JEDDAH: On the surface, Earth Tones is an online shop that sells instruments, CDs, albums and anything related to music. It is owned by Rayan Jubehi, Abdullah Al-Humaid and Ahmed Edrees. But the Jeddah-based store is more than a music retailer — it is a haven for artists and enthusiasts alike.
“We all have a deep passion for music, which is what initially brought us together. We discussed how we could support the expansion of the music scene in the city and how offering albums and instruments for fair pricing may help with that,” Edrees told Arab News.
When Earth Tones was first launched, its founders were merely a band that wanted to be involved in the community. They enjoyed performing cover songs at local events that brought people together.
“We play mostly rock and pop music because it’s the easiest for everyone to jam along with. But every now and then we throw in some jazz and blues to those who know how to play along,” Al-Humaid said.
After a while, they decided to open the store, demonstrating their abilities and encouraging people by using their musical talents as a tool of marketing. Jubehi and Al-Humaid split the guitar and bass duties, with Edrees handling the drums.
“After inspiration struck, Rayan took the initiative to construct Earth Tones store, which was then displayed in Jeddah in June last year with all of us at each other’s sides,” Al-Humaid added.
Earth Tones is a store where customers can find fair and reasonably priced classical LPs, CDs and cassettes from their favorite musicians to listen to at home or add to their collections. It sells a wide range of genres, including R&B, soul, vintage Arabic music, rock in all its forms, modern and classic hip-hop, and much more.
“Though we are a business with a primary goal of selling musical products, we care the most about the music community. With a direct partnership with Monochrome Community, we’re able to hold events where people are able to try out instruments and listen to music with us in person,” Jubehi told Arab News.
Monochrome Community creates events in Jeddah that bring together local companies and vintage store owners.
On the kinds of clientele Earth Tones attracts, Al-Humaid said: “People of all backgrounds come to us, but the one thing they have in common is their shared love of music. The ages of our customers ranges from 16-30 because those are mostly the people who attend the events to see us.”
The music store is especially great for beginners, Edrees added.
“For people who are looking to start practicing an instrument and are looking for the best prices in the market, Earth Tones is the best place to start. Since all of our instruments are second hand, we’re able to sell them at an affordable price suitable for beginners.”
In addition, Earth Tones is an ideal location for musicians to network and try out new musical genres. With a drum kit, guitars, and bass available, people can perform live and enjoy jam sessions, which is the main purpose of Earth Tones.
“We are a business first and foremost but we love being a band as well because it really helped grow our community to what it is today,” Jubehi added.
