The Archive & Journal

Global Digging

Documenting the hunt for rare vinyl across continents, from the hills of Cali to the streets of Shibuya.

Tokyo Digging

Finding the rare and the refined in the specialized record boutiques of Japan, where preservation is an art form.

The Cali Sound

Exploring the heavy salsa culture of Cali, Colombia, and the rare 45s that define the city's unique sonic identity.

NYC Residencies

A log of recent sets at Distrito Salsa, focusing on the evolution of urban Latin sounds in the heart of New York City.

Preservation

Exploring the technical side of music curation, from high-end Japanese needles to archival storage methods.

Japanese Styli

An deep dive into the engineering of high-end styli and how they reveal hidden details in vintage pressings.

Archival Sleeves

Why I use specialized anti-static liners to ensure that global sounds remain pristine for the next generation of listeners.

Restoring Covers

Techniques for cleaning and preserving the visual history of urban music through delicate cover restoration.

"Music as a historical source requires a different kind of listening. We must preserve the technical fidelity to respect the original intent of the artist and the era's unique sonic texture."

Philosophy

"The archive is not just a collection of objects, but a map of human movement. Every record carries the dust of the city it was pressed in and the soul of the people who danced to it first."

Ethos

Archive Inquiries

What is DBOGA?

DBOGA is the personal archival project of David F. Bernal, dedicated to documenting global music history through the medium of vinyl records.

How is the audio curated?

Every record is cleaned using ultrasonic technology and played back using high-end Japanese styli to ensure the highest fidelity preservation.

Is the collection for sale?

This is a personal professional archive. While I occasionally trade items with other serious collectors, the core collection is for research and performance.

Do you take requests?

As a curator and historian, my sets are carefully programmed narratives. I focus on education and discovery rather than standard commercial requests.

Can I collaborate?

I am always looking to connect with other curators and historians. Please use the contact form on the home page for serious inquiries.

Where can I listen?

While this is a research archive, I host monthly residencies at 'Distrito Salsa' and 'Guateque Social' in NYC where these sounds come to life on high-fidelity systems.