The TL;DR: Discogs Auto Sync is finally here.

Plus: I want to share some releases from a few friends, and a record lounge on the internet.

Discogs Auto Sync

Until now, the only way to keep Collxn up to date with your Discogs account was to manually sync it. Like, with your hands... clicking a button. That, of course, was never an ideal state of affairs. We aim to let the music come to us around these parts.

I'm happy to report that at long last Collxn will update automatically when you remove or add a record in your Discogs account. When Collxn is done syncing, it will send you a message like this:

Or this if you recently got inspired to buy a Bad Bunny album:

While Auto Sync won't drastically change your day-to-day life, it does represent a pretty big leap in how Collxn works under the hood. And it will keep your Daily Drops fueled with the latest and greatest from your collection. I hope you enjoy it!

New music to check out

Since January's Collxn Connxn missive, a few friends have released some music that I'd like to pass along.

Ian in Osaka has a new EP out with his Galactic Embrace project. Check out Inflated State on Bandcamp. And if you enjoy that, my understanding is there's an LP on the way. I've used super secret channels to secure one of the 100 limited-edition vinyl pressings. Also, I really dug this single-episode podcast (mixtape?) Ian did with Tim Koch in connection with their Isolated Gate project.

Over in Oakland, Mike at n5MD has a streamable pre-release track called "Low Fixture" from his upcoming album Particle under the Dryft moniker. Whereas the last Dryft album From Stasis (which I have on vinyl; please enjoy my ambient flex) centered around huge cascades of sound, this new track pushes forward with a pulsating motion right from the jump. I'm curious to hear what the rest of the album will be like. You can find out at the upcoming listening party. Streams, vinyl, CDs, and digital are all on Bandcamp.

Continuing eastward, my very long-time friend Matt in Austin has released some fresh harsh noise. Acid Sound Bath by Aunt's Analog is 4 extended tracks of... noise! Let's face it: I don't have the vocabulary to describe noise, but I can tell you that it made for a shockingly good listen on headphones as I sketched out some hardware schematics over a Guinness at an Irish bar in Kyoto. I've gotten to see Matt do noise shows over the years in Texas and Tokyo and if you're noise-curious, you're in good hands here.

A record lounge on the internet

Silent Songs: as an internet experience, this thing is wild. But I suppose we should expect no less from the minds behind Poolsuite.

While listening to the Movement collection, I couldn't help but dig into the guts of the Silent Songs site a bit, where I was promptly reminded that I need to upgrade my HTML easter egg game:

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       .::@@@@::.
     .@@''....''@@.
    @@'  .g@@g.  '@@
   @@  .g@@@@@@g.  @@
   @@ .@@@@@@@@@@. @@
   @@  'g@@@@@@g'  @@
    @@.  'g@@g'  .@@
     '@@......@@'
       ''@@@@''

Silent Songs  [cb48a03]
poolsuite.partners
building for the world wide web
-->

Stellar. I want to remind myself daily that the world is more fun when we just make things.

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

The TL;DR: I'm looking for a few more Collxn beta users, and I do a recap of some year-end record fun in Kyoto.

And here's a little accidental collab from my wife Ryoko and me for New Year's:

Read on for the more. Or share Collxn with someone who's up for jumping in on the beta this month.

Up for the beta?

Happy new year! If you followed along with Collxn last year, you saw:

• Collxn get incubated at NYU's ITP Camp
• Daily Drops start selecting items from your record collection
• Related Picks, Artist News, and Music Service links get added to the Daily Drop

I'm in the home stretch of getting Collxn ready for more vinyl record heads to discover and join. To do that, I need a few more beta users to jump in, try it, and give me feedback.

If that's you, you can reach out by emailing me at ash at this domain, or just reply if you're reading this in your inbox.

Btw, my personal Daily Drops for the turn of the year were:

December 31:

January 1:

Makes sense to me!

Collxn featured by Kyoto, in Sound

My thanks to Kyoto, in Sound proprietor Simon James French for including Collxn in The Kyoto List: A Living Map of Creative Corners and Kind Humans.

The idea behind Kyoto, in Sound is that Simon takes guests on "sound tours" of Kyoto. Simon and guests do field recordings during the tour which he later uses to create a podcast episode that illustrates in sound whatever adventure they had.

