Tea and records ask the same thing of you: slow down and listen.

A good tea opens up over several infusions and never tastes quite the same twice. A record sounds different in every room, every time the needle drops. Both reward the person who's paying attention, and both are better shared.

That's the idea behind Listening Bar, and we're delighted to welcome our friends Mike & Matt Ritson for two special sessions this November.

I first met Matt at our tea bar two years ago, and we bonded straight away over a shared love of tea, music and openness on experiencing tea with new perspective. This November, we're thrilled to co-curate our very first Listening Bar together, bringing those two passions into one room. Joining us is a very special guest: Matt's father, Mike, whose record collection has been forty years in the making. With both of them based in London, we caught up over messages to talk about tea, vinyl and what to expect on the night.

Tell us about you with five records!

Mike's Curation:

• Investigate by Major Lance.
  Aged 15 In those days, you were either into rock or soul, and that record set me firmly on the soul path.

• Didn’t Say a Word by Yvonne Baker.
  I started travelling to Blackpool Mecca and the Highland Room, where I heard  It absolutely blew me away.

• If You Ask Me by Jerry Williams.
  YMCA Ealing my first home in London

• No one to Love  by Pat Lewis
  Memories of a great friend Nick Washer who gave me a copy of this rarity late 70’s

• Helpless by Kim Weston
  Motown magic and my favorite record

Matt's Curation:

• Lost in Music - Chic
  The lyrics in this song are my philosophy of life!

• Don’t You Know - Jan Hammer Group
  An epic track that’s quite unknown. It’s one I wish I could go back and hear again for the first time.

• You Move Me - Roy Roberts
  This is a big soul tune and always reminds me of my dad and his passion for soul music

• I’m In Love - Aretha Franklin
  I remember hearing this for the first time and instantly becoming a huge Aretha fan.

• Deep Burnt - Deep Burnt
  This is the track that got me into house music and the search for an original vinyl copy kickstarted my record collecting adventure.
  
  

A lot of us would like to know from Matt: How does a synth player from a South London band end up being so serious about tea? (We all saw your reels about your tea trips in China and loved them by the way!)  Also, What do you find is the commonality between tea and djing or music?

(Photo Source: DIY Magazine)

Matt: I got into tea through my brother. We played in a band together and in complete opposition to most bands he never drank on the road. Instead he was always drinking tea. So when your around ti 24/7 it slowly finds its way into your soul.

Tea and music are made for each other, both are a great way to bring people together. I find that making tea is also a lot like DJing. Picking the right tea to match the energy of the time or weather is so much like finding the best tune to match the energy on the dance floor. Plus both are perfect for anyone who’s obsessed with collecting. 

With everything on our phones now, vinyl DJing seems like a very special skill. What’s so special about it?

Mike: When Spotify and digital music became the norm, and CDs had taken over, I stuck with vinyl. There’s just something about an original record that you can’t quite explain.

Every record has a story and a memory attached to it where you first heard it, who you were with, the club you were in, or the time in your life when it meant something to you.

For me, playing vinyl is about sharing those memories with other people. It’s tactile, it’s personal, and there’s a real connection between the record, the music and the person playing it.

And that’s what makes it special. Music travels, and when you share an original piece of vinyl with someone, you’re sharing a little bit of history as well as the music itself.

What does a good tea sound like? 

Matt: Great question! A good tea will fill a room with the sound of intrigue. It’s got a subtle rhythm to it, it’s not too loud and it draws all your senses together.

This one is for Mike - Forty years of digging. Which record did you chase the longest, and which one is your all-time favourite? Also, a vinyl crackle: flaw or feature?

Mike: My all-time favourite is Helpless by Kim Weston.

(Photo Source: Thoms Records)

I once owned a copy on a red-and-white UK TMG demonstration pressing. It was worth a considerable amount of money, and I sold it. I’ve been trying to find a replacement ever since. Given what it would cost me now, I’ll probably have to take out another mortgage to get it back!

And ... I’d say it’s a flaw, but sometimes it adds character to the music. A little crackle can be part of the charm of an old record!

Pair a tea with a record.

Mike: That’s a tough one, because I’d have to choose two! For a more contemporary mood, I’d sit down with a lovely jasmine tea and listen to Midnight in Peckham by Chaos in the CBD. Something mellow, atmospheric and a little unexpected.

(Photo Source: Chaos in The CBD on Bandcamp)

But if I’m going back to my soul roots, it has to be Helpless by Kim Weston, accompanied by a really good, strong breakfast tea.

Two very different records, two very different teas — but both best enjoyed when you take the time to sit back, listen and let the music do its thing.

Matt:  I would pair ‘Harvest Time’ by Pharoah Sanders with a Raw Puerh. Both need time to unfurl but when they do you end up in a joyous place.

(Photo Source: Pharoah Sanders on Bandcamp)

Bonus Tracks: Listen to the playlist curated by Mike Ritson, it's been on the loop at our office.

Listening Bar with Matt & Mike Ritson
Location: Plantation Tea Bar - G/F, 18 Po Tuck Street, Sai Wan
Price: $380 per person (Include 2 drinks)
Book Here

SESSION 1: NIGHT
Date: 27 November (Friday)
Time: 8-11pm

SESSION 2: LATE AFTERNOON
Date: 29 November (Sunday)
Time: 3-6pm

Walk-ins are welcome!