Sound By the Sea Opens In Oceanside On Coast Hwy

OCEANSIDE, CA - Music, food and libation lovers have a new place to captivate their senses at the recently opened Sound By The Sea Listening Bar on Coast Hwy.

So, what's a Listening Bar you may be asking?

Listening bars are venues with high-end sound systems that primarily play vinyl records that are chosen by a "Sound Selector". The phenomenon first sprung up in Japan, then spread across Europe and recently to the United States.

The concept offers an immersive audio experience that is growing in popularity as patrons can enjoy the sounds without the raucous noise of a club or rowdy bar where you have to shout to be heard.

The Patch sat down with owner Dominique (Dom) Vanhecke to get the scoop.

So, Dom, can you tell us about yourself and your new place?

"Sure. I'm Dominique and I'm the owner of Sound By the Sea in Oceanside. I am from Belgium and my girlfriend and I moved here last year in June to pursue the dream of opening a listening bar.

I am an engineer by background and worked for many years managing factories and other classical engineering stuff. But in my spare time, I was also working in recording studios in Brussels and Paris. Then last year I decided to quit my job and start working on this project."

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"In Belgium, people in some ways are bound to the weather and it's always a bit gloomy and people tend to stay inside. So when I visited for the first time in 2018 for a recording master class in Los Angeles I basically saw sunlight for the first time, almost literally.

I came here for the good weather and the rhythm that all contribute to a certain lifestyle here in southern California, which we like very much."

Can you tell us more about the Sound by the Sea concept and what led you to this venture?

"Before COVID, I actually wanted to start my own recording studio, so I took a sabbatical and went to cooking school as well. I did four years. I'm like a sous chef. Not like a full-blown chef, but I have this natural interest in experimenting whether it's with sound or ingredients. I love it.

To create what is called the Third Space. It's not your home, it's not your work. It's where you can disconnect from everything else. So it's a nice open space, very communal. You sit in the middle and there's this 360 sounds. It's loosely inspired on Studio 54 which had a 360 DJ booth. But here you sit with the Sound Selector.

I call them sound selectors because people often associate a DJ with loud parties, but we don't have a dance floor. We have the opposite. We have couches where you can lounge and tables to sit and try some food and drinks. So it's very laid back on purpose. And you can talk. Normally we play music at 85 decibels during the day and maybe up to 95 in the evening. But it's still speak easy. You don't go home with your voice broken and your ears ringing.

I like this sharing aspect and music unites us here. People like that eclectic vibe also. Basically, we play old music and new music from Brazilian to Caribbean to Japanese to electronic music. From Germany to Africa. It's all about giving the recording all the value it deserves.

Sound should be an experience where people don't just listen to the same thing all the time. it helps people to get out of their own shells. There's definitely an educational part here, that's for sure. And in that way, it's not for everyone. You need to come in with kind of an open mind because we play all those different genres. It can be a jazz night and it can be a classic rock night or hip hop music. But we change it around pretty often. So if you don't like the music probably in 15 or 20 minutes, you will hear something else.

So it's definitely a place that is built around experience and vibe. You come here to basically disconnect from your home, your work, your other life and spend a good time with friends or family or kids. I'm open during the day as well. I have people come here with kids. I love to listen to good music with kids to give them that experience as well. We are a very personal place. It's Me, Dom, it's Connor the resident, it's Mark behind the bar. We are a family company and I keep it very open door, so everyone is welcome here."

Sound by the Sea also offers an eclectic world flavors menu ranging from French Crepes to Empanadas. Drop by any Thursday through Sunday to catch what's on the sound, food and drink menu.

For more information, visit the Sound by the Sea website.