Dreams have a much better chance of coming true when friends are able to combine their separate passions into one place.

Thus, Healing Force of the Universe — a music destination at 1200 East Walnut St. in Pasadena — was founded. The store offers a wide selection of vinyl records, instructional classes for children and adults during the day, and at night a unique performance venue and collaborative space for musicians and music fans alike.

“It’s a really great place for the community,” declared Ruby Parker, an employee and art creator who sees the combination of offerings at the store as a great boon to the area’s music scene.

“It’s a record store and, I think, the even cooler thing is that we do these live shows, with local people mostly,” she said. “I just think it’s super cool. The space is great and the sound is great.”

Coming up on its anniversary, the store saw a serendipitous creation when a music promoter and musician named Austin Manuel connected with a record store owner named Trevor Baade. The owner and operator of Jacknife Records & Tapes in Atwater Village since 2012, Baade is thrilled to see the space finally taking off.

“I actually conceived of the space in 2018,” he said, “and held the lease for five years before I partnered with Austin.”

“At the time it was just a warehouse of stuff because he was shipping stuff online,” Manuel remembered.

Baade had ideas of what he wanted it to be, but didn’t have at the time to create what was needed.

“He was like, ‘I’m too busy. You should just do it,’” Manuel said, who reached out to two investor friends — Joe Freund and James Hamlin — who came on board as silent partners.

“I’m like the main owner-operator, boots on the ground, since we opened,” he said, but emphasized it’s a group effort.

The store name itself comes from a 1969 spiritual jazz album by Albert Ayler titled “Music is the Healing Force of the Universe,” which Baade felt was the right message. With around 10,000 vinyl selections, mostly used material, there are also tapes and CDs, as well as classes in jazz, choir, art and listening, and even whole body harmony.

“This shop had me at the name, honestly — ‘Healing Force of the Universe,’” said Olivia Kaplan, a Los Angeles-based musician who has performed at the venue several times and is a regular attendee at events. ” I think that alone says everything you need to know about how much the store values music and the community of musicians.”

“Thus far, Healing Force has really filled a hole in the L.A. music scene by providing a mellow, affordable, community-oriented space to discover and listen to great music,” she said.

Baade noted that he spent years contemplating the idea for the shop.

“Healing Force of the Universe was never intended to be a record store per se, but more of a center for discovery,” he said, “a place to really get into music, a place for patient people who were actually curious to meet up, listen and really get into it.”

He said his best friend, Miles Seaton, who died in 2021, was part of the inspiration.

The pandemic also played a key part, as the expansion of Baade’s online market with Jacknife turned the Pasadena space into a veritable storage and shipping facility for a period. Likewise, Manuel found that period of time changed some of his priorities.

Originally from Nashville, Manuel came to L.A. several years ago to pursue his music and, ultimately, to promote other musicians. Promoting people under the name AMPM, he became busy booking shows at venues in Atwater Village, but ultimately wanted to find a more permanent place to center.

“I was kind of building a community of like-minded musicians,” he said, noting that after the pandemic he felt and understood the need for in-person experience with music and community.

While the store prides itself on a diverse selection of vinyl, Manuel sees much more happening.

“We’re kind of becoming more of a venue than a record store,” he said, with more touring acts starting to get in touch with him to organize appearances.

There are currently four to eight shows a week, with some bands using the space for recording live performances and filming videos. Reggie Watts, Jeff Parker, Don Preston and Bobby Bradford are among the musicians who have performed.

“The sound here is really good,” Manuel said. “Musicians love to play here.”

“I think we’re filling a void,” he said. “People need a place to play and a lot of people reach out.”

At nearly twice the size of Jacknife, however, vinyl lovers will adore the chance to peruse the offerings, which are plentiful and unique — from obscure vintage jazz albums, through all varieties of rock, pop, contemporary and spoken word, to a large collection of local bands and performers on wax.

“As customers are often there for hours due to the performances, they can really get into — and lost in — the stock,” Baade said.

“I’ve been addicted to record stores from a young age,” he said, with the chance to just be amongst a sprawling vinyl collection one of his favorite things.

Kaplan praised Healing Force.

“Playing there has been an absolute joy,” she said. “My band and I have had a very special experience.”

“As an audience member, I feel I can really relax into the environment and enjoy an intimate but quality-sounding live set,” she said.

“I really hope Pasadena gets behind this gem in whatever way it can as a city,” Kaplan said.

Next up, the store will try adding a coffee bar, augmenting the living room feel of the venue.

Baade stands by his belief in making your dreams come true.

“If you have a dream, do your best to make it happen,” he said. “Try like hell to find the way. Ask people for help. There are probably people out there that want to be a part of it.”

For more information, go to healingforcerecords. com.