Hare’s Breath Records break stereotypes

By Mary-Ellen Davis
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer

The soft, but strong, aroma of incense wafts through the air and mixes with the smell of aged paper sleeves from the bins of vinyl lining the walls as a woman with gold-rimmed, orange-tinted sunglasses warmly greets customers from her perch behind a glass counter.

Kat Peach is the co-owner of Hare’s Breath Records, and one of a few women in the region to own such a store. She and her husband Matt Peach had “always talked about” taking on such a venture and celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 27. The store is open every day of the week.

“We were setting up at fairs and festivals and stuff,” Kat said, explaining how the store idea began. “This summer was really rainy, and a lot of things either got rained out or nobody came out … and we got tired of hauling all of the boxes and sometimes the tent along with us, and … we were like ‘ok, let’s just do it.’”

For Kat, music has been a life-long passion. She said when she was growing up, she was always surrounded by the records her father had.

“My dad was a real stereophile,” Kat said. “You know, growing up in the 80’s, he had the record player and the tape player, and [music has] just always been around.”

Kat said she started playing music at the age of 5, when she began to learn classical piano.

“I was going to be a classical pianist, a concert pianist, for a long time. Then, other interests’ kind of just got in the way,” Kat said.

The couple also owns a record label, called Hare’s Breath Records, which was created to give back to artists, she said. A lot of smaller labels “aren’t very fair to the artists,” said Kat, speaking from experience after working with a label to create and distribute one of their own records.

“We didn’t get a penny from it,” Kat said. “You’re expected to kind of donate your music.”
The Peaches said that they feel artists deserve to get something for their work, which is why they opened the label.

“We both know a lot of musicians, and just thought we’d try to help,” Matt said.

Sometimes, though, Kat said that being a woman in the music industry is challenging. Sexism surfaces both in obvious and discreet ways, she said. For example, some customers bypass her at the counter to talk to her husband. Others have asked her if the store was really hers.

“It is frustrating because I know Kat knows a lot of music,” Matt said. “Probably more than the people who come into the shop, and when they’re directing their attention to me when they should be directing it to her, it’s like why aren’t you talking to Kat.”

Buying records at shows also can be challenging, Kat stressed.

“At shows, I’ve gotten asked ‘are you buying records for your boyfriend?’” Kat said.

Gabi Castillo, 20, a Baltimore resident who occasionally shops at the store, said that it’s unfortunate women have to fight so hard to have an equal standing in the industry.

“It doesn’t matter what field you go into if you are a woman because you will always have to fight the stereotypes that come with being a woman,” Castillo said. “I really appreciate that these challenges didn’t stop Kat from opening the store, though. I love walking around down here and am excited to see a woman owned record shop open up.”

Despite the challenges she faces, Kat said she still finds joy in helping people find new music.

“Sometimes you go to a record store and there’s like a feeling that the person behind the counter is judging you,” Kat said. “They’re always checking you out, and it’s just really uncomfortable and it’s the whole high-fidelity stereotype of a record store owner. You know, the snobby guy who’s opinionated, and misogynist, and you do see that in real life, sadly. So, it’s exciting to be different.”