Music for curious ears

Turn it up. Dig deeper.

Verrowave is a music blog for curious listeners and bedroom makers: records worth owning, gear that actually matters, sweaty little gigs and the lost art of the mixtape. Every post is laid out like a track on a record.

Play the tracklist → Get The B-Side
A crowd at a concert with purple confetti falling under bright stage lights
Vol. 01 · Side A + B
The tracklist

Side A: listen.
Side B: make.

Nine posts on two sides. Side A is for listeners and Side B is for makers. Filter by what you're into, then drop the needle on any track to read its liner notes.

A translucent amber vinyl record spinning on a turntable
A1 · Records · Lead single

Why we still buy records (and what to buy first)

Streaming gives you everything. A record shelf gives you something else: attention, ritual and an object to love. Here's how to start a collection without wasting money.

Liner notes by Zadie Okonkwo · 8 min read
Drop the needle →

Side A Listening

A2Rows of vinyl records on shelves in a music storeRecordsA beginner's guide to crate digging6:00 A3A band performing on stage in front of peopleLiveHow to have the best night at a small gig5:00 A4Stage lights in front of an audienceLiveProtect your ears, still feel the bass4:00 A5A black and brown cassette tapeMixtapesThe lost art of the mixtape6:00

Side B Making

B1A close up of a keyboard with many knobsGearYour first synth: what actually matters7:00 B2A keyboard and a speaker in a dark roomGearA bedroom studio on a small budget7:00 B3Headphones resting against a row of vintage recordsMixtapesMaking a playlist that tells a story5:00 B4A black and white audio mixerGearKnobs, not menus: a love letter to the mixer4:00
The B-Side

Every Thursday, three tracks.

One new post, one record we can't stop playing and one deep cut from a reader. It arrives every Thursday, just in time to plan the weekend's listening.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email.
A person holding vinyl records
A pile of cassette tapes
About Verrowave

Listen like it matters.

Verrowave is our word for the feeling when a song hits you properly: the hair on your arms, the volume knob creeping up. We started this blog to chase that feeling, and to help other people find it more often.

We're record collectors, gig-goers and bedroom producers, not critics. We write about how to listen better, where to find good music and how to make your own without spending a fortune.

  • 01
    Albums over algorithmsPlay the whole record at least once.
  • 02
    Small venues, big nightsSupport the stages where bands start.
  • 03
    Make somethingAnyone can start. You don't need expensive gear.
Zadie Okonkwo · records
Luca Ferreira · gear & studio
Mina Hollis · live & mixtapes
Listeners say

Fan mail.

Sample

"The crate-digging guide sent me to a record fair with a list and a budget. I came home with six records and zero regrets."

Tobias LindqvistReader · Stockholm
Sample

"I built my first bedroom studio from the budget post. The first track I finished is terrible, and I'm very proud of it."

Ama BoatengReader · Kumasi
Sample

"The B-Side is my Thursday ritual. The reader deep cuts have introduced me to more music than any algorithm."

Rafael DuarteSubscriber · Lisbon
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Send us your sound.

Share a record we should hear, a small venue worth writing about or your own music. You can also ask about a post or get in touch about collaborations. We listen to everything and reply within one business day.

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An amber vinyl record spinning on a turntable
A1 · Records

Why we still buy records (and what to buy first)

Streaming gives you everything. A shelf gives you something else.

Liner notes by Zadie Okonkwo · 8 min read

With streaming, every song ever recorded is a tap away, and that's wonderful. But it also makes music easy to skip. A record asks for something different: you choose it, you put it on and you listen to a whole side.

A record is a small promise to pay attention.

Start with the albums you already love and know you'll replay, not the "essential" lists. Buy used when you can, check the vinyl for scratches under good light, and don't chase rare pressings until you know what you like.

A basic turntable with a decent cartridge and a pair of powered speakers is enough to begin. Upgrade slowly, and only when you know what you're missing.

Your first five
  1. An album you've loved for years
  2. One from your parents' era
  3. One you discovered this year
  4. A live album
  5. Something picked by the shop staff
Got a first-record story?Tell us →
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Rows of vinyl records on shelves in a music store
A2 · Records

A beginner's guide to crate digging

How to walk into a record shop and walk out happy.

Liner notes by Zadie Okonkwo · 6 min read

Crate digging means flicking through bins of records looking for something special. It can feel intimidating at first: rows of spines, prices in pencil and regulars who seem to know everything.

Talk to the person behind the counter. Always.

Go with a short list and a budget, but leave room for surprises. Look at the sleeve, the label and the condition. Most shops will let you listen before you buy, so just ask. And the staff are usually the best recommendation engine in town.

Dig checklist
  1. Set a budget before you go in
  2. Check the vinyl under the light for deep scratches
  3. Ask to listen if you're unsure
  4. Ask the staff what they're playing
Know a great record shop?Tell us →
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A band performing on stage in front of people
A3 · Live

How to have the best night at a small gig

A hundred people, a sticky floor and the best band you've never heard of.

