The world’s best record shops are built around communities — they act as hubs for curious people to commune over sonic reflections of the human experience. Switzerland’s Bongo Joe Records is at heart a platform for this sort of meaningful interaction. Founder Cyril Yeterian is a musician whose border-blurring musical inclinations led him to launch a record label in order to educate listeners about the far-flung influences he would synthesize into his own work. His label Moi J'Connais Records eventually morphed into Bongo Joe, which has released a string of illuminating contemporary and archival music from all corners. More recently, Bongo Joe attained physical form, manifesting as a shop in Geneva; the cozy, bustling space frequently hosts symposiums, in-store performances and drinks on its seasonal terrace. The positive, explorative energy of Bongo Joe Records comes through in every aspect.
