About Us

Skeleton Dust Records opened in October 2017 in downtown Dayton, Ohio. It features an eclectic and curated selection of pop, rock, alternative, metal, punk, noise, industrial, experimental, electronic, funk/soul, jazz, reggae, hip hop, folk, blues, country, and world music on vinyl, CD, and cassette format. The store also offers a selection of printed materials and new & used equipment. Additionally, it acts as an art space for live performances and visual art showings from artists in the Dayton area and beyond.

Diversity & Anti-Racism Statement

Our store has a strong focus on supporting experimental and underground music and art, and we are proud to be able to act as a channel in the community for the expression of artists and musicians that operate outside mainstream culture. As business owners, we also firmly believe in the power of sharing our personal values with our customers and the community, and using our voice to say what we believe is true, just, and fair for everyone. Since we opened, we have always identified as a space where everyone is welcome, no matter the color of your skin, sexuality, age, gender, religion, orientation, or special needs. We stand in support with the people that are marginalized and discriminated against at the hand of hatred, ignorance, and bigotry and continually attempt to make decisions that benefit them while we strive to treat everyone in accordance with our beliefs. 

With that said, as white citizens of this country, we understand that we possess an implicit bias and privilege that has allowed us to benefit from a system of oppression that has been in place for hundreds of years. At the very core, the existence of our business is largely dependent on the musical work of people of color and those in the queer community. Almost all forms of popular and underground music up to the present time have ultimately derived from the creativity and expressions of the early pioneers of blues, country, folk, rock, jazz, r&b, reggae, gospel, hip hop, and disco music; many whom are people of color or queer. 

Fostering a community that is open and accepting does not end with a statement like this. It will require continuous work and effort; it is a battle that we will never ultimately win but will keep fighting until we cease to exist. Throughout this battle, we will remain committed to learning and growing while listening to the voices and ideas of those who have experienced first-hand and are speaking out about the effects of oppression, white supremacy, and discrimination based on sex or gender identity. We invite you to join this discussion; we want to hear the thoughts and ideas of our customers and friends, as that knowledge will then be applied to action, utilizing our business to provide support and resources for those that need it the most. The action we have taken so far includes donations to a variety of organizations and non-profits that promote compassion, success in the small business sector, and the culture and creative expression of voices of color and the queer community. We look forward to including more artists of color and diverse gender and sexual identity on our gallery walls and in our performance space. We will continue to disseminate information about systemic oppression that exists in our world to help educate our community at large.