Record store owners plan big for local music
Logan’s music scene is receiving a new addition with the opening of a vinyl record shop on Main Street. Elefunk Records will make its debut in mid-April, according to proprietor Mowefa Eastmond, a USU student and hip-hop deejay.
Seven years ago Eastmond was in a funk-rock, hip-hop band in high school called MoJam and then started performing his own shows in Logan.
Eastmond said he also started an entertainment company called Street Def in which he and his crew held shows in Salt Lake City, where they had extensive connections to the music scene.
The opportunity to create a record store came up during his first few years at USU, so he said he decided to take a break from school and jump on the opportunity.
When talking about his success in Salt Lake City, he said, “We’re from (Logan), so we need a home base now … the next move was to have a records shop.”
Eastmond said there hasn’t been a music hub in Logan in recent years, so he wants to work with Why Sound to create one. By collaborating with many DJs and bands in Logan and Salt Lake City, Eastmond said he hopes to put Logan on the music scene’s map.
Recording engineer Tim Moes, of Why Sound, said he previously did some recording with Eastmond and fully supports a new record store, believing it will bring together Logan music lovers.
“The music scene in Logan can be somewhat fragmented,” Moes said. “(Elefunk) is something that will change the culture of the city somewhat. It will definitely help unite the area.”
Eastmond also started the USU Hip-Hop Club last semester and has a lot of supporters who are excited about the new music venue, said Justin Peterson, current club president.
Peterson, who also performs as a rapper, said Logan is a college town with an “eclectic group of people.”
“There are a lot of DJs, a lot of rappers, a lot of different people that would utilize CDs, and there’s no central place for that here,” Peterson said.
Eastmond said he’s not worried about vinyl records dying out, and he’s not worried about having to cater to different generations, either, because even younger kids have discovered the allure of vinyl.
“Records maintain their value,” he said. “It’s really diverse because you have the whole DJ phenomenon that’s going on … but then you’ll have the older people come in.”
Elefunk has a diverse selection of music from modern hip-hop to Madonna to The Doobie Brothers, Eastmond said.
“The jazz section and the old-school rock is where it’s at for the older generation, because when that stuff was coming out, it was all on vinyl, so it’s more classic for them,” Eastmond said. “They’ll come and drop a lot of money on records because it’s nostalgic for them.”
Moes said he’s not concerned about Why Sound and Elefunk Records competing; he said the new shop will be beneficial to the local music scene.
“A lot of my business is the recording studio and venue, and (Eastmond) is still planning on doing a lot of hip-hop shows here with us,” Moes said.
Moes said he hopes to continue to bring great music to Logan, and Eastmond agreed, saying he’d like to create a partnership between the businesses. Artist meet-and-greets will be hosted at Elefunk Records, and shows will take place at Why Sound.
Elefunk Records is in the process of building a stage where its own events will also be held.
“(The store) will double as a venue, so we’ll be able to do comedy shows, have bands play and do some acoustic nights,” Eastmond said.
The shop will have a small recording studio and is also a licensed dealer for Party Tix. Elefunk also hosts a collective of DJs and sound systems available to rent for parties, Eastmond said.
He also said Elefunk will sell clothing and merchandise supporting hip-hop and skateboarding labels.
“I think (Eastmond) is trying to market a different area … trying to go for a lot of the hip-hop crowd,” Moes said.
Eastmond said he hopes Elefunk will be a place to not only pick up CDs and vinyl records but a great hangout for locals to see DJs perform and meet visiting artists.
“(Elefunk) would have artists that are performing in venues that are a little bit bigger, and more able to accommodate a larger crowd, come to the shop before they perform and have in-store signings and meet-and-greets, which would make it a very social environment,” Peterson said.
Elefunk Records will also support local bands by sponsoring merchandise on a wall dedicated to local musicians.
“(Eastmond) managed to incorporate a lot of artists from around this area and Salt Lake to come in and spray paint the walls and make it a fun environment to be inside,” Peterson said.
Elefunk Records is currently open for business and most recently helped organize a benefit concert Saturday for a local artist who died.
For the store’s grand opening in April, Eastmond said he’d like to get musicians such as Naughty by Nature, Chali 2na from Jurassic 5, Silver Fox from Fantasy Three, Pepper and other groups to perform.
“We plan on bringing out someone famous to Logan every month,” Eastmond said.
– l.nemelka@aggiemail.usu.edu