Meet Sandra Sánchez, record collector and content creator sharing stories on music history and vinyl culture from her South Florida home. A physical media devotee, Sandra grew up collecting CDs and turned to vinyl in her teens, drawn to its tactility, the artwork, and the ritual of placing the needle on the record. In our conversation, Sandra shares more about those early days of collecting, being a part of the vinyl community, and why – in a digital world – physical media matters more than ever.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Sandra Sánchez, and I’m a record collector originally from the Washington, DC area, now living in sunny South Florida with my husband, Oliver and our cat, Luna. I create vinyl-focused storytelling content that blends music history, personal memories, and collecting culture around the albums I love. Outside of collecting, I work as a Digital Director for a nonprofit focused on advocating for clean energy solutions.
What sparked your interest in collecting records?
I’ve been collecting records since I was 15 years old, so more than half my life now. I don’t think I considered myself a “collector” at first. My parents let me keep the records they had in the basement and got me a record player for Christmas when I was 15, and for years most of my vinyl came from gifts.
I started collecting because I love music. Listening to music was my first favorite pastime. Growing up, you either bought the CD or listened to the radio, and over time that love of physical music formats naturally shifted from CDs into vinyl. Records let you physically own and hold the music you’re listening to, which makes the experience feel more intimate and intentional.
What is it about vinyl that you love most?
I love being able to physically own my music. When I was younger, having the CD from Destiny’s Child, *NSYNC, or Britney Spears meant I could play those albums again and again. That connection never really left. Vinyl just became a deeper version of that experience. There’s something special about holding the artwork, placing the needle down, and being fully present with the music. Vinyl slows me down and invites me to listen more intentionally in a way streaming doesn’t.
“Listening can be a solo activity, but sharing those stories makes it communal, and I really appreciate how diverse and welcoming the vinyl community can be”
When did you start sharing your collection on Instagram, and what inspired you to put it out there?
I started sharing my collection on Instagram and TikTok (@ladyofguadalupe on both) back in September 2025. Honestly, the biggest inspiration was wanting to spend more time with my collection itself. It’s so easy to rely on streaming or stay fully in the digital world, but I wanted to slow down, listen to what I already owned, and appreciate the collection I’ve been building for years. What started as a personal challenge quickly turned into a space where I could tell deeper stories about albums and connect with other collectors.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the vinyl community?
I love the conversations. My posts usually focus on the stories behind the music or my personal connection to it, and I really enjoy hearing how others relate. For example, I posted about how Nine Inch Nails’ With Teeth was my first CD and the album that expanded my musical horizons as a middle schooler. Reading comments from people who had similar experiences made the music feel even more meaningful. Listening can be a solo activity, but sharing those stories makes it communal, and I really appreciate how diverse and welcoming the vinyl community can be.
Do you have a favourite spot for crate digging, or a memorable find from one of those hunts?
Since moving to South Florida, I’ve really enjoyed going to the local record and CD show that happens every few months in Fort Lauderdale. There are usually about 20 vendors, and I always go during early admission because I love seeing the range of collections. You never know what you’re going to find.
My most memorable find was at my very first record show: an original official pressing of Beyoncé’s debut solo album, Dangerously in Love. If you know that pressing, you know it’s rare and expensive, and a lot of people only have bootlegs, myself included. When I saw it, I knew I had to have it, and it’s still one of the most prized records in my collection.
Finally, what’s a record you think everyone should own, or at least hear once in their life, and why?
I’m a huge concept-album listener, so I always come back to Beyoncé’s Lemonade and Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. Lemonade is a groundbreaking visual and sonic experience that moves through themes of betrayal, healing, generational trauma, and identity. Wish You Were Here explores disillusionment and absence, serving as a deeply emotional tribute to Syd Barrett. Both albums tell complete stories from beginning to end, creating a rich listening experience, which is exactly why they feel so powerful on vinyl.
Follow Sandra’s vinyl musings over on Instagram and TikTok.
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