In recent years vinyl records have come back into popular culture. How that happened is the topic for another article, but for DJ Arbie1 of Tres Kuleros Records & Dry Goods, vinyl never really left.
“Initially I was just selling my excess records through the Internet, just to sustain my own habit,” he chuckles. That was about two years ago, he says. Then online selling became real-life vinyl swap meets he called “Kagatan.”
He eventually noticed that the growing demand for good vinyl records here in Manila, so he started shipping records here from the US every month. Thus, Tres Kuleros was born.
The name came from his own experience crate-digging for records with his two cousins in the US. He’s not entirely sure, but he thinks “Kulero” means something like “crazy” in Spanish.
Aside from selling vinyl, Tres Kuleros also produces records, having recently released the first local ’45 single in 20-odd years. In his experience collecting and selling vinyl records, it’s not really about finding rare and valuable records, but discovering new music.
His most recent discovery is a ’45 single from a local band in the early ’70s. He wouldn’t reveal the name, but he’s currently on the lookout for more singles and if he’s lucky, an LP.
Check out the Tres Kuleros FB page here.
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Souls of Manila is a Coconuts series of street portrait photography inspired by Brandon Stanton’s Humans of New York. Every human has a story to tell and we intend to share some from the millions who call Metro Manila home.
More Souls of Manila:
– Jeraldine on Pioneer St., Mandaluyong
– Mang Jun at Heroes Hills, QC
– Kevin Fortu of EDSA Beverage Design Studio
– Eds Gabral at UP
