East Village resident Matt Newberg, a self-described vinyl collector and entrepreneur, has launched a site called Pulse.fm that is live broadcasting the music being played at venues around the country.
He started locally, selecting Abraço Espresso on East Seventh Street and A1 Records on East Sixth Street for the site. (The third venue is Detroit Threads in Michigan.)
"I'm inspired by many things East Village, and the musical backdrop that exists here — whether it be strolling into A1 or walking past a storefront — really roots me in the daily experience of living here," Newberg told us. "I really wanted to share that feeling with the rest of the world by re-contextualizing that offline experience for the web. As corny as it sounds, there's an inexplicable feeling you get from hearing the raw crackling of a record being dropped at a place like Abraço from the convenience of your home."
Abraço takes its name from the 1969 Gilberto Gil song, "Aquele Abraço." At Pulse.fm, Abraço owner Jamie McCormick describes the small coffee shop this way: "Brazilian pop from early-mid 70s epitomizes the vibe here." As far as records go, Charles Mingus, The Meters, Curtis Mayfield, Tim Maia, Horace Silver and Donald Byrd are among the many records on the playlist.
From a business perspective, Newberg said said the goal of pulse.fm is to create a technology platform around transporting listeners to a specific place in real time, whether it be a club or a bedroom studio. "It's the next best thing to being there."
Previously on EV Grieve:
Live from A1 Records…
