In Pictures: 10 years of Rye Wax

Ten years of the South London record institution. 

Founded by directors Mickey Smith and Saija Kamarainen, alongside former general manager Tom Stiedl in 2014, Rye Wax has been a home away from home for Peckham record collectors, party-goers and DJs for a decade. Currently in between locations whilst maintaining a show on Noods Radio, the record store and venue continues to be a beloved part of South London’s DIY scene.

As Rye Wax celebrates its 10th birthday party at Peckham Audio, we take a look through its photo archives from the last decade and uncover the memories of some of the store’s most faithful patrons including I. Jordan, LMajor and Keep Hush.

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Licaxxx, OK Williams & Anu

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“Rye Wax was one of my favourite places to hang and DJ back in the day. I put on one of my first parties there to celebrate the release of my first EP and I used to run an ambient social called New Atlantis, monthly Sundays in the basement. I miss chilling on the sofa with some tacos and watching weird visuals I’d ripped from Vimeo. Bring it back.” – I. Jordan, DJ and producer

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Brief Illness DJing for a Rye Wax night at Crofters Rights

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“Rye Wax welcomed us into their space when we needed it most, and supported the early stages of our journey as a brand. The space was a much needed hub in London for breakthrough artists to cut their teeth, as well as supporting the music community directly via the record store. In our view, Rye Wax embodied the type of space that underground music needs to thrive.” – Keep Hush 

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Lauren Auder at Cotch

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“When I started working Saturdays at the Rye Wax record shop at age 21, I couldn’t believe my job was to listen to music all day, talk to people about it, and spend all my wages on more records! It was a foundational time which set me on the path of seeking ever-stranger music. Rye Wax taught me the meaning of community, about keeping things local and welcoming everyone. This cosy and slightly-musty-smelling basement was a home for South London’s musical misfits.

You could hang out there for as long as you liked, and would usually discover incredible new music, or have an unexpectedly fascinating conversation with whoever walked in. We didn’t know what we had til it was gone, and I miss the basement and the amazing people who congregated there back then, big love to you all. (Do I maybe even miss the particular whiff of incense, basement mould and cooked beef that would permeate all my clothes on shift? If you smelt it you couldn’t forget it!)” – Sybil, DJ and former staff member

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LMajor playing at Kyso Sound

 

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“Rye Wax is where I first found my music community, it’s where I first met the Club Glow guys after talking online and it’s where some of my most important friendships were formed.  I have many many fond memories of the place and it holds a special place in my heart.”  LMajor, DJ and producer, member of Club Glow collective

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Cotch International

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“Scuffed wouldn’t be the label it is without Rye Wax. It was where we put on our first London party back in 2020 – I think it might have been Nikki Nair’s first London show _ and we released 95Bones’ Happy Hour at Rye Wax EP a couple of months after Rye Wax shut its doors following lockdown.

Rye Wax also came up a lot in conversation between Scuffed, Hooversound, Future Bounce and More Time when we were starting to work on our collab night No Edits, as somewhere we all hung out and bonded at some point. Shout out to Rye Wax for all the conversations had, friendships formed, and ideas spawned over the years!” – Scuffed Recordings

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Rye Wax listings poster by Poundlandbandit

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“Rye Wax was more than just a record shop or a club venue, it was a place where you could try and find yourself amidst the chaos and changing landscape of London. I had my first ever DJ set here 8 years ago, all vinyl. I wasn’t very good as I hadn’t learnt to DJ yet, but the Rye Wax team, the crowd, and myself included, all believed I could do it. There aren’t many places you can do that now. Fully experiment and just go for it.

When I started INTERVENTION shortly after, they let me showcase my fave up-and-coming DJs. It was our “Sunday Hangout”, it’s mad looking back and thinking I had M.I.C, Jlte, Manuka Honey, Ayaya, Shamika, myself and Open Decks for the community. They’re all absolutely killing it right now! Rye Wax will always be the place that helped INTERVENTION be what it is today. Open it up and I’ll do it all again!” – Ifeoluwa, DJ and founder of Intervention

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Alternative Record Store Day 2019 b2b pairings

Rye Wax celebrate 10 years at Peckham Audio on September 6. Tickets are on sale now.