C A N N O P Y
Art is True North
DECA: Alex Kaplan on Vinyl Gone Viral
For this installation of DECA—our inter-issue series inviting artists to curate top-ten lists—Alex Kaplan shares 10 albums she’s excited to hear on vinyl this spring.
CANNOPY | Photography by Alex Kaplan
ISSUE 15 | FORT LAUDERDALE | ALT.ITUDE
Alex Kaplan wanted to find a sense of calm, community, and normalcy in the crazy unknown of March 2020. She took to Instagram, and created @vinylgoneviral. Over five years later, her community has upwards of 42,000 followers there, and more on TikTok. The premise is simple: almost every day, Kaplan shares what vinyl records she’s spinning, sometimes honouring the anniversary of a release, sometimes highlighting music that suits the season, or just posting a video of the good tunes she’s got on her record player.
CANNOPY x Vinyl Gone Viral
Kit Tour
What was your first record player, and what does your current setup look like currently?
AK — I started buying records back in 2016, before I even owned a turntable. I did some research, and soon purchased an Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB which, in hindsight, was pretty good for a starter table. At the time, I was using my dad’s vintage Sansui 881 receiver from the ‘70s, and secondhand Paradigm speakers from my cousin. My dad has gotten back into listening to records in the last few years, so he’s now using my former setup. I’m now using a Pro-Ject Essential III turntable, a Pro-ject Debut Carbon EVO, and an Andover Audio SpinBase 2 speaker. I’m also using an audio visualizer from Petru Designs. It’s a perfect setup for the small space I’m working with, and it sounds great!
Stacks on Stacks
How many records do you have? And was there a strategy to amassing your collection?
AK ─ According to Discogs, I’m at 528, but I don’t have all of my records logged there, so it may be closer to 550 or so. I pick up albums that I have a personal connection to, whether it’s nostalgic albums from my youth (shoutout '90s and early 2000s!), or albums by bands I’ve seen live before or grew up listening to. I also have quite a few records that were passed down to me from my parents and other relatives’ collections. Sometimes I pick up an album that’s recommended to me by a friend, a record store employee, or online. Two incredible albums that I picked up after discovering them online were Wet Leg’s self-titled album, and Fontaines D.C.’s Romance. I’ve also promoted many records over the last few years via VinylGoneViral, which have contributed to my growing collection. A few times a year, I’ll browse my collection for records I’m not listening to often, and trade them in at my local record shop to make room for some new albums!
Just Do You
Is there one thing you’d advise people not to do when it comes to collecting records?
AK ─ Don’t compare your collection—or your setup—to others’. Everybody started somewhere, and it takes years to grow a collection. Focus on collecting the records that you have a personal connection to, and that make you happy. You don’t have to have 1000 albums in your collection, or a super fancy audiophile system, to be able to enjoy the vinyl experience! Don’t let that hold you back.
Fad or Fab?
Why do you think Vinyl Gone Viral has gone viral? Where do you think this desire to form community around a format of music storage comes from?
AK ─ Music connects people. I’ve been an avid music lover my entire life, and am fortunate to have this platform to connect with like-minded people from around the globe. We live in a digital-dominant world, and I believe that the tangibility of vinyl records really appeals to people—the physical act of digging through crates in a record shop, admiring an album’s sleeve, artwork and liner notes, putting a record on your turntable and flipping it from side A to side B. These days, records come in all sorts of variants—colored, splatter, liquid-filled, picture discs—so there’s an aesthetic appeal as well. Vinyl is a timeless hobby. There’s a reason that it was popular decades ago, and is still relevant today—it’s a medium that all generations can enjoy. I, personally, love listening to records with my parents, and plan to pass on my collection to my own children one day. If you go to a record store, you see people of all ages, and from all walks of life. Vinyl is intentional—when spinning a record, you listen to an album in full, in the order that the artist intended. I stream music as well, but there’s something special about playing an album in its entirety, as opposed to putting on a random playlist.
Alex Kaplan’s DECA
1. Elton John and Brandi Carlile – Who Believes in Angels?
Elton John may have retired from touring, but he’s far from slowing down. A legend known for his incredible musical collaborations, he’s always working on something new—most recently, by teaming up with the exceptionally talented Brandi Carlile. The album’s Indie Exclusive Pink Spiral Vinyl pressing looks absolutely stunning, and I’ll definitely be adding this one to my collection.
