Episode 086 – Buland Shukla | Architect, Gypsy Jazz musician, Vinyl enthusiast, & Founder of Audiophile Goa, & For The Record Vinyl Bar

Buland Shukla is an architect, Gypsy Jazz artist, fermenting hobbyist, acoustic consultant, and a vinyl records enthusiast. He wears many hats because of his curiosity in diverse subjects. He’s keen about research in the field of acoustics and architecture.

Expect to find him experimenting with different flours to bake breads, or making fermented sauces using myriad ingredients. As night falls, he might be entertaining a crowd with gypsy jazz tunes, or playing host to a listening session at his vinyl club.

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Audiophile Goa is Goa’s first vinyl record store and listening room, nestled in the heritage neighborhood of Fontainhas in Goa, India.

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Music enthusiasts and hardcore audiophiles will be able to experience sounds from analog paraphernalia at this intimate retail space.

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Buland builds Hi-Fi analog audio systems using wood and copper chassis, on request. You can place an order for custom-made turntables, vacuum-tube amplifiers, and speakers, from his boutique brand called Copper Glow Audio.

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Ferment Station Goa is Buland’s home setup, where he makes products such as ginger ales, kombuchas, sauces, and sourdough breads using controlled natural methods of fermentation.

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This is For The Record – Vinyl Bar. Inspired by the vinyl bars of Tokyo, Buland has created an intimate space for enthusiasts to enjoy high fidelity music on analogue systems. Enjoy a fun night out with friends especially during listening sessions, and sip on handcrafted feni cocktails prepared using Indian craft spirits.

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As a Gypsy Jazz musician, he’s also part of a band called The Banjara Quartet. Follow their socials to catch their gig schedules and tours.

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Listen to them on Soundcloud

Timestamps for reference
04:07 Heritage architecture of Fontainhas
06:13 What attracts Buland to the architecture of Goa?
12:24 Timelessness in contemporary architecture
18:09 Do architectural ideas get executed at individual levels?
19:53 Public projects
21:43 Public access to showstopper structures
25:21 Modern architects who have created timeless structures
29:09 Buland’s interest in Indian vernacular architecture and sound
35:54 Design and acoustic hotspots in ancient and spiritual spaces
39:41 Acoustical restoration of a church
46:45 Significance of acoustics in contemporary structures
49:07 What is Heritage Acoustics?
50:42 Some examples of awesome structures that Buland has interacted with
56:04 Urban planning and design
01:13:03 Influences from travels
01:15:03 Buland’s introduction to architecture
01:18:21 Buland’s musical journey
01:21:06 Form tabla to guitar
01:22:50 What is gypsy jazz?
01:25:44 How did The Banjara Quartet come together?
01:29:05 Buland’s take on the contemporary music scene
01:39:24 Vinyl records and high fidelity music
01:43:23 The beginning of Audiophile Goa
01:48:15 Creating a listening and drinking space at For The Record Vinyl Bar
02:02:00 Fermentstation and understanding fermentation
02:13:51 Inclination towards vintage and old things
02:18:33 Influence of Vaastu Shaastra and Feng Shui in architecture
02:21:42 Sustainability and eco-conscious living scenario in Goa
02:33:54 Our impact on our immediate surroundings
02:39:35 Cultural dynamics in Goa

Also mentioned in this episode
Afonso Guest House – Antilla – Antoni Gaudi – Anumitra Ghosh – Anuradha Naik – Azulejos – Bauhaus – Big Butt Audio – Bombil – Braganza House – Buddha Bar – Burj Khalifa – Cafe del Mar – Cave paintings of Australia – CEPT University – Chamber music – Chichén Itzá – Colonial architecture – DAC (Digital-to-analog converter) – Designing Design – Django Reinhardt – Dr Manohara KK – Dubai – Duke Ellington – Edible Archives – Eiffel Tower – Elevator music – El Castillo (Temple of Kukulcan) – Empire State Building – Fan-shaped cobble pavements – Fontainhas – Frank Gehry – Frank Lloyd Wright – Gothic churches – Gregorian chants – Guggenheim Museum – Gypsy Jazz – Houses of Goa – ICAR Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute – Iegor Reznikoff – Iggy the Bastard – Indian Music Experience – Izakaya – Japanophilia – Jazz kissa – Joseph Bar – Kenya Hara – Khola chilli – Koothambalam – Laterite stone – Lounge music – Machu Picchu – Mala, Panjim – Manasi Prasad – Mandavgarh – Manga comics – Marina Bay Sands – Micky’s Place Agonda – Namghar – Naoshima Island – National Institute of Design Ahmedabad – Nilankur Das – Old Goa – POGO (Peope of Goan Origin) – Quetzal – Raj Bhavan, Goa – Robert – Sagrada Familia – Santiago Calatrava – Sourdough – Stéphane Grappelli – Tadao Ando – Tahir Noronha – Taj Mahal – Tallest skyscrapers in the world – The Church of the Light – The Statue of Unity – Throat singing – Thus – Uzbekistan – Vinyl bars of Japan – Weaboo – Yazd, Iran

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Show cover jingle courtesy of Icons8
Music by Nordgroove from Fugue

Episode background tunes courtesy of YouTube Audio Library
Cantus Firmus Monks by Doug Maxwell
Gypsy Dance by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena
Gypsy Stroll by Aaron Lieberman

All photographs by Audiophile Goa, Buland Shukla, Copper Glow Audio, Fermentstation, For The Record Vinyl Bar, & Heritage Acoustics, , unless otherwise stated.