These Best and Strange Record Stores in Singapore
If there’s a day vinyl lovers look forward to the most, it’s Record Store Day. RSD is usually celebrated on the third Saturday of April every year. But due to the pandemic, the annual music affair’s split over three separate dates, with the last one on October 24. In Singapore, record stores like The Analog Vault and Mosta Records will be observing the special day with RSD 2021 titles, limited edition merchandise, and promotions.
While we wait for the day we’ll be able to catch a live band outdoors again, let’s indulge in a home listening party with specially curated playlists or records. And if you prefer kicking it old school, trailing the detailed sounds of vinyl scratching against the needle of your turntable and those eargasmic sounds emitting from the speakers, it’s about time you expand your record collection. Let’s exploce These Best and Strange Record Stores in Singapore.
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These Best and Strange Record Stores in Singapore
Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee
The brainchild of DJ collective Matteblacc, this music space is more than meets the eye. Besides offering stacks of records for music aficionados to browse through, the laidback store also invites customers to enjoy a cuppa specialty joe and craft beers as well as all day breakfast bites such as smoked salmon bagel and smashed avocado toast all while copping merch and accessories from your favourite artists, bands, and cult streetwear brands. If it’s anything like it was pre circuit breaker, you’ll likely find impromptu vinyl jam sessions when Phase 3 is in full swing. These Best and Strange Record Stores in Singapore.
Curated Records
It’s smack in the middle of Tiong Bahru, so you know the kind of Hipster 101 albums this hole in the wall stocks. Expect an impressive selection of contemporary pop records alongside lesser known titles from every corner of the world. But if you’re looking for the créme de la créme to add to your vinyl collection, store owner Tremon is the go to guy he’ll recommend you something that’ll suit your music palate regardless of genre.
Mosta Records LP
Run by a husband wife duo, Mosta Records LP stands out among other record stores in Singapore as the authorised dealer and distribution for Jack White’s of The White Stripes Third Man Records, as well as other record labels including its own. But beyond the blues, the store also carries a plethora of other genres through new and pre loved vinyl. And if you’re in need of a new set up, you’ll be happy to know that it’s also the authorised dealer of Audio Technica turntables and accessories.
RetroCrates
A stone’s throw away from Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee’s new sweet digs, Retrocrates is the ideal place for music lovers to relax, unwind, and crate dig in a leisurely manner for all genres of music, old and new. The independent record store offers a range of turntables as well as a large library of new and pre loved vinyl records for sale. The second floor shop house, complete with sofas, cushions, and rugs, allows for customers to get comfortable and immerse themselves in the music. That is once of These Best and Strange Record Stores in Singapore.
Swee Lee
Besides boasting a wide range of musical instruments, accessories, and DJ gear from well known brands such as Fender, Gibson, and Marshall, the massive Swee Lee also carries a range of turntables and records suited for budding audiophiles or seasoned needle droppers.
Look forward to shelves filled with records from top hits to deep cuts. There are also in store stations for you to sample those records. If all those crate digging got you feeling tired, refuel at the Swee Lee Social Club, a casual hangout space for music lovers to chat over coffee by Common Man Coffee Roasters and desserts.
Red Point Record Warehouse
It’s a crate digger’s wonderland more than 10,000 vintage vinyl stack up at this out of the way joint. Red Point is known among music geeks for its varied selection you’ll find records from ’50s Chinese divas to the golden age of rock ’n’ roll to contemporary indie to bygone Singaporean hits. There’s no question here: if you own a player, you owe it to yourself to check out Red Point.
Vinylicious
We can’t tell you how many times we’ve scoured Vinylicious, found a record, checked its rarity on Discogs, and held an internal debate on whether it’s wise to drop $100 on a first press of Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, The Smashing Pumpkins or other alt rock legends. We even found a copy of the debut record by 80s local new wave outfit Zircon Lounge. Although prices are on the high side, the catalogue here is legit.
If you’ve got tighter purse strings, there’s a comprehensive collection of 80s rock records and new indie releases here, too. That is once of These Best and Strange Record Stores in Singapore.
