Favorite music genre: FUNK, Soul, R&B, Hip-Hop, Blues, Quartet Gospel, and Rock&Roll
Favorite musician: It’s a tie between D’Angelo, Marvin Gaye, and Parliament-Funkadelic.
About me: I’m a 90’s baby from Memphis, TN! I’m a vocalist and aspiring musician. I’m also a corporate girlie who loves vintage fashion! Fun fact: my earliest memory of music is Bag Lady by Erykah Badu!
Q&A:
When did you start collecting vinyl and why?
I started collecting vinyl in 2014 after I discovered all 3 of D’Angelo’s albums – Black Messiah, Voodoo, and Brown Sugar. That was the first time I fell in love with someone’s WHOLE discography! I saw the records on his website and knew I needed to experience his music on vinyl! Soon after that, the journey to collect all my favorite albums on vinyl began!
What have you been spinning lately?
A lot of funk as usual! P-Funk, Bootsy Collins, Junie Morrison, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Buddy Miles, and Marvin Gaye! But I want to hop back into my early blues phase again soon.
What albums are you looking forward to adding to your collection in 2025?
Hardcore Jollies by Funkadelic, Steve Arrington’s Hall of Fame I, and Mama’s Gun by Erykah Badu.
Favorite album art of all time?
I Want You by Marvin Gaye, Return to the 36 Chambers by ODB, and Ultra Wave by Bootsy Collins.
Favorite places to crate dig and buy records?
Thrift stores! I’ve found some of my most prized records at thrift stores! I also love discogs because they almost always have what I’m looking for at reasonable prices! My favorite online shops are Get On Down and Sound of Vinyl. I love to shop at my local record stores as well, especially the ones in the artsy neighborhoods.
How do you organize your records?
I usually organize them by alphabetical order. I may need to start organizing them by distinct genres soon!
What is your current vinyl setup?
I have an Audio-Technica LP120xUSB record player with Pioneer DJ DM-50D speakers. I started off with a 6-in-1 Crosley as most of us usually do 😆. I also have a vintage Magnavox record & cassette player that I thrifted in early 2024.
When did you join the vinyl community on Instagram?
I discovered the IG vinyl community randomly after following @recordswithraniyah and @blackgirlslovevinyl in 2020! I had no idea about niche accounts before then! I was mostly showcasing my records on YouTube, that’s where I first found @recordswithraniyah’s content, then she led me to finding @blackgirlslovevinyl, and the rest is history!
Any tips, hacks, or advice for fellow record collectors?
Quality over quantity! Try to only collect albums you truly love and let go of the ones you rarely reach for. Curate a collection that truly expresses what YOU love! And if you’re new to record collecting, save up to invest in a quality system. It doesn’t have to be super expensive, so research to find the perfect system for your price range. The 6-in-1 systems and cheaper set-ups are great for starting out, but to get the full experience of listening to vinyl, you will eventually need a quality turntable.
Where can we get more of your vinyl content?
I post vinyl content on Instagram and YouTube! My handle is @urfavtalia on both platforms.
Aww Ultra Wave is one of my favorite covers as well. I had to frame it.
Clarence Carter is going to be sad that he didn’t make the list of favorites.
Now you gotta get your hair like his with the waves and braids at the same time! 🤣
That’s insane! Will do!