The Latest with 'The Other'
The Other is a pioneering record store, online radio station and creative collective carving out space for ‘othered’ musicians and music lovers in Cape Town. We caught up with founder Aaron Peters to learn about their triumphs, challenges, plans and hopes for the city’s creative landscape in the future.
In a country plagued by corruption, systemic inequality and a gaping lack of state support for the arts, Cape Town has remained resilient, serving as a major epicentre for African art and artists. The Other, which began as a tiny record nook at a clothing store in Observatory that's since blossomed into an online radio station, a Mecca for vinyl connoisseurs, and more, is a shining example of this resilience.
Built on a desire to further human connections through music, the collective has fostered a keen community of music lovers while building industry infrastructure, by offering what its name implies and then some.
“Operating a vinyl store with the dominance of streaming and a weak exchange rate for imports isn't easy, but we saw the shop grow to be more than just a retail space,” reflects Aaron Peters, the owner.
“It became a connection point for music lovers and people who were curious, tourists who needed recommendations in the city and a break away from bars and clubs where friendships could thrive. Seeing what kind of impact a physical space can have was a definite leap to what The Other Radio grew into.”
Naturally, the road to expansion hasn’t been without its challenges, especially during a pandemic, and The Other Radio spent some time off-air. However, as Aaron is quick to point out, the bridges it built have made it well worth it. Seeing the impact it had on the community served as the fuel that kept them moving.
“We were evicted from the rooftop in Loop Street, Ghost, our home for just over a year, to make way for luxury apartments,” says Aaron “It was a sad time for the city as there was so much excitement for what the future could hold in that space.”
“It was a time when a lot of the music scene was sleeping because there was no money coming in, but it bonded a staunch crew of music lovers who came together on a few occasions and it was strength and support in numbers.”
Aaron makes special note of fellow music collectives Hamshack, A11, Future Nostalgia, Globalise Yourself Stereo, Feelings Radio, Lilies and more that supported and collaborated over that time. “That was a reminder that supporting each other is necessary for things to grow,” he says.
Fortunately, having recently become a recipient of the True Music Fund, they’re back online with Ballantine’s backing, something they hope more South African creatives will be able to benefit from in the future.
When asked what he would like to see from the local music industry moving forward, Aaron’s response is tongue in cheek but blunt: “More venues, more support from the government, more music funds, less guestlist.”
“People shouldn't be struggling to make ends meet with the work they're doing,” he explains. “We have some of the most talented people in the world who give their lives to this and it would be so good to see that supported the way it should be.”
Of course, with this headstrong desire to push music discovery, drive connection and share stories there are plans for further expansion, with exciting new ventures looming on the horizon.
“During our time off-air, we learnt not to take on as much as we can, because we realised we could take on quite a lot,” Aaron says with a smile. “The next obvious step is to launch the label we've been wanting to do for years, but this will happen when the time is right.”
“We have quite a long list of things on top of that but before we start jumping in we're working to make the radio sustainable for the long term, so you'll see events, merch and public funding calls all on the way,” he shares
The Others tout themselves as ‘the obvious choice for less obvious records’, with a large catalogue of vinyl, tapes and CDs, indie music specialist magazines, t-shirts, books and DJ equipment for sale.
“We have a big summer ahead for the store, and have some great new stock coming in as well as a whole lot of goodies to buy if records aren't your thing,” says Aaron.
Article by: Neil Büchner Jr