Listening music through a record player is a completely different experience than using some audio streaming platform. I’m not building up a boring technical discussion about sound quality, I’m not even sure if vinyl is technically better than a file, and honestly I’m not interested in it.

It’s all about psychology. Search the vinyl in your collection, remove some dust, kindly put the vinyl on the player, position the stylus, press play and wait. This ritual really prepares your mind to a real listening experience.

I use Spotify or Youtube while working (I usually work from several terminals) but that’s another experience, another moodset. For instance, I try to choose iterative instrumental simple no-frills music. Or Bach, the only author I can listen while working, maybe that’s because of the mathematically perfect structures within the compositions.

Quite another matter if I need to listen a new LP for the first time. The ritual mentioned above makes me focused and dedicated, lights off, comfortable chair, closed eyes.

Rituals are important in our lives.