World Record Store Day is a time of year celebrating the music and culture coming from independent stores around the globe. From special edition vinyls to radio shows, hundreds of thousands of indie shops are active every April while acknowledging the record industry. In this article, we highlight just a few of the many independent stores you should know ahead of World Record Store Day.
Phonica
Open since 2003, Phonica is located in London and specializes in electronic and dance music. Throughout it’s 20 years, it has earned a reputation as one of the country’s leading indie stores. As well as this, they have their own celebrated mix series – available on Mixcloud – featuring mixes by Honey Dijon, Louie Vega and Peggy Gou to name a few. Phonica’s name carries serious weight in the world of record stores.
Divert Records
Prague is home to Divert Records, a specialist store for your House and Techno needs. Curating new and second hand vinyl, cassettes, magazines and books, they cater to every sub-genre, which you can hear regularly thanks to their revolving door of guest DJs.
Planet Wax
South London’s Planet Wax might be physically small but once you enter, you’re in a space that’s larger than life. Not only is it a bar but you can also get your dubplate cut if you’re an artist looking to release music physically. You can often step in on a Friday and find an intimate DJ set going on. Such is the fun that comes with the store.
Collect
Lisbon’s Collect is a record store, online radio station, record label and bar that lives and breathes music. It specializes in new and second-hand records while delivering daily livestreams and regular programming via its Collect Radio show. Whether you’re a fan of Gang Starr or Larry Heard, a trip to Collect will be worth your while.
Rough Trade
Rough Trade is many things to many people. A record store, label and cultural powerhouse, it has many bases around the UK and, indeed, the world. Stocking every genre you could imagine, their stores are often popular destinations for artists to meet fans and build communities. Rough Trade has also built an extensive catalog of radio shows and mixes for you to dig into on it’s Mixcloud profile.
Razor N Tape
New York and club music go together like Ben & Jerry. So it’s no surprise that Razor N Tape is so popular in its location in Brooklyn. The shop has built a loyal following of ravers both at home and abroad. Recently, it hosted its first party in London. Which goes to show just how far the store’s appeal goes.
Inverted Audio
A magazine and record store, Inverted Audio takes the best of electronic music and underground club culture and showcases it to its audience. It sells vinyl, cassettes and equipment such as CD players and boomboxes. It also showcases current and future talent via its mix series. Which proves just how dedicated Inverted Audio is to highlighting DJ culture in all its glory.
Pagal Records
Out in Delhi, India, Pagal Records is a spot ready made for crate digging. With over 3000 records to look through – with new records arriving every week – customers can expect to find everything from popular music known around the world to classics from the Indian nation’s rich musical history. Not to mention posters, books, cassettes and more. Pagal Records is a music collector’s paradise.
Next Door Records
West London spot Next Door Records is a community hub that serves a lot of purposes. Not only does it sell records, but you can also grab a drink while listening to a live DJ set from their long list of programming. You can find classic records, deeper cuts and everything in between, showing that the store has catered to every music fan imaginable.
Digging in India
Music archivist, writer and DJ Nishant Mittal’s record store Digging In India is the full embodiment of his passion. He has dedicated the New Delhi shop to Indian music past and present, with rare grooves, nursery rhymes and remakes of popular Western tunes on display. Mittal captures the diversity of his store as a DJ, and his vast collection of mixes are available on Mixcloud.