To many across the globe, Spillers Records in Cardiff is more than just a shop; it’s an institution. Boasting the title of the oldest record store in the world, it was founded in 1894 by Henry Spiller and is still going strong today (despite the odd tumultuous time!).
ClashMusic caught up with owner Ashli Todd, to talk third chances, Manic Street Preacher dedications and dysfunctional school photos.
Spillers is the oldest record store in the world. What has kept it going all these years?
It’s a hard one to pin down but at the core of it are the loyal and music hungry customers who support us, we’d be nothing without them.
Back in 2007, the store avoided closure after a proposed rent hike. A petition circulated and was signed by the likes of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake. Having such high profile support must have been a huge morale boost during a worrying time?
It was and their involvement definitely helped raise the profile of the petition. The petition was started (at the time) by Plaid Cymru AM Owen John Thomas. It was him who got the ball rolling and the knock on effect brought a lot of positivity during a very tough and worrying time.
In 2010 Spillers moved location, has this affected business in any way?
I find a lot of people look back on the previous location with rose tinted glasses. Sure, the shop was at its previous location for over 60 years but towards the end of the tenure we were operating on a grotty building site. The Hayes area went through a make over on a massive scale so for four long years the area went from gently bustling to derelict and then building site status while a humongous new shiny shopping center was erected. So really, it just got worse and worse for us in that location. We enjoyed the benefits for a short few months once the area was up and running again while we sorted new premises round the corner in the Morgan Arcade and by then it was time for us to go. Where we were is now a fancy pants high-end shopping area (which there’s nothing wrong with, but it’s not a place where you expect to find a little Independent record store). All in all, no love lost.
The Manics – who have been generous in their support of Spillers – actually addressed the gentrification of the Hayes area on their recent album (Hazelton Avenue, Postcards From A Young Man) http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858844906/
Not many people realise that the shop had another location 1894 – 1940s in the (now demolished!) Queens Arcade so for us this move represents 3rd time lucky, or three as the magic number as De La Soul would say! We don’t fear change!
Spillers is an institution. Do you sell a lot of the Spillers merchandise?
Ooow yes! There’s a real sense of wearing your heart on your sleeve with the Spillers Ts, this really peaked around the time of the campaign. I don’t think anyone wearing the Spillers T can remain anonymous for long as I hear so many stories of people being accosted (in a friendly way!) all over the world while wearing them. We had to start a Spillers calendar about 5 years ago because we were getting so many pictures of people all over the world in them. In fact, every year we hold a customer photo shoot where by people turn up on our local museum steps wearing their Spillers merch. It’s our dysfunctional school photo if you will. We were so made up when Nicky Wire wore his Spillers Hoodie (the only one of its kind, a glamorous white and gold print version) at last years 02 gig… with a frock, of course!
Record Store Day is fast approaching. How involved are Spillers with Record Store Day?
We’ve been there since the start of RSD shenanigans and every year it just gets bigger and more bustling. What it’s done for the profile of vinyl should not be underestimated. Our own vinyl sales have been leaping up for the past ten years but it’s no coincidence that all other retailers can say the same in the years that RSD has been active. We invite local DJs and customers to spin tunes through the day, have acts playing live and last year we kicked off a Spillers Fanzine. There’s always a backlash towards the Ebay types that are in for one reason (burn them!) but we always seem to have a healthy presence of regulars, along with new faces who’ve since become more familiar to us!
I have always found that Spillers staff have a deep knowledge of music, and are more than happy to engage in lengthy musical discussions. Do you think this is an important image for Spillers to have?
It’s not something that’s been beaten in to us – having worked at the shop for 15 years prior to becoming co-owner I can attest that “engaging in enthused banter” was never part of the job description. It’s just a lovely environment to work in, surrounded by inspiring music and we seem to attract keen and enthused punters. So let me throw that one back and say it’s a two way thing and we’re blessed with top patrons who enjoy interaction. Let’s face it – the human interaction part of popping in to an independent shop is something that can’t be replicated in the sterile online environment.
How important do you think it is to support local artists?
Spillers has a long history of supporting the local music scene and we stock a healthy selection of unsigned music from the local area and further afield. Sites like bandcamp mean there are other outlets for music if you’re an unsigned act but they certainly need not replace traditional outlets like bricks and mortar shops, especially if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere which still has a an independent record store!
Bands in the local area are part of the fabric of the shop and it’s our job to share that as much as an act signed to a major label that’s touted as ‘the next big thing’. Shape Records are a label that we have a great relationship with. They’ve put out (predominantly vinyl) releases from Sweet Baboo, Truckers of Husk, Islet and H Hawkline and everything they do is with complete conviction yet they still manage to approach it all without too much hype or overkill. We always look forward to anything new on their label as it’s guaranteed to be fantastic. I took great pleasure in playing the Truckers of Husk album to Ed O’Brien when he came to the shop, even more so when he wanted to buy a copy!
What is Spillers’ balance of stocking old and new music?
We have a good stock of rotating back catalogue and these are the staples of the shop. You’ll always find a whole bunch of Dylan, Neil Young, John Fahey, Sonic Youth and so forth but then other things dip in and out of stock depending on what else is going on in the musical landscape at any given time.
Back catalogue is as important as the new releases and they both work together within the shop. I think anyone coming in to a shop like this has an interest in the context that has created any new band. The desire to dig around for the influences is inherent in any music lover. Because of the diverse range of genres the shop covers we take in a gigantic batch of new release stock each Monday. The turn over of new music is extremely high for a shop of our size. We’re ready to give something a go even if it’s not going to sell by the bucket load.
What is your favourite album of all time?
That’s an impossible question to answer! My top ten from last year included Lulu (the often picked on Lou Reed / Metallica collaboration) so I’ll include that in my answer in the interest of dividing opinion. Neil Young On the Beach is an all time favorite but equally, I couldn’t live with out Things We Lost in The Fire by Low. If you’re after a recommendation, The Sadies from Canada are one of the best live bands of all time and having only come across them a couple of years ago (relative to their 30yr career), The Ex are notable for nailing the fusion of Punk, World music and Jazz. Not just anyone can pull that feat off.
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Follow Spillers Records at their official site.
Words by Rachael Hogg
Don’t forget – Record Store Day takes place on April 21st. Find out more by clicking HERE.