Meet DJ and vinyl collector Miss Trish, who channels her passion for 1960s counterculture, ear for obscure psych rock, and mission to preserve history through music into The Hippie Hour, a weekly radio show dedicated to groovy sounds and untold stories. We sat down with her to talk vinyl, music history, and the joy of the hunt.
Tell us a little bit about yourself
I’m Trish, aka The Cosmic Hippie, aka DJ Flower Power! I like to call myself the (un)official hippie historian – but really I’m a lover of 1960s counterculture in various forms. I collect records (and have recently been on the hunt for the most obscure psych rock albums), dresses, and other wares and trinkets from the era. I am 100% a history nerd, and I am currently pursuing my masters degree in Historic Preservation.
What sparked your interest in collecting records?
My father is a big collector of things, and I think that trait was passed down to me. I had been collecting other physical forms of music with him (primarily CDs) throughout my teens, so when I got my first record player for my 16th birthday, it was like a whole new world of possibilities opened up for me!
What is it about vinyl that you love most?
Being the history lover that I am, I treat each record as an artifact. Each used album I come across has a story waiting to be told. Who owned this record? How did it end up in this store? How did it get its unique tears, stains, scratches, markings, etc.? This, along with the thrill of the search, is why I simply love collecting used vinyl.
“Preserving history is as simple as talking about it!”
You host a weekly radio show called The Hippie Hour – can you tell us what it’s all about and what listeners can expect?
The Hippie Hour is the grooviest music history show you’ll ever hear! It is a 2 hour long radio show that is live every Friday from 4-6pm EST. I created it as a way to share obscure music from the 1960s, but it has turned into so much more. If you tune in, expect groovy sounds from the 60s-70s, background about the artists, and themed episodes about specific events, groups, and genres! You can listen live at 993wbtv.org, and all of my episodes are uploaded to Mixcloud.com/wbtvlp.
Why is it important to you to preserve and share the spirit of that era through your show?
I firmly believe that history should be accessible to all who are interested. One of the main reasons why I am pursuing higher education is to ensure physical examples of our history are preserved for future generations. And in many ways, I’m already doing that with The Hippie Hour! By curating a playlist each week and discussing the background of the songs and artists, I am making a sort of platform for people to do with it what they will. If they want to learn more, or just add songs to their playlists, The Hippie Hour is there for every listener. I mean, preserving history is as simple as talking about it!
Do you have a favourite spot for crate digging, or a memorable find from one of those hunts?
My favorite spots for crate digging are the places you’d never think to look. It’s always wonderful to go to record fairs and talk to serious collectors (and spend an insane amount of money on a rare album), but there’s something so exciting about the search. My father and I would often go antiquing together when I was in high school, and we would stop at the most random thrift stores – ones surrounded by nothing but trees and farmland. It was because of these places I amassed such a large collection of vinyl. One time, at a place marketed as a thrift store, they had a whole back room full of records and CDs, and it was there I found an original copy of Pet Sounds for, get this, $3!
Finally, what’s a record you think everyone should own, or at least hear once in their life, and why?
Making me choose ONE album is absolutely torturous! But there’s one woman I’m going to advocate for until the day I die, and that’s Judee Sill. She released most of her music in the early-to-mid 1970s, but her music is unlike anything I’ve ever heard! She was a musical genius. She used her hardships in life as motivation to learn various genres and styles of music. This, along with inspiration from her spiritual beliefs, led her to create her own unique sound. Plus, she wrote and composed nearly everything on her albums! I don’t think her music is for everyone, but if you like Joni Mitchell’s Blue andother more somber folky tunes with gorgeous harmonies, I really suggest you check out her two albums (Judee Sill and Heart Food).
If you want any psych rock suggestions, you’ll have to check out The Hippie Hour!
Thanks so much to the Vinylettes for showing interest in The Hippie Hour and uplifting the voices of women in vinyl! Stay groovy!
Follow Miss Trish over on Instagram, and tune into The Hippie Hour every Friday 4-6pm EST.