The podcast is an absolutely unique listen. And it's not filtered to give you only what you expect. In fact, the latest episode is a real roll-with-it kind of journey:

I visited Osawa Pond, the oldest garden pond in Japan, in search of silence. Instead, I found a wood chipper and a construction crew. In this episode, I explore the accidental "Industrial Zen" of a noisy Monday morning in Kyoto, and how a wall of sound can sometimes become its own kind of music.

I suspect that at least a few readers of this newsletter can absolutely relate to a "wall of sound" being music.

You can find out where to get the podcast or even book your own sound tour with Simon on the Kyoto, in Sound website.

Kyoto record fun

December in Japan is super busy. Like, I think Christmas season in the U.S. is busy until I'm back in Japan at the end of the year and the events and gatherings don't stop. My wife Ryoko even wrote a little about this phenomenon in her HanaYou Ikebana Journal last month.

In our little world, this season frequently means being in rooms where there are people DJing. For example, one of the bonenkai (year-end party) we went to last month featured some folks from Nintendo DJing (it is Kyoto after all).

I'll close this newsletter out by sharing a couple of fun record adventures here in Kyoto from the end of the year.

Audio-Technica Hotaru event at Ginza Music Bar Kyoto

Last month I was invited to an event in Kyoto put on by Audio-Technica and Japanese fashion magazine LEON. They brought us to Ginza Music Bar Kyoto to check out Audio-Technica's limited edition Hotaru turntables.

While Hotaru is limited to 1,000 machines worldwide, Audio-Technical had 5 in the bar, 4 of which attendees were able to get hands-on with (the number nerd in me was impressed that we were in a room with 0.05% of global stock). The listening stations had stacks of records which went beyond the standard fare. I naturally gravitated towards Tame Impala's latest release Deadbeat and the late Nujabes' Modal Soul.

It was a cocktail party vibe and definitely not a silent listening situation, so I can't speak to the sound quality that one might be able to expect at, say, home with the Hotaru. Still, someone on Reddit's r/turntables asked me for my take, to which I responded:

... it could be fun if you have a budget where you wouldn’t notice the price tag. I’d be surprised if it’s anyone’s daily driver, but there are situations where it will be used as an accent piece.

For me personally, I’m happy I got to experience it once, but it’s not something I’m clamoring for. In general, I don’t love color LEDs, be they in a turntable, Hue lights, or whatever. The built-in speaker also isn’t for me.

But I wouldn’t fault someone for enjoying the Hotaru. I love having my Sound Burger among my gear, so I get the appeal of something different.

Overall it was an incredible night in a room full of record enthusiasts. Thanks to Audio-Technica, LEON, and Ginza Music Bar for the invite.

RRRRR Records

My family stopped by local coffee shop Sunny George in late December for an event with local craft beer and a DJ spinning records. The first thing I noticed when I entered (other than the New Jack Swing tunes playing) was a box of records for sale with a weird name scribbled on it:

Turns out that RRRRR Records is relatively new record store in Sakyo Ward near Ginkakuji (which you might remember from last month's newletter). RRRRR owner Jason was the evening's DJ.

Well of course I had to pop by and check out the shop before the year was over. The shop is full of retro analogue and gaming gear.

And I picked up these two records from RRRRR:

Btw, there's a marketing lesson in here somewhere... At first I thought the store name was sort of nuts ("how do you say that?"... says the maker of an app called "Collxn") but it's incredibly easy to search for on Google Maps, Instagram, and whatnot. Just keep tapping that R button and it's going to be the only thing left. Nice!

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

The TL;DR: Collxn users now have profiles. Plus: a new Luggage Record, and some recent record adventures across Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe.

Read on for the details. Or share Collxn with someone who loves flipping through bins as much as you do.

Collxn users now have profiles

This week marks a small but meaningful moment for Collxn. Users now have profile pages: a place where your collection can introduce itself.

I initially prototyped user profiles while I was at NYU ITP Camp back in June. There's even a screenshot from that early version on this very blog.

Profiles surface basic stats and your most recent Daily Drops.

Here’s mine as an example (or you can view the live version here):

💡 Did you know? Profiles are private by default. You can choose to make yours public in Settings.

Profiles will grow over time, but this first version sets the foundation for... fun!

