DURHAM, NC — Psychic Hotline, the independent record label launched by Nick Sanborn and Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso along with their longtime manager Martin Anderson, has created a unique space in downtown Durham called The Mailroom. Nestled at 316 Holland Street, just off the alley beside the Durham Hotel, the location serves both as the label’s headquarters and a curated in-person retail experience.

The upstairs of the building houses the label’s main office operations, while the downstairs functions as a literal mailroom used for shipping online orders. Since 2022, however, Psychic Hotline has periodically opened the front portion of the space to the public as a pop-up record shop. This initiative first launched during The Greatest Show on Dirt, a three-day music event hosted by Sylvan Esso at Durham Athletic Park.

This front-of-house shop, affectionately called The Mailroom, offers fans an opportunity to engage more directly with the label and its offerings. Starting this spring, the pop-up began opening on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., providing limited but regular access for those in the area.

Although not a traditional retail storefront, the space is continuously evolving. Modest improvements and adjustments have been made to create a more welcoming atmosphere. Shoppers can explore new releases and merchandise from Psychic Hotline’s wide-ranging roster, which includes local and international artists alike. From limited-edition vinyl to exclusive collaborations, the pop-up creates a tactile and social experience rarely found in modern digital-first music culture.

The Mailroom is staffed by a small team including Will Hackney, who leads production for the label, as well as Anderson and direct sales coordinator Devon Tuttle. All three have deep roots in North Carolina’s music scene and share a history of working in independent record shops. This background helps shape the laid-back, music-first vibe of the space, which emphasizes conversation and community.

Special events at The Mailroom elevate the experience further. Past pop-ups have featured DJs spinning records, album release celebrations, exclusive merch drops, and even a pancake breakfast. The flexible layout of the space makes it ideal for such creative gatherings, which often incorporate artists, small businesses, and collaborators from across the region.

One standout event was held in partnership with Reyna Tropical, a Mexican-American group whose album Malegría was released through Psychic Hotline. To mark the occasion, the label teamed up with local coffee roasters Little Waves Coffee to create a custom blend, which was sold in limited quantities at The Mailroom.

More recently, Psychic Hotline collaborated with the creators of the NO VISA dance party series to launch a new clothing line. The event doubled as a DJ takeover, featuring sets by Durham’s own Mickey Slicks and Alec Lomami. This marked another chapter in the ongoing creative partnership between the label and NO VISA, which dates back to 2022.

With its evolving setup and emphasis on community, The Mailroom stands as a physical reflection of Psychic Hotline’s mission: to support independent music and foster genuine connections between artists and fans in a space that’s distinctly Durham.

For more info visit psychic-hotline.net.