Joel and Ben outside Holiday Records
Frustrated at not being able to produce his own record, Otago alumnus Ben Wallace joined forces with university friend Joel Woods to create a record company (Holiday Records).
After six months’ training in Canada, the pair imported a record press from Canada and went into business in 2018. Harnessing their skills in business and design they set up the first vinyl record pressing plant in New Zealand since the 1980s and at the time only the second in Australasia (there are now five record pressing plants).
Joel being admitted to the bar.
From Taupō (attending Taupō-nui-a-Tia College), Joel had never been to Dunedin, but was drawn south by his love of skiing and a desire to sample its famous student life. Otago was also unique in offering design and marketing courses.
“I loved it, it was everything I had hoped for and more; it was a wonderful four and a half years there,” Joel says.
Initially enrolling in a BCom, he branched out to include Law and says that former Law Dean Professor Mark Henegan stood out as a major influence during his time at Otago.
After completing his studies Joel took up a J1 visa and spent a year in New York, where he flatted with future business partner Ben (BCom 2014). On his return Joel moved to Auckland, where he worked for a year as a junior barrister before starting Holiday Records.
They chose the name as it has “positive vibes” and “sounded good and everyone loves a holiday”.
Since beginning business they have pressed more than 500 albums ranging from small garage bands to major global artists. The list is very long but includes Lana Del Ray, Kendrick Lamar, Lorde, Crowded House, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Johnny Cash, Dire Straits and Billie Eilish.
“We can work with artists with their music, which we love to do.”
Joel admits with the global pandemic they got into the business at a good time. Many musical acts were unable to travel and many people could only listen to music in their homes.
Joel and Ben pressing records
Recently they introduced a biovinyl record (BioVinyl™) to their range, which produces 92 per cent fewer emissions than standard vinyl records.
“We’ve tested it and the quality is great. We were one of the first businesses in the world to introduce biovinyl and we hope that one day most of our records are made of it,” Joel says.
Reflecting a current resurgence in demand for cassette tapes and CDs, they are also producing these formats and have branched out into offering music merchandise from their central Auckland premises (they are only 200m from the Sky Tower).
You can find out more about their journey here: