With Exposure, Could Audio Love Letters Trend Again?
Picture this; you’re wandering down the sidewalk when suddenly you walk by a young woman with amazing style. Maybe she’s carrying a vintage Chanel purse; inside it holds a first-generation iPod that she listens to with wired earbuds. On her feet are Mary Janes from the 90’s as she floats across the street in her favorite secondhand jeans.
This may be something you see often in this day and age when it comes to trends. Especially now, through vintage clothes, old forms of media and technology. Often, people are creating trend “comebacks” in the pursuit of nostalgia, collection and individuality.
Whether we are talking about the resurgence of digital cameras, the increase of woman writing letters to pen pals, or the collection of vinyl records, we can argue that just about anything could be brought back in the name of someone romanticizing their lives. Especially by women in a younger demographic.
If this is the case, why don’t we bring back audio love letters?
Though many people don’t know about them and they may seem simple, audio love letters were used in 1930’s and 40’s. Audio letters were small, lightweight records made in record booths found across the world. People from other countries would even send these messages to one another. But what makes them so special? Aren’t they just a voicemail?
Yes, but there’s a catch. The difference is that a record would physically be cut in real time. You would speak into the microphone in places like amusement parks, military bases and post offices. The goal? Make a recording for your loved one to keep with them. It was not only something tangible but physical and able to be kept forever.
The beauty of this? In a world where we crave perfection, this is something real from the heart. Like the polaroids that people love, it’s one chance to make something for your partner that you can neatly wrap in a romantic envelope.
However, it’s not just for couples. It can also be for friends or family if you live far away. Some even used these vinyls as messages for their future children while many used to record these messages and send them to their parents before voicemails took the job. Still, audio letters still hold a much more nostalgic or whimsical feeling.
While these “seemed” to die out, we still use this very idea with current technology like a voice message, recordings and more. Knowing that it still prevails in other mediums, gives me faith that this too could make a comeback with the right nostalgic crowd.
Further Reading
Voice In the Mail: Audio Love Letters Were Hot in The 1930s And ’40s Voice In The Mail: Audio Love Letters Were Hot In The 1930s And ’40s : NPR
Voice notes on vinyl records? It used to be all the rage Voice notes on vinyl records? It used to be all the rage | CBC Radio
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