Nearly a year ago, Austin Manuel opened his Pasadena record store with an ambitious goal: to close the gap between big industry and new music.
The singer-songwriter grew up around his dad’s vinyl collection in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2017, he made a tour stop in L.A. and stayed. From there, he regularly booked shows at Club Tee Gee in Atwater, and became steeped in the local music scene. He felt the importance of physical spaces in bringing people together firsthand.
He watched musician friends back home in Nashville book gigs, and a buddy in L.A. open Jacknife Records & Tapes in Glendale. Then, with a nudge from his wife, Manuel decided to make things happen for himself.
Record shop by day…
The result is Healing Force of the Universe in Pasadena. By day, it’s a record shop; by night, an event space for curious musicians and casual listeners alike with a mission focused on community, hospitality, and the love of good music.
“It's basically like a community center. So I want to support people that are creating things and dedicated to their crafts, creating a welcoming environment for those things to thrive. There's real people behind things bringing what they love to do to the table," he said.
The inspiration for the store
Manuel said the name of the Pasadena record store, which opened last November, is directly inspired by the Albert Ayler's 1969 jazz album Music is the Healing Force of the Universe. The shop name, emblazoned in gothic gold letters, has been a magnet in attracting those who walk through its doors.
Most notably, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline and noted jazz trumpeter Bobby Bradford — musicians whom Manuel has long admired. In the confines of the cozy store, the three shared ideas and celebrated Bradford’s 90th birthday.
“Building a relationship with [Bradford]…having him be inspired by the space, and being like, ‘this is gonna be the place,’ to have his blessing…feels really cool. But I think what really makes me excited is when people do come in for the first time, they immediately are thinking of what they could do here.”
How he designed the space
Manuel was deliberate in creating a space that is intimate and inviting — a blend between someone’s living room and a sleek art salon.
Golden light fixtures ornament the entrance. The store is divided in half: to the right are wood-paneled shelves of cassettes, CDs, and vinyl. On the other side is a blue velvet curtain that conceals a stage filled with instruments including a grand piano and a DJ tower that overlooks the store.
Every detail was thought through, down to how the colors of the furniture compliment one another. So a vanilla leather couch is bookended by blue velvet lounge chairs, surrounding a travertine table from a friend’s furniture store, The Window, in West Hollywood. Two giant speakers procured from a local movie theater amplify the acoustics across the room, as music lovers flip through stacks to find their next favorite record.
Performance space by night…
The store is a coin that flips between listening and performing. In a monthly program, Manuel curates music residencies, youth jazz classes, and magazine launch parties. Just this past September featured performances from soft and slow singer songwriter Monica Martin, music arranger Philip Krohengold, to a genre-blending DJ set with New York based-artist Rahill.
“People do feel like they can just sit on the floor to get close and intimate to the stage,” Manuel says. “And it is a welcoming thing that people are paying attention the whole time.”
What to expect
When it comes to operating the space, Manuel says he cares for his customers with the same hospitality he shows his performers. On a show night, you can find him running behind the scenes performing sound checks, to drawing and closing the show curtains.
Manuel’s own music falls in the indie/folk genre, but events at Healing Force Records remain genre agnostic. “I want this space to be open to anybody. Everybody likes music. But at the same time, I want people to come here and expect that what's happening is at a certain level.”
While Healing Force Records is still less than a year old, age ain’t nothing but a number in terms of its ambitions. Think your neighborhood Tiny Desk or Mississippi Studios — that’s what the 30-something has in mind.
Whether it's in the catalog of vinyls or calendar of performances, Healing Force of the Universe emulates the crux of what makes music so special — the ability to find oneself in its vast abyss.
How to visit
Healing Force of the Universe
Address: 1200 E Walnut St, Pasadena
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday; 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Instagram @healingforcerecords