💼 Luggage Record #4: Madvillainy

• Artist: Madvillain (MF DOOM + Madlib)
• Album: Madvillainy
• Format: Multiple variations on vinyl
• Acquired at: Various shops over the years

Why it traveled with me: I first came across Madvillainy hanging out with some friends in the Takadanobaba area of Tokyo back in 2005. From that moment on, it played non-stop on my iPod and then my iPhone. Years later, when I started collecting vinyl, it was an early purchase. Since then, I've picked up each variation of the album I find.

In the photo, you can see what I brought with me to Japan: the original album, Madvillainy 2: The Madlib Remix, the instrumental version, the Four Tet remixes, and the recent Demos, released on the 20th anniversary.

It's so dense lyrically and rich with samples that it's always worth revisiting, whether in the original or one of its many forms. And you'll hear the sample origins everywhere: just last week at the Mr Bongo DJ party in Osaka (see below), I heard a DJ spin "Airport Love Theme," which serves as the base sample for "Curls".

If you're ever really wanting to dive deep into some of the tracks on Madvillainy, check out season 12 of the Dissect podcast. Episode 2 of that season breaks down "Accordian" in incredible detail. I don't usually love detailed breakdowns, but with MF DOOM and Madlib, there's so much going on that even after 20 years, I found a lot of new stuff to hear.

For previous Luggage Records, see these Collxn Connxn posts:

• #3: Ali
• #2: Gorillaz (Super Deluxe Edition)
• #1: Choose Your Weapon

Record fun across Kansai

It’s early winter in Kyoto. The blaze of autumn leaves is nearly gone and the air cuts a little sharper each morning. But the places I love most right now are warm: tucked into a tiny tachinomi standing bar, or feet under the kotatsu.

The colder days haven’t slowed down the record adventures. Here are a few highlights from the past week in Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe.

Kyoto

Here’s one of my finds from this week: Was (Not Was) Out Come the Freaks. I pick up their debut (and a nice cappuccino) at Davada Records, a shop not far from Kyoto Station.

And from Face Records Kyoto, I grabbed a small Japanese Groove trio pack:

The pack included:

• Hiromic World — Hiromi Go
• Tokyo Atari — The Number One Band
• Garland — Mariko Takahashi

Face Records always has these record packs curated around a theme. I eye them each time I visit, but this was the first time I pulled the trigger. Looking forward to diving in!

Osaka

I took a quick train to Osaka on Wednesday for a Mr Bongo DJ party, featuring Yoshihiro Okino from Kyoto Jazz Massive. Recife Wine Importers, owned by my very good friend Richard in Kagoshima, was there pouring Portuguese wine.

It was a super fun night and easily worth the trip down to my old neighborhood near Osaka Castle.

Kobe

And on Thursday in Kobe, I spent an afternoon crate digging with my friend Ian Masters. We hit a few records, but most memorable was Freak Out Records, which was an excise in archeology and flexibility. We spent a couple of hours literally digging through piles of records on top of bins and boxes on the floor. Ian's a seasoned digger, and I'm going to be honest: he found about half of the records I took home that day.

By the way, I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Ian for helping me track down issues in the Collxn beta. This week in particular, he patiently spent some time with me tracking down some quality-of-life things that are now fixed in the app. Ian has been an incredible help as I work to make Collxn the best it can be. Thank you, Ian!

A question for you

As the year winds down and the cold sets in: What are the records you only pull out in December?

Reply and let me know. I didn't brings any of our holiday records with me to Japan, so I'd love some tips on what to put on this month.

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

The TL;DR: Daily Drops now have Apple Music, Spotify, and Discogs buttons, and vibe matches are smarter at plotting a path through your vinyl records.

Read on for the details! Or share Collxn with friends and enemies alike.

Daily Drops connect your vinyl collection and streaming world

We all collect records here, but let's be real: there are times when we want to hear a record without pulling it off the shelf. In the last few months, I've featured some albums in this newsletter that I was listening to on streaming services for different reasons, including when I was in the middle of an international move without a turntable and before I had found a vinyl copy of the record in question.

No matter your reason for digital exploration, Collxn should hyperconnect you to your music interests in-person and online. The first step in that direction came a few weeks ago when Daily Drops got an artist news module.

Starting this week, each Daily Drop includes quick links to Apple Music, Spotify, and Discogs. You can stream, browse, or check collector details directly from your Drop.

This screenshot shows a Drop from my own collection featuring De La Soul with those new handy buttons. You can try it out yourself since my personal Collxn Daily Drops are public.

You might have noticed that each button has a little badge on it. That indicates whether Collxn has verified that the album is available on that service.

• 🟢 Green badges mean "yes, we found it"
• 🟠 Amber badges mean "not sure"

Here's an example where not all online services get the green light:

In this case, you see an amber badge on the Spotify button because King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard has removed their music from Spotify. However, not all amber badges mean "not available": sometimes it's just that Collxn couldn't find a match. If you click the button, you'll be taken to the service to check availability for yourself.

Total side bar but I'll put it out to the universe: I’m still on the lookout for a vinyl copy of De La Soul's and the Anonymous Nobody. The only copy I’ve ever seen IRL was resting on a shelf in a West Village clothing shop as décor and not for sale. If you spot it in the wild, let me know.

Smarter vibe matches for every kind of record

The Similar Vibe system has also been improved.

Daily Drops can now find connections across multi-artist compilations and other complex releases. It will also avoid recommending more than one release by the same artist when possible, and the vibe matching in general is less... uh, naive. That means better musical context and more accurate matches across your entire vinyl record collection.

Here are a couple of examples:

What you see above is:

• Jazz Dispensary: The Golden Hour has no artist matches in my collection (which is accurate), but the vibe matches include John Coltrane, Laufey, and Aldorande, all of which could be great directions to explore based on the vibe of that compilation.
• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's Polygondawanaland Drop shows a variety of similar vibe matches from my collection, including Tame Impala, Jimi Hendrix, and The White Stripes, which within the context of my vinyl record collection make a lot of sense.

Improved Related Picks come together with Artist News and the new music service links to give you a more panoramic snapshot of the featured album in the context of your own vinyl collection. You can fall back in love with your own records but also use the Daily Drop as a springboard to explore music online: choose your own adventure!

From Kyoto to New York: Community Event Notes

I started writing this issue at a Starbucks in central Kyoto. But don't start throwing things at me yet: someone suggested it for the view, and they were right. The entire back wall is glass, three stories high, and overlooking Rokkakudo Temple, the birthplace of ikebana (Japanese floral design).

It also happens to be just around the corner from the Ace Hotel Kyoto, where I stopped by the Record Market Wax Works event this past weekend. I didn’t take photos at the vinyl record market, but Hair & Music Parlour FAM from Nagoya did.

Before heading to Osaka in the rain, I picked up two vinyl records: a Peanut Butter Wolf 12" and a 2002 compilation called Tokyo Calling, which caught my eye because of a Towa Tei track.

As I explore Kyoto’s vinyl record scene, I keep thinking about how these little local moments connect across cities.

In New York, Laurent—the friend who gifted me Prison Dorée when he visited Kyoto in September—is doing an in-store session at Catalyst Records LES this week. He’ll be spinning under his Le Son Couture project, sharing vinyl records amassed from all over the planet.

If you happen to be nearby, stop in and say hi. Having gone vinyl record digging with Laurent in Brooklyn, Kyoto, and Osaka, I can tell you that his knowledge is practically encyclopedic and his picks are on point.

💼 Luggage Record #3: Ali

• Artist: Vieux Farka Touré & Khruangbin
• Album: Ali
• Format: Vinyl
• Acquired at: Turntablelab, Brooklyn

I brought my entire Khruangbin vinyl library when I moved, but lately this one has stayed on the turntable. The collaboration with Vieux Farka Touré adds brightness and energy, which I need as the late-autumn sun starts setting before 5 p.m. in Kyoto. I put it on during one of my wife's ikebana lessons recently, and the students paused mid-lesson to ask what it was.

By the way, if you missed the earlier Luggage Record entries, check out Luggage Record #2: Gorillaz and #1: Hiatus Kaiyote – Choose Your Weapon.

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

The TL;DR: Daily Drops now include recent artist news, so every morning, along with your featured record, you’ll see what’s new with the artist behind it.

Read on for the details! Or share Collxn with a vinyl-obsessed friend.

🗞️ Daily Drops Get Smarter

After a long, hot summer, a cool early autumn has finally arrived in Kyoto. The air is crisp, the leaves are beginning to change, and Collxn’s Daily Drops just got a little crisper too.

Last time, Daily Drops got an upgrade with Related Picks, which surface other releases in your record collection from the day's featured artist, as well as other records that might match the vibe of the featured release.

Starting this week, each Drop now shows recent artist news, automatically pulled from music sites and trusted sources around the web.

