In the past we've talked about the importance of music at funerals. Equally as important as a eulogy, the music played at a funeral sets the mood -- whether it's traditional organ music or modern chart -- and adds a personal touch to the proceedings, leaving a lasting impression on your loved ones and reminding them of your time on earth.
Whenever I hear Blink 182's 'Miss You' or Green Day's 'Wake Me Up When September Ends', it still reminds me of a college friend whose funeral I attended almost eight years ago.
Unfortunately, my friend died quite suddenly so he wasn't able to choose his own music, but I know that he would have been happily drumming away on a pew had he been there, and that brought great comfort to me on the day.
As with everything though, the ways in which people are choosing to become immortalised are forever changing.
Music lovers can now be immortalised when they die by having their ashes baked into vinyl records to leave behind for loved ones.
Founded by Jason Leach, And Vinyly is offering people the chance to press their ashes in a vinyl recording of their own voice, their favourite tunes or their last will and testament.
Having also co-founded the techno group and record label Subhead in the 1990s as well as a number of other labels, including House of Fix, Daftwerk and Death to Vinyl, Leach had a career in music before making the unusual transition.
The process of setting human ashes into vinyl basically involves the ashes being sprinkled onto the raw piece of vinyl (known as a "biscuit" or "puck") before it is pressed by the plates.
This means that when the plates exert their pressure on the vinyl in order to create the grooves, the ashes are pressed into the record.
The company also offers personalised RIV (Rest In Vinyl) artwork --- the simple version just carries your name and your life span, or you can have your portrait painted by artist James Hague, using your ashes mixed into the paint.
The basic package costs £2,000 and comprises of the standard artwork along with up to 30 ash-flecked discs with whatever sounds you choose, lasting a maximum of 24 minutes.
Extras include "Bespook Music", where artists from The House of Fix and Daftwerk write a song especially for you and global distribution of your record in vinyl stores.
Taking an altogether new approach, And Vinyl may, in fact, be the perfect option for those wishing to leave a lasting legacy.