2. Djo – The Crux
It was hard to escape Djo’s smash hit, “End of Beginning,” which skyrocketed his music career. Like many, I was surprised to learn that the mastermind behind it was none other than Stranger Things star, Joe Keery! His upcoming album and the lead single, “Basic Being Basic,” is packed with electric grooves, synth-driven indie pop, and an impressive falsetto. Count me in!
3. Spin Doctors – Face Full of Cake
Alt-rock icons Spin Doctors knocked it out of the park with their debut album, Pocketful of Kryptonite, back in 1991. As a ’90s kid, I grew up on their music, so I was beyond excited to hear they were releasing their first studio album in twelve years. I’m loving the band’s fresh energy, garage-rock vibe, and signature playful lyrics. It’s clear they don’t take themselves too seriously—that’s exactly what makes them so fun to listen to.
4. Gorillaz- Demon Days Live from the Apollo Theater
I love going to concerts, so a live album is the next best thing. I haven’t had the chance to see Gorillaz live yet, so I’m hoping to grab this Record Store Day exclusive, and bring the concert experience to my living room. Early 2000s music holds a special place in my heart, and Demon Days is undeniably one of the best albums of its time. It’s hard to believe it’s turning twenty this year!
5. Joywave – How Do You Feel Now? (10th Anniversary Edition)
This is easily the Record Store Day release I’m most excited about. I first saw Joywave at a music festival in 2017, and have been hooked ever since. Their music defies genres, blending electronica, indie rock, and pop in a way that’s completely captivating. I dare you to listen to “Tongues” and not be intrigued. Celebrating the album’s 10th anniversary, this special edition includes bonus tracks and comes pressed on gorgeous yellow and blue vinyl. With only 3,000 copies available worldwide, I’ll definitely be lining up early at my local indie record store to grab one.
6. Tunde Adebimpe - Thee Black Boltz
Best known as a founding member and co-lead vocalist of indie rock band TV on the Radio, Tunde Adebimpe is finally releasing his long-awaited debut solo album. The lead singles “Magnetic” and “Drop” are instantly catchy, highlighting Adebimpe’s distinctive musical style. From what I’ve heard so far, the sound takes a different direction from TVotR, yet remains close enough in spirit that I think longtime fans will be on board.
7. Mayday Parade – Sweet
This year, Mayday Parade celebrates twenty years of pop-punk, with a legacy that’s still going strong in 2025. For me, it all started with their 2009 hit “Kids in Love,” which was on repeat through my high school and college years. Sweet is the first installment of a three-part album and comes pressed on a vibrant bubblegum-pink vinyl. This release not only showcases their signature heartfelt lyrics, but also highlights how the band has evolved over the past two decades.
8. Sunflower Bean - Mortal Primetime
Sunflower Bean is a band I stumbled upon a few years ago while crate digging at my local record shop. I found their 2018 album, Twentytwo in Blue, and was instantly drawn to its Fleetwood Mac-inspired sound. Mortal Primetime marks their first self-produced album, and I can already tell it’ll be a staple in my spring listening rotation. Fun fact: the band used the alias “Champagne Taste” (the title of their first single off the album) to play secret shows in their hometown of New York while testing out new material.
9. The Head and the Heart – Aperture
I first discovered indie-folk band The Head and the Heart through their 2016 hit “All We Ever Knew”, and have been a fan ever since. Their sixth studio album, Aperture, brings the band back to their roots in a beautiful way. The album centers around camaraderie, with every member having contributed to the songwriting process. The blue ember vinyl pressing complements the album’s artwork perfectly: this is one I’ll be picking up for sure.
10. The Doobie Brothers – Walk This Road
For over five decades, The Doobie Brothers have been a household name, and their relevance endures today. I’ve been lucky enough to see them live and, of course, have several of their albums in my record collection. It’s therefore no surprise that I’m eagerly anticipating the release of their new album this June. Walk This Road marks the return of band member Michael McDonald, and carries powerful themes of recovery, enlightenment, hope, and togetherness.