Maybe your Drop today is a Stereolab album. Below that familiar album cover and any related picks, you’ll see a short list of the latest stories: new releases, tour updates, interviews, or deep-cut retrospectives.

It’s one more way to stay connected to the music you already own and maybe spark a few listening detours along the way.

🎶 Upcoming Record Events in Kyoto

Record store culture is thriving here in Kyoto this fall. Two events I’m hoping to check out:

• Record Market Wax Works @ Ace Hotel Kyoto – Nov 9
  A mix of local DJs, vendors, and vinyl sellers under one roof.

• Face Records Kyoto 2nd Anniversary – Nov 15
  Celebrating two years of one of Kyoto’s friendliest and most dangerously well-stocked record shops.

If you’re nearby, go check them out.

💬 Question for You

Record store events are part of what make collecting fun. As an example, I always love to give a shout out to Bring Your Own Records, a recurring event at Catalyst Records LES in New York. It's an event I got to know in my final months in NYC, but one that has had an outsized impact on how I think about collecting and in terms of making real life connections through music.

What are some local stores that put on events you love? Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to feature a few in a future issue.

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

The TL;DR: Daily Drops now come with related picks. Plus: a talk about vinyl at PechaKucha Night Kyoto, another Luggage Record, and if you’re in Kansai, let’s go crate digging.

🔁 Daily Drops now show related picks

Daily Drops are meant to bring one record from your collection to the front of your brain each day. But sometimes you want to keep the thread going, especially when the pick hits a particular vibe.

So, starting now, your Drop will also show:

• More from this artist (in your collection)
• Similar vibes (based on genre/style matches)

Here’s a recent example from my own drop featuring Leon Bridges:

This makes it easier to keep it going. And maybe even rediscover more corners of your collection.

🎤 Collxn at PechaKucha Night Kyoto

A few weeks ago I got the chance to give a short talk at PechaKucha Night Kyoto on the topic of record collecting in a digital world.

If you're not familiar, PechaKucha Night is a rapid-fire format (20 slides, 20 seconds each). There's probably one in your city, and it's a great way to hear from a local community on a variety of topics.

In my talk, I shared some of the many motivations that lead people to collect vinyl (hint: it's not always about being an audiophile for all collectors), how physical media can bring us together, and a little about why I'm building Collxn.

Big thanks to the PechaKucha Night Kyoto crew (which I am once again a part of) for the invite to speak, to Urbanguild for providing the venue, to my fellow speakers, and the packed house. 🙏 What a phenomenal night.

💼 Luggage Record #2: Gorillaz

• Artist: Gorillaz
• Album: Gorillaz (Super Deluxe Edition)
• Format: So... many... things... (see below)
• Acquired at: Gorillaz Online Store

Ok, I know: this box is huge and impractical. But I couldn’t leave it in storage.

This is the Super Deluxe Edition of Gorillaz’s 2001 debut album, which I pre-ordered direct from the UK on the 20th anniversary of the album's release. It’s a monster set that includes (quoting from Discogs):

• The original album (2 x LP; repress)
• G Sides (1 x LP; repress)
• Laika Come Home (2 x LP; repressed for the first time since its initial release)
• Live at the Forum, 2001 (2 x LP; pressed for the first time)
• Demoz (1 x LP; pressed for the first time; features etching of 2D on side two)
• Also includes 27 pages of "seized" original drawings, storyboards and internal DMC paperwork, housed in an A4 branded case folder.

This album is a forever favorite for me. I got into Gorillaz in college, and it was one of the gateways out of 90s alternative rock to a lot of other music I love now. The blend of hip-hop, dub reggae, rock, electronic, and pop was fresh and exciting.

Fast-forward almost 25 years later, and my 8-year-old daughter is a big fan of Gorillaz too. Her current favorite Gorillaz album is Cracker Island, and it's her most commonly requested needle drop. We even sang the title track at karaoke here in Kyoto. Last night, she dropped a new discovery on me: there's a bonus track on Cracker Island called "Captain Chicken". Nice timing as I write this: "Captain Chicken" is Del the Funky Homosapien's first appearance with Gorillaz since Gorillaz.

More luggage records soon... If you missed #1, it was Hiatus Kaiyote's Choose Your Weapon.

🛍️ Open invite: record shopping in Kyoto or Osaka?