Liner notes by Mina Hollis · 5 min read

Arena shows are spectacular, but small gigs are where music feels closest: the band is right there, the sound hits your chest and you might chat to the drummer at the merch table afterwards.

Arrive for the support act. That's where discoveries happen.

Buy tickets directly from the venue where you can, arrive early for the opener, and buy a record or T-shirt if you enjoyed it. Merch sales often matter a lot to touring bands.

Gig-night list
  1. Earplugs (see A4)
  2. Cash or card for merch
  3. Arrive for the support act
  4. Be kind at the front
Know a small venue we should visit?Tell us →
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Stage lights in front of an audience
A4 · Live

Protect your ears, still feel the bass

Why regular gig-goers wear earplugs, and why you should too.

Liner notes by Mina Hollis · 4 min read

Concerts can be very loud, and repeated exposure to loud music can damage hearing over time. That's why many musicians, sound engineers and regular gig-goers wear hearing protection.

Good earplugs turn the volume down, not the music.

Reusable "music" earplugs are designed to lower volume more evenly, so music still sounds clear. They're small and affordable, and many people find the show sounds better. Stand away from the speakers and take quiet breaks outside when you can.

Ear-friendly habits
  1. Carry music earplugs in your keys or wallet
  2. Don't stand right next to the speakers
  3. Take a quiet break every so often
  4. Give your ears some quiet time the next day

General information only. If you notice ringing that doesn't go away, or changes in your hearing, speak to a healthcare professional.

Questions about this post?Ask us →
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A black and brown cassette tape
A5 · Mixtapes

The lost art of the mixtape

Before playlists, there was a pause button and a lot of patience.

Liner notes by Mina Hollis · 6 min read

Making a mixtape used to take an afternoon. You recorded each song in real time, timed the gaps and hand-wrote the inlay card. Every tape was a small labour of love for one specific person.

A mixtape is a letter written in songs.

You can bring some of that care back to any playlist: make it for one person, keep it to a tape's length of about 45 minutes, think about the running order, and write a short note explaining why each song is there.

Mixtape rules
  1. Make it for one person
  2. Keep it around 45 minutes
  3. Open strong, and end on a song that lingers
  4. Write a note
Made a mix? Send it to us.Share it →
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A close up of a keyboard with many knobs
B1 · Gear

Your first synth: what actually matters

Ignore the spec sheets. Look for these three things.

Liner notes by Luca Ferreira · 7 min read

Your first synthesizer doesn't need hundreds of presets or a big price tag. What matters most is whether it makes you want to play every day.

Hands-on beats feature-packed.

Look for plenty of physical knobs (so you can learn by twisting), a sound you genuinely love out of the box, and a size that fits your desk. Buying second-hand is a great way to start, and synths tend to hold their value.

Before you buy
  1. Try it in a shop or watch sound demos
  2. Check it has the connections you need (USB/MIDI/audio)
  3. Prefer knobs over deep menus
  4. Consider buying used
Got a gear question?Ask us →
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A keyboard and a speaker in a dark room
B2 · Gear

A bedroom studio on a small budget

You probably own half of it already.

Liner notes by Luca Ferreira · 7 min read

The dream studio in magazines can cost more than a car. The studio you need to start making music costs far less, and you probably already own the most important part: a computer.

Finish songs first. Upgrade gear later.

A free or low-cost music app, a decent pair of headphones and a small MIDI keyboard are enough to start. Add an audio interface and a microphone when you want to record vocals or instruments. Soft furnishings like a rug, curtains and a sofa help tame echo in the room.

Starter setup
  1. Computer + music software
  2. Good closed-back headphones
  3. Small MIDI keyboard
  4. Later: audio interface + microphone
Show us your setup.Send a photo link →
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Headphones resting against a row of vintage records
B3 · Mixtapes

Making a playlist that tells a story

Beginning, middle and end, just like a good album.

Liner notes by Mina Hollis · 5 min read

Most playlists are piles of songs. The best ones take you somewhere. They build, dip, surprise you and land somewhere different from where they started.

Think in scenes, not songs.

Pick a mood or a moment, like a night drive or a rainy Sunday. Group songs into three acts, watch the tempo and key changes between tracks, and put your boldest song about two-thirds of the way through.

Three-act playlist
  1. Act 1: set the scene (3–4 songs)
  2. Act 2: build and surprise (4–6 songs)
  3. Act 3: land it gently (2–3 songs)
Made a story playlist?Share it →
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A black and white audio mixer
B4 · Gear

Knobs, not menus: a love letter to the mixer

There's something honest about a fader.

Liner notes by Luca Ferreira · 4 min read

A small hardware mixer does something software rarely matches: it puts every decision under your fingertips. Volume, tone and effects are all one twist away.

When your hands move, your ears pay attention.

Even a small, inexpensive mixer can transform jamming sessions, letting you blend a synth, a drum machine and a microphone and shape the sound live without staring at a screen.

Mixer basics
  1. Gain: set the input level first
  2. EQ: cut before you boost
  3. Faders: balance the mix
  4. Keep the master out of the red
Got a favourite piece of gear?Tell us →