SILENCIO, a cozy spot that opened in 2020, serves up a wide array of records, from the latest buzzworthy releases to free jazz and avant-garde sounds. Joined by music critic Mitsutaka Nagira, we explored this unique blend of coffee, alcohol, and music. Welcome to the 9th chapter of our series, “Where Good Music Lives.”
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A Spot That Beckons You to Visit
Once you find a favorite spot, the motivation to explore new places tends to fade. There’s a certain satisfaction in returning to a place you love. But when a place catches your eye, you naturally feel drawn to it. I remember thinking, “I have to visit this place,” the moment I saw SILENCIO’s Instagram. Around the same time, my friends also recommended the place to me. SILENCIO had become a bit of a hot topic in my circle.
This shop, named after the Portuguese word for “Silence,” regularly posts photos of records on its Instagram. The impact it had on me was immense. The selection is primarily jazz and Brazilian music, but it also includes rock, folk, soul, reggae, and occasionally hip-hop, R&B, ambient, new age, electronic, and contemporary music. The way these genres are arranged is quite unique.
Although it seems eclectic at first glance, a vague sense of the shop’s vision emerges. It’s hard to describe the details, but it feels both diverse and somehow cohesive. Just by looking at this lineup, you can sense that SILENCIO has a unique atmosphere all its own. The selection of records creates a sense of anticipation and excitement.
Upon visiting the shop, you’re struck by its simple and sophisticated interior, which contrasts sharply with the eclectic record collection. It’s a very small place, with only a few seats around a central counter, but it creates a relaxing atmosphere. The soft impression of cube-shaped wooden speakers and dried flowers blending into the decor contributes to the comfort of the space. Everything in the shop feels well-integrated and natural. Next to the turntable, there’s a rotary mixer, known for its excellent sound quality and favored by DJs who are particular about audio quality. Everything in the shop is subtly arranged and somewhat modest. The owner, Mr. Arayama, has a calm and gentle demeanor that mirrors the shop’s ambiance.
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A Collection of Records for Personal Enjoyment
On the day of the interview, Mr. Arayama made me an iced coffee and we chatted briefly across the counter. He shared that he used to DJ house music and bought many dance music records in the past. He mentioned that he now spends more time buying records for personal listening, regardless of genre, and has increasingly focused on jazz, including free jazz and spiritual jazz. He spoke modestly about how this unique collection was built over many years of careful and dedicated acquisition.
In short, the Instagram posts featured a collection of records accumulated over the years by a dedicated listener. They represent records gathered specifically for personal listening. DJs might buy records for playing in clubs, or music writers might buy them for articles, often with the intention of sharing them with others. Similarly, restaurants might collect records for background music. However, Mr. Arayama explains that many of the records at SILENCIO were collected for personal enjoyment. Some are easy to listen to, while others are quite experimental. The broad and intriguing nature of the collection likely stems from the fact that these records were gathered solely for Mr. Arayama’s own use.
Curious to learn more about the collection, I asked questions like, “Did you read that disc guide?” or “Did you listen to that DJ’s compilation?” Mr. Arayama responded that he relied on his instincts and the information on record covers rather than such guides. This collection, he explained, is the result of his own personal “digging” and discovery.
