Putting one’s blood or ashes or other bodily remains (and/or products) into a functional object isn’t exactly a new idea, and I’ve actually explored it here in the blog before, but it’s generally not something that’s available to the plebs in the general public. No, immortalizing yourself by becoming one with your work is generally reserved for the realm of experimental artists who paint with their own blood and hair, and occasionally, the cultural elite. And Vinyly seeks to change this for a scant $4700.
And Vinyly Memorial Record Pressing
For that price, the soon-to-be-deceased (or the deceased who have had their voice fortuitously recorded ahead of time) can supply a 24-minute recording and have their ashes mixed with a vinyl record of said recording. 30 of these records pressed are then made available to give to friends and family. If there’s ever been a limited edition pressing, this is it. Imagine finding one of these at a garage sale.
Additional (potentially collectible) aspects of this record include a tasteful custom portrait, original songs recorded for your memorial record, and the ability to donate, say, only your cremated left foot to the recording. A full body is not necessary, and I would guess that your loved ones won’t be as concerned with how much of your remains they’ll be listening to as much as getting any part of you at all.
While the website takes a very light, irreverent tone, it’s pretty certain that the business of death is serious stuff. As a collector and archivist of Voice-O-Graph records, hearing the voices of the deceased emit from the grooves of a spinning disc has an emotional weight that a digital recording just doesn’t have. For those of us who call old voicemail boxes to hear the voice of a long-gone loved one, this is both the ultimate gift and ultimate collectible.
And what’s to stop you, mere mortal, from making your own awesome radio show for your closest relations to listen to, and their own relations, and so forth?
I suggest omitting your own charming rendition of ‘Free Bird’. That song takes forever.