If you’re visiting Kansai or live nearby: hit me up.

I’ve been bouncing around record shops in Kyoto and Osaka quite a bit since I moved here. I've had the pleasure of making recommendations for and/or doing shop crawls with folks from Austin to Bordeaux to, uh, Juso (you know who you are).

I'd love to link up with more fellow collectors, browse some bins, and maybe even feature a couple of your finds. You can message me via Instagram anytime.

Thanks as always for reading.

- Ash

The TL;DR: Daily Drops are now live for alpha users. And a couple of gifted records reminded me that physical format sharing still hits different.

Read on for the details! Or share Collxn with a vinyl head near you.

🌀 Daily Drops are live for alpha users

Starting 4 days ago, Collxn alpha users will see a Daily Drop waiting for them each morning. It’s a gentle nudge toward one record from your collection; something you might’ve forgotten, or maybe just a hello from a frequent favorite.

Here are the first couple of Drop notifications that came to my inbox this week:

Drops in the app are pretty simple today: a full record cover view, and some basic info. I'll be adding more here over time, so stay tuned.

If you're already in the alpha, you should be getting Drop notifications in your inbox. Just click the link in the message to see your Drop for that day.

If you’re not yet in and have a Discogs account, reply with your username and I’ll get you slotted in as soon as I can.

🎁 Recently gifted

I’ve been gifted two records since arriving in Kyoto and I wanted to share. I still don't have a turntable since I’ve just moved to Kyoto so I've taken neither of these records for a proper spin yet and it's driving me nuts. BUT! I'm on the case...

Gift 1: Zoufris Maracas – Prison Dorée

I met my buddy Laurent from Bordeaux at Catalyst Records LES in May at their Bring Your Own Records event (highly recommend). He later visited me in June at the NYU ITP Camp show when I was demoing Vibe Match, an experimental AI-based feature for Collxn.

Using Vibe Match, he noticed that I like La Femme, and he instantly had 10 more solid recommendations for French music (one of those albums got a shoutout last time). Among the recs was Prison Dorée, which I've been enjoying on stream since.

Well, Laurent happens to be visiting Kyoto this week all the way from France, and he shocked me with a brand new copy of the album. Thank you Laurent!

Gift 2: The Tigers – Human Renascence

My good friend Ian from Osaka and I were out crate digging before an Acid Mothers Temple show in Kyoto last week (first time for me; there was a synth Gandalf btw). Ian surprised me with this album, which he found at 100000t Records near Kyoto City Hall.

I'll admit that this one's a total wildcard for me, but apparently The Tigers get referenced as a Japanese version of The Beatles. In return, I could only offer Ian the tidbit that Chekov was Star Trek's answer to The Beatles... but without a doubt, his gift to me is way cooler. I'm stoked to hear it soon. Thank you Ian!

Gift 3: Phoenix – United

Ok, I know I said two records, but I'm a newsletter tyrant and I'm giving a bonus shoutout for an album gifted to me on iTunes (remember that?) back in the iPod era (remember those?) by my late friend Jordan Breeding. I found a pressing of United at Face Records in Kyoto recently and had to pick it up.

Spoiler alert: it's today’s "Playing while I write this" (see below). The layers of feels I get from when this album are too deep to get into, but I'm so happy to have a vinyl copy now. Thank you forever and always Jordan!

Thanks for reading. More Collxnism soon from Kyoto.

- Ash

The TL;DR: I’ve settled in Kyoto and am back building Collxn. Daily Drops are still in the works, Collxn onboarding continues (thanks for your patience), and I'm curious what you'd like to know about record culture over here.

Read on for the details! Or share Collxn with a record-loving friend.

⛩️ Coming to you from Kyoto

It’s been a minute. I’m writing this from Kyoto (post-typhoon, no less), where I'm settling in with my family after the move from New York. Thanks for your patience while I get my feet back under me.

As a side note, I spent some of August rebuilding the website for HanaYou—my wife Ryoko’s ikebana business. If you're ever in town, you might find fresh flowers and dusty record sleeves under the same roof.

Speaking of record culture in unexpected corners, I’m having a lot of fun finding vinyl in all sorts of places here in Kyoto. I'd say I already had a reasonable handle on record shops here, but:

• Listening bar recs from a craft beer spot's owner? Sure.
• Curated crates in an indie bookshop next to the neighborhood sento? Yeahhh