Long before vinyl walls were trending on TikTok, Lyndsay Archer was curating her own, as an 11-year-old kid in Detroit carefully pinning records to her bedroom wall. Today, Lyndsay is not only a doctor in her first year of pediatric residency but also a children’s book author, illustrator, non-profit founder, and community advocate, and through her Instagram page, lynds.jpeg, she shares her love for music, family history, and records with a worldwide vinyl community that continues to inspire her.
In our conversation, Lyndsay reflects on the stories behind her collection, her favourite crate-digging spot in Detroit, and the record she thinks everyone should experience at least once.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Hi, I’m Lyndsay! I’m a born-Detroiter with deep Jamaican roots; two identities that I carry with so much pride. I always joke that I am the intersection of “What Up Doe” and “Wah Gwaan”, our legendary greetings from Detroit and Jamaica, respectively. I am a few things: I am a doctor in my first year of Pediatric residency, I am a children’s book author and illustrator, a non-profit founder/community advocate who’s worked in organising initiatives and projects around youth literacy for the past 10 years, a lover of books, and a music lover & vinyl collector of 17 years.
What sparked your interest in collecting records?
Growing up, I was always a very curious kid with a very distinctive old soul. I was the kid who loved going through my grandparents’ and parents’ old things; always appreciating tangible mementos, clothing items, photo albums, etc. Coming across vinyl records in my grandparents’ and parents’ stored-away collections at 11 years old was no different. I remember having a Walkman as a kid and always gravitating towards downloading older songs, particularly by Motown artists. As a Detroiter, it’s hard to escape, and you don’t want to escape, the legacy and the blueprint that is our city when it comes to music. So I did a lot of Motown deep diving when I was a kid. And I think that appreciation was also influenced by my parents‘ varying musical tastes that spanned across classic Motown, reggae, soul, funk, disco, and jazz. So when it came to me discovering vinyl records in my grandparents’ basement, I really had this deep appreciation for being able to physically hold music that was so intentionally pressed into each groove. I was also really drawn to the artistry of the album covers. I started collecting records when I was just 11 years old. I didn’t even have a record player at the time. I remember I used to take all of my albums and make this record wall in my bedroom. I was very intentional about curating what albums were featured on my album wall and the stories that I wanted to tell through the cover art. I think it’s so funny thinking of that younger version of myself because fast forward to 2025, having a dedicated wall in the home that features our favourite albums is such a common thing among vinyl collectors.
What is it about vinyl that you love most?
I think the easy answer for me would be, of course, to say that I love the music – which is absolutely true. But when I think about vinyl and collecting vinyl, there are two things that come to mind. One being the stories behind each record in your collection and two being the community that is forged out of collecting. I think the stories behind each record is what makes someone’s collection. I always say that the stories behind each record in one’s collection far surpasses the titles you have in your collection. Over the years, I’ve been gifted records from friends and family, have found gems at different record shops across the country, and have inherited others from my parents’ and grandparents’ collections. Being able to recall where a record came from, who gifted it, how old I was when I got it, or who it previously belonged to carries so much significance for me.
“One of my favourite things is being able to walk into a record shop anywhere in the world and sparking up conversation with another record collector”
When did you start sharing your collection on Instagram, and what inspired you to put it out there?
I’ve always shared bits and pieces of my collection on my personal page and TikTok over the years, but I didn’t start sharing my records on a dedicated Instagram platform (lynds.jpeg) until late 2024! TikTok really exposed me to the worldwide reach and diversity of our vinyl community. Before then, I didn’t know many people who shared my same passion for music and physical media. Late 2024, I wanted to create a platform that combined my passion for sharing music, my records, my thoughts on the artistry and history of certain pieces, and sharing family history in an archival fashion. That’s where Lynds.jpeg came from. It started off as a page sharing photos from my digicam (I’m also a huge lover of cameras) and throwback family photos & the stories behind them that eventually branched into also sharing my record collection. It’s a space that truly reflects all of the things I love.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the vinyl community?
I love how supportive everyone is, both virtually and in real life. I always say that vinyl people are some of my favorite people/will always be my people, and it’s for good reason. I think there’s an element of appreciation for the rudimentary when it comes to vinyl collectors and lovers of music and physical media. I really think that often translates into the authenticity in how we connect and support one another, which I think is a really beautiful thing. One of my favourite things is being able to walk into a record shop anywhere in the world and sparking up conversation with another record collector. Those moments are the ones that live with me for a lifetime.
Do you have a favourite spot for crate digging, or a memorable find from one of those hunts?
I’ve been to many record shops, but my favourite – hands down – will always be Peoples Records in my hometown of Detroit. There’s genuinely no place like it. The catalog, the organization, the people, the art and memorabilia on the walls, the history – it’s all there and it’s absolutely unmatched. I’ve been going there for over 10 years now and it remains my favourite place ever. It’s legendary.
Finally, what’s a record you think everyone should own, or at least hear once in their life, and why?
I think everyone should own a copy of Stevie Wonder’s “Original Musiquarium 1”. Stevie’s artistry as a storyteller and writer is that of legends and I really think that Musiquarium is one of those albums where you get the full breadth of his gifts, songwriting, advocacy for the human condition, sensitivity, as well as the groove and funk that underlies some of his most iconic pieces.
Follow Lyndsay’s vinyl journey over on Instagram.
