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Behind every creation and every product you encounter, there is a hand story.
At Keyo, we love hands. Hands not only make us human but they also contain our identity. This week we have an interview from Garrett Galayda, a Bluetooth Boombox Designer from Chicago, Illinois.
Check out his story below.
What do you do?
I dig through estate sales and flea markets to find perfectly good luggage and put them back to work as Bluetooth boomboxes.
Where are you based?
Based on the north side of Chicago/Edison Park.
How did you get started?
I grew up around musicians and became interested in the gear. My dad taught me the basics of soldering and fixing speakers. He even built his construction site boombox in the early 90s that was really loud and powered by a car battery. It was also cumbersome and ugly. In 2013 I saw the suitcase speaker concept on Pinterest sketched out in a poster design. I went ahead and tried to figure out how to build one for myself with no intentions of making more. Once it was finished, my friends starting asking me to build custom boomboxes for them and it just grew from there.
What do you love most about doing what you do?
I love getting to meet other creative people who want something built custom. I'm helping people create their own nostalgia. Sometimes it's a boombox to match their vintage VW bus and other times its turning grandpa's old suitcase into the center of attention for families to enjoy.
How do you mentally prepare to do what you do before you have to do it?
Walking into my workshop is all I need to do to get mentally prepared. It's my creative outlet and a chance for me to work with my hands and listen to podcasts. Its an escape from the everyday tasks that can stress people out.
What are some of your tips for other people to follow your path?
Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.
Any favorite books, songs, podcasts, shows?
I have to listen to podcasts while I'm working. NPR, 99% invisible, stuff you should know, how I built this, Radiolab, Freakonomics, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me, Young House Love and even Joe Rogan once in a while.
What's identity to you?
Authenticity.
Ig: @hificase
Shop: www.hificase.com
A big thank you to Garrett for sharing his story.
At Keyo, we love hearing from creators who are doing exciting and inspirational things. By featuring bi-weekly hand stories, we give them a platform to share their unique story so that they can inspire others to be proud of what they do and who they are.
Want to be featured in our next one? Feel free to contact us!
