJs and music lovers to socialize and talk records that didn't exist before."
Blackbird Buvette (509 Central NW)
6 p.m. 'til late
Free
21+
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