A new home for legendary Hong Kong record store White Noise
The much-loved vinyl boutique relocates to the eclectic neighbourhood of Sham Shui Po
Originally opened in April 2004 by three passionate music lovers, the store's name was borrowed from pioneering British experimental band White Noise – an act who's 'Electric Storm' album was hugely influential to heroes of electronica such as Aphex Twin and The Chemical Brothers.
The store is a local haven for the best in alternative music as well as live performance events and boasts a large indie following thanks to its bespoke selection of tunes – ranging from old soul to heavy metal and electro-pop. White Noise Records has cultivated a style of its own, thanks to a hand-picked inventory. “For me, a record shop is not a supermarket, we are a select boutique,” says White Noise manager Gary Leong. “We just sell what we like. A record shop should have its own style and personality.”
The relocation was born out of a need for a larger premises, and the multicultural buzz of Sham Sui Po – a mecca for shopaholics in Hong Kong – is the perfect new home for the shop. After dark, the stalls and alleys of the market are illuminated by the neon-clad stores selling their odds and ends, creating a scene of chaotic joy, with White Noise now a proud centrepiece, and a welcomed addition to the vibrant neighbourhood.
[Image via Yuen Chi Chung]
