Helen McDonnell

Helen McDonnell is the Head of Buying for Rough Trade EU. She buys for both the EU webstore and the Rough Trade record shop in Neukölln, Berlin.

Interview

• Why should people go to record stores?

  I think people should go to record stores because mainly for community. It’s such an easy place to meet like-minded people, to meet other music lovers. The people who work at the shops have so much knowledge of music; some have such knowledge in specific genres. If you want to find something new, it’s really a great place to go. So if you’re curious or just a music lover, I think it’s a really important place for local communities, and anyone’s welcome. For me, it’s a great place to go and learn about music, maybe find something new, discover something new, but to also be part of your local community.

• Your first experience at a record store?

  I went, when I was very young, to see a musician I loved. She was doing an in-store. I didn’t have much money and it was free, so I decided to go in. And when I got there, it was so busy you couldn’t get inside. So she played, we were outside, and it was very nice. At the end, she came outside and there were maybe a hundred people on the street. People were sitting on cars, and she sang on the road, and then we were all singing with her. It was beautiful. And then we went inside. At the time, I bought a CD. I’ve been going back ever since, now buying vinyl.