Vinyl Madness: Bringing analogue music back to digital Dhaka

Some hidden sanctuaries in Dhaka never leave you the same. They make you feel as though you belong, where even strangers feel like home -- all connected through the shared wavelength of music.

Vinyl Madness in Dhanmondi is one such sanctuary for vinyl lovers. The moment you step through the door, the jamming sessions in the warmly lit room instantly captivate you: piano, guitar, ukulele, cajón, drums -- you name it.

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Right beside the front room lies a whole different musical dimension. At centre stage, flanked by amplifiers, sits the real gem: a turntable spinning vinyl records. The sight alone is enough to leave you awestruck before you slip into a Zen-like state or simply find yourself vibing to pop music.

A walk through this room is like taking a tour through the generations of music preserved on vinyl, from vintage records by Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica to modern-day artists.

A full library of vinyl on one side, rows of cassettes and CDs on the other, along with a collection of musical souvenirs in one corner and walls decorated with paintings -- it is everything an artistic soul could ask for.

Saadi Manzoorul Huq, the founder of Vinyl Madness, is also a senior banker at a multinational company by profession. He says, “I grew up listening to vinyl, many of the records were inherited from my parents.”

In a generation where Spotify and YouTube Music have given us the flexibility to switch from one song to another while carrying an entire music library in our pockets, the science behind vinyl continues to leave people so mind-blown that nobody dares to skip a record.

According to Huq, “Anyone who has experienced vinyl knows there is no going back; the audio quality never leaves you the same. The realisation hits everyone about what they have been missing out on in this digital age.”

What began as casual listening sessions with friends has grown steadily and now brings together people from all ages and walks of life, from in and outside Dhaka, united by a shared love of music.

As Huq says, “My idea was simple. When I am listening to music, why not bring others to share the experience, to spread happiness among listeners?”

Vinyl Madness came at a time when Dhaka desperately needed a space like this -- somewhere people could disconnect from the chaos. Within a year, Vinyl Madness had touched many hearts.

Whether you want to jam with your friends, connect with other music enthusiasts or simply experience analogue music on your own, Vinyl Madness is the perfect place for you. Pink Floyd, Daft Punk, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Ravi Shankar are among the artists regularly played by Huq.

He believes, “If Dhaka breaks you down, Vinyl Madness heals you.” The main purpose of music is recreation and stress relief, and Vinyl Madness is doing everything it can to preserve that experience.

The lack of vinyl records and limited access to them kept people detached from vinyl, but now Vinyl Madness has bridged that gap. For the young generation, this place is more than just a listening hub; it is a place where raw musical talent is nurtured and appreciated.

Huq plans to carry on this legacy and wants new talents to get the exposure they need through Vinyl Madness. He adds, “Vinyl is not a fad; vinyl has existed for decades. It’s an example of how the passage of time brings the old back.”

As long as Vinyl Madness exists, Dhakaites will continue the madness of life, finding yet another reason to feel alive again through music; perhaps life in Dhaka is not that bad after all.