AS WE SEE IT
A few years ago, while on vacation in Puerto Rico, I found myself sitting at a nearly empty beach bar, discussing music with Cassie Ramone, singer and guitarist for one of my favorite bands, Brooklyn’s Vivian Girls. When the conversation turned to the topic of so-called “lo-fi” bands, Cassie’s tone became critical, almost bitter: “No one wants to make ‘lo-fi’ records,” she said. Cassie was exaggerating—there are bands that, for artistic, philosophical, or other reasons, enthusiastically embrace the raw, hazy “lo-fi” sound—but her point was nevertheless interesting and, to me, exciting: Vivian Girls was just one of many young, independent bands that wanted to make hi-fidelity recordings but lacked the means to do so. What if these talented musicians were somehow given the opportunity to realize their dreams? My mind raced: What…
