About me: Hey y’all! I’m Zipporah, also known as @groovyarchives on social media. I’m originally from Maryland (S/O to the 301) and I’m also Jamaican.
I’ve always been a huge music nerd, so I decided to pursue music curation to share my love for music and to create conversation.
I also collect DVDs, cassettes, and photobooks. WE NEED TO PRESERVE PHYSICAL MEDIA!
Favorite musicians: This is hard, but if you know me, you know my favorite artist of all time is Michael Jackson. There will never be another musician like him.
My other faves are Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye, Sade, OutKast, Thundercat, J. Cole, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Kaytranada, and Tyler, The Creator.
Favorite genres: I grew up on a lot of genres but my favorites are R&B, Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop, and Reggae.
My mother is from Jamaica, so I grew up always hearing Reggae and Dancehall blasting through our sound system at home.
My father (who is from Maryland) often played various mixtapes containing Go-go, Rap, and Funk. My parents most definitely shaped my love for music.
Q&A:
What was happening in your life when vinyl first became important to you?
I was in my senior year of high school preparing to go off to college. I had always been into collecting vintage things and preserving physical media (CDs, pictures, magazines, etc.), but I had never gotten the chance to collect vinyl.
Ironically, that same year, my parents bought a record player for the house but had no records to actually play. So, I went out to my local mall to hit up FYE (For Your Entertainment), where I purchased Michael Jackson’s Thriller. This was the perfect first record to have in my collection.
What vinyl record holds one of your most fondest memories?
For me, that would be Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city. It was gifted to me by my best friend for my birthday back in 2018. This album has been truly instrumental in my love and passion for music, especially Hip-Hop.
It dropped when I was in middle school and it was all I played while taking the bus to school, doing homework, hanging out with my friends, etc.
What’s your favorite album cover of all time and what about it resonates with you?
It’s a tie between Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Marvin Gaye’s I Want You. I’ve always thought the Thriller album cover was a beautiful shot of Michael.
The Marvin Gaye album cover features the famous painting “The Sugar Shack” by Ernie Barnes. It’s the same piece featured in one of my favorite shows, Good Times. That painting has always given me a sense of black pride and joy.
Have you ever discovered a favorite producer or musician through reading album credits?
I actually discovered Thundercat through reading credits. Back in high school, I was discovering a lot of music through Soundcloud and Youtube. His name kept appearing on a lot of tracks that I enjoyed, especially his work with Flying Lotus. I dove into his entire catalog and have been obsessed ever since. One of my favorite bassists and musicians of all time!
What’s a dollar-bin record you found that still surprises you to this day?
I got Minnie Riperton’s Perfect Angel in a dollar-bin and I was SHOCKED. That project is a classic.
What’s an interesting music fact that you recently discovered?
I recently learned that the drum break in the track Amen, Brother by The Winstons is the most sampled drum break of all-time. That drum break shaped entire genres— from Hip-Hop and Jungle to Drum&Bass.
Where is your favorite place to crate dig?
I currently reside in New Jersey, so my favorite record store here is the Princeton Record Exchange.
My all time favorite place to crate dig is Amoeba Music in Los Angeles, CA. If you’re a music nerd or media lover like myself, this place is media heaven.
Is there a Record Store Day release you’re especially excited about this year?
Yes, I’m hoping to grab the 10 Year Anniversary 7″ box set of Anderson .Paak’s Malibu. It is one of my favorite albums of all time!
Has a record ever taught you something about life, creativity, or people that you still carry with you?
A record that has truly stuck with me is Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. That record came out during a pivotal time in my life, and it continues to help me with my own personal growth, as I navigate this world as a black woman.
I learned about self love, being as authentic as I can be in everything that I do vs. allowing society to shape me, as well as always holding myself accountable. One of the greatest and most important albums of all time, truly.
Any advice for fellow collectors?
Buy albums that you truly love or that interest you, even if it’s simply the album cover that captivates you.
I think it’s important to always try to discover music organically, as you never know who you might come across and where that music will take you next. There is so much amazing music out there!!!
***Zipporah’s journey shows that great collectors don’t just find records, they find the stories within them. For music curation rooted in culture, history, and genuine love for the craft, follow Zipporah on all platforms @groovyarchives! If you want to share your collecting journey with us next, hit us up on IG @soultaurean.
