Crate Digging in Helsinki: A Tale of Two Record Stores, and the One That Got Away

The storefront of the record shop 'Levykauppa Äx' in front of a brick building on a sunny day. It has large windows under a green and white striped awning, and a yellow neon sign displays the store's name.

The Hunt Continues: A Deeper Dive into Helsinki’s Music Scene The gentle summer light of Helsinki cascaded over the cobblestone streets. Walking through this city, where design and nature seamlessly blend, is a sensory experience. My recent success at Helsinki Secondhand OY, where I unearthed a rare European pressing of a Lenny Kravitz album and Continue reading “Crate Digging in Helsinki: A Tale of Two Record Stores, and the One That Got Away”

The Ultimate Guide to Cassette Tape Hunting in Tokyo: A CityNomix Journey to Find Analog Treasures

Walts sign - Nakameguro cassette tape specialty store

In Search of Lost Magnetic Memories: A Journey into Tokyo’s Cassette Tape Scene This is CityNomix from Photomo. In my daily hustle chasing numbers and logic in the world of digital marketing, there are moments when I find myself pausing, drawn to something with a tangible warmth. That ‘something’ is the cassette tape. It’s the Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Cassette Tape Hunting in Tokyo: A CityNomix Journey to Find Analog Treasures”

Crate Digging at HMV Record Shop Shibuya: The Hunt for Oasis and Analog Treasures

A 12-inch record of Oasis's 'Little by Little / She is Love' with its distinctive blue cover, sitting on a shelf in the indie/alternative section of a record store.

Navigating the Shibuya Scramble for the Sound of a Needle on Wax The humid July air clung to my skin. On a Friday afternoon, the streets of Shibuya were, as always, a swirling vortex of humanity, each person on their own distinct mission. Fresh from securing cassette tapes of Billie Eilish and Bedriddens at Oddtape Continue reading “Crate Digging at HMV Record Shop Shibuya: The Hunt for Oasis and Analog Treasures”

Notting Hill’s Beacon: Unearthing Treasures at Music & Video Exchange on My London Music Journey

Red sign of Music & Video Exchange, a second-hand record and CD store in Notting Hill.

The Bustle and Quiet of Notting Hill, and the Unwavering Pull of Music & Video Exchange Notting Hill, London. For many, the name evokes images of colorful terraced houses, the vibrant Portobello Market, and romantic scenes from the eponymous film. However, for me, CityNomix, this neighborhood holds an even deeper significance. Ever since my student Continue reading “Notting Hill’s Beacon: Unearthing Treasures at Music & Video Exchange on My London Music Journey”