But that doesn’t mean we aren’t working to bring that spirit to our website and social media. That, “you never know what you’re going to find or who you’re going to see” feeling isn’t algorithmic, it’s not something you can replicate online. It’s hard to replicate the sense of discovery and community online. Record stores are community hubs and always will be. How has Zia changed things up to accommodate shoppers in this pandemic era? Basically, how do we get our hands on those records? A lot has changed in the music industry (and music-buying) over 40 years, what hasn’t changed? And this year of all years, people seem to be doing their shopping a bit differently. Along the way, countless members of local bands-including folks from bands like Gin Blossoms, the Beat Angels, Fairy Bones, Holy Fawn, and many, many more-have worked at Zia. After his passing in 1998, Zia’s current ownership took over, and in 2005, Zia opened up in Vegas as well. Before long, he’d opened up locations all over the Valley, and eventually he expanded into Tucson. Mike Dee: Zia was founded in 1980 by Brad Singer, who roped in his friends to help him build out a shop in Phoenix. I was hoping you could tell us a little bit about how Zia got its start here in the Valley? This year the Record-Store-That-Could is celebrating 40 years of operation. Read our interview below and head over to Zia Records to check out the exclusive colorways they currently have available for purchase or pre-order… YabYum: If you don’t mind, let’s get started with a little background on Zia. I had a chance to talk with Mike Dee, media buyer for Zia, to talk about the history of the record store(s), the ongoing exclusive releases from Zia, and a whole lot more. Now, as we’re moving through August, many of those Zia Record’s Vinyl Exclusives are sold-out but more exclusives are on the way. In fact, I remember receiving my driver’s license in full knowledge that this was my access pass to the Tempe location where I previously had to finagle rides from older friends to score those Nirvana imports and Fat Wreck Chords comps. It was in their parking lot that I waited in lines for midnight releases and, from their walls, that I picked out posters for my first dorm room.Īfter four decades of serving the Valley’s entertainment needs, even extending beyond the state, Zia Records is celebrating in proper style as only something as cool as a record store can: with exclusive vinyl releases that have been spanning the entire year. That means, for many music fans here in the Valley, they don’t remember a time when Zia didn’t contribute to their fandom. Zia Records is an Arizona institution that is celebrating 40 years of operation this year.
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