Patina Sound System brings high-fidelity vinyl listening sessions to Seoul

Launched earlier last year, Patina Sound System is Seoul’s new hi-fi audio project and collective focused on intimate listening sessions, vinyl culture events and house and disco-driven gatherings across the city.

The project debuted with an intimate event at Ten-Pro Sound, a historic vintage audio shop operating since 1989 and quickly gained traction through filmed DJ sets staged in front of the shop’s vintage speakers.

The setup delivers a high-fidelity listening experience inspired by David Mancuso’s legendary New York venue The Loft, utilising the same Klipsch La Scala speakers.

To recreate the venue’s signature sound, Patina pairs the speakers with a vintage McIntosh MC2255 amplifier, renowned for its warm character and ability to fill a room without sounding harsh or fatiguing.

Patina Sound System operated alongside Arga Seoul until May 23, when the club closed its doors following a final dance at its Itaewon venue.

Mixmag Asia spoke with Cityboy from Seoul, founder of both Arga Seoul and Patina Sound System, about the club’s closure and the collective’s growing focus on vinyl listening sessions.

“While running Arga, we were quite dissatisfied with the building itself. Our lease was coming to an end anyway, and it felt like the perfect time to start a new chapter, which is why we decided to close out this season’s operations,” says Cityboy.

Read this next: Watch a documentary on the stigmatisation of Seoul’s club scene during the coronavirus

“Honestly, rather than shifting our hours entirely, it was more about striking a balance between day and night. The music we are so passionate about is predominantly played late at night, so I wanted to balance that ratio to listen to and play more great music. I still find it incredibly fun and exciting to play at clubs every weekend while also spending time in diverse spaces during the day,” he added.

When asked about the future plans for Patina Sound System and Arga Seoul, he explained: “We don’t have a strict deadline for Arga’s new venue, as it requires a lot of fresh ideas and inspiration. In the meantime, we are currently setting up the ‘Arga Radio Station (ARS)’ studio, and this July, we’ll be heading to Singapore for the ‘Arga Takes Over’ tour. We plan to organise several events once we return.”

Read this next: The Mixmag Asia Clubbing Guide: Seoul

Whereas for Patina Sound System: “We have various collaborations lined up through this fall, though we’re constantly brainstorming and discussing our own events that truly capture our identity,” he states.

Patina Sound System’s upcoming collaborations and listening sessions are expected to be announced in the coming months, while Arga continues work on its next chapter.

Daniela Solano is a freelance writer for Mixmag Asia, follow her on Instagram here.

Never miss a beat. Subscribe to our Scene Report newsletter or follow us on Instagram.