#Music
Vinyl, albums, and the gear and rituals around listening to music properly, from building a Discogs collection and finding the best record stores in New Zealand to the covers and artwork that make music worth collecting.
Designing a 4m high best album covers art gallery wall
A year and a half in the making: 50 album covers, custom framing, and a four-metre gallery wall built from scratch in my stairwell. Here's how the whole thing actually came together, one frame and one wall bracket at a time.
I know the pieces fit: Designing custom Hi-Fi furniture
How a search for a simple turntable stand turned into a genuine lesson in design thinking, prototyping, and communicating ideas clearly enough for someone else to actually go and build them. A prototype first, the real thing came after.
50 best album covers & most iconic artwork of all time
The backstory, hidden details and the designers behind 50 of the most interesting and iconic album covers ever made, chosen and ranked one by one, covering decades of music, art direction and graphic design history from record sleeves.
Where to buy vinyl records online & in-store in New Zealand
Twelve places I actually buy from, big Auckland institutions, one-person operations run off a Facebook page, and a few worth knowing about for the rare stuff. What each is good for, and the shipping deals worth waiting for.
How to use Discogs to build your vinyl record collection
I just finished adding my entire record collection to Discogs, the largest online music database where collectors buy and sell with each other. A look at the collection itself, my home listening setup, and how it all came together.
How to make the perfect Espresso Martini
I met Angus while we were both working at HazardCo back in 2020. Little did I know he'd end up giving me his go-to Espresso Martini recipe, equal parts vodka, espresso and Kahlúa, shaken hard for the best result every time.
Essentials for home to enhance your work-life balance
Work-life balance sounds like something you fix with one big decision. Mine came together from a stack of much smaller ones, starting with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones I bought almost by accident a few years back.
Surfing, friends & travel: What I’m thankful for in 2019
It's only when you pause and properly look back that you realise how many memories got packed into a single year. Reflecting on the moments that made 2019 unforgettable, surfing in Wales, six countries, a new album, and turning 40.