If you’ve ever set foot in a record store and wished it felt a little more inclusive, chances are you’d get along with Tia Korpe, or Tia Turn Tables as she’s known behind the decks. As the founder of Ladies Love Vinyl and Future Female Sounds, Tia’s mission is simple: to make space for more women and non-binary DJs to thrive, and keep vinyl culture alive while doing so.
In our conversation, we cover what sparked Tia’s love of music, the spiritual nature of vinyl, and how her projects are reshaping vinyl and DJ scenes one city at a time.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I’m a multifaceted creative, founder and cultural entrepreneur, and in my work as a consultant I’m driven by ideas and projects that change the world for the better – focusing on ideation, creative direction, brand building, cultural strategy and experiential marketing through insight & cultural relevance. I have worked in the music industry for 15 years across EMEA with governmental, non-governmental, global brands, and cultural institutions focusing on music, community building, and branding in subculture(s). Daily I run Future Female Sounds, FFS Booking Agency and Ladies Love Vinyl.
What sparked your interest in collecting records?
Growing up in a house with vinyl, I didn’t really take an interest in my dad’s record collection initially because it was very rock-heavy, whereas I have always listened to soul, R&B and hip hop since the early 90s. My first cassette tape was Jackson 5, leading me to my first record purchase at like 9 years old which was Michael Jackson. From there on I discovered new jack, 90s hip hop, R&B and the Motown catalogue – and I just slowly started buying vinyl. I never really saw it as “collecting” ; it was more just wanting to own the music I loved to listen to every day. Now, many years later my collection is still mainly driven by what I listen to at home, and what I play out.
What is it about vinyl that you love most?
The analog element of vinyl. I love the physicality of it – picking it up, taking out the record, dropping the needle, studying the cover….it’s almost a spiritual feeling to me.
“It’s important to make space for and create platforms specifically for women and gender expansive DJs, artists and diggers because we still don’t have equal access or opportunities in the music industry”
When did you start DJ’ing, and what got you behind the decks?
I started DJ’ing over 15 years ago, but I didn’t start with vinyl – I actually started with time coded vinyl, better known as Serato SL. When Serato came out it was an incredible revolution, being able to use your digital library on turntables, but playing the actual records and how I curate and plan a vinyl set is so different as a DJ, I eventually returned to mixing vinyl because I really missed the feeling of it. Now I play both digital, vinyl and hybrid sets – depending on the event. I initially wanted to DJ because it gave me a space to share music and storytelling with other people, that motivation hasn’t changed for me to this day.
What’s the story behind Future Female Sounds and Ladies Love Vinyl?
I founded Future Female Sounds in 2017, a global community and educational programme for female and non-binary aspiring DJs, but we always worked exclusively digital. When I started working for Discogs some years ago I re-discovered my love for records, and my obsession of collecting and playing started again.
Dealing with hundreds of record sellers, I realised I rarely saw any women in there – so the idea of Ladies Love Vinyl was born out of a desire to make the record shop more appealing to women by partnering with local record stores in different cities, opening the space up to these communities and guiding their first steps into the world of vinyl. Furthermore, I wanted to spotlight the local talent that is already
digging/mixing records, so that is why LLV is a traveling event, documenting all the amazing female vinyl aficionados out there.
Why do you think it’s important for female-centred spaces like these and Vinylettes to exist?
It’s important to make space for and create platforms specifically for women and gender expansive DJs, artists and diggers because we still don’t have equal access or opportunities in the music industry. My hope is that LLV inspires more women to get into the wonderful world of vinyl, and that the new generation preserve the legacy of so much music on wax.
What’s the most prized record in your collection?
Ouuuh, good question. I think it depends on where I’m at in life. Right this moment it’s probably D’Angelo and The Vanguard – Black Messiah, just because of his recent passing, D’Angelo being my favourite artist of all time, and that record happened to come out during a life changing time for me, so it’s very precious. In terms of rare, and personally priced record, it’s probably a vinyl my mom gave to me, Mory Kante – entitled Mory Kante (French pressing).
Where do you like to go crate-digging?
Pretty much any city I travel to I love to go digging and discover new record shops! But I have a couple of favourites I’m always returning to, such as A1 Records in Paris, Rook Records in London, Snickars in Stockholm, Dancing Vinyl in Barcelona and Human Head, New York but when I’m not traveling I’m doing a lot of digital digging, and if I find a record I like, I will hunt for it like a golden Pokemon! Obviously I also buy frequently on Discogs and from a couple of private sellers.
Keep up with Tia’s journey and the communities she’s building by following her on Instagram.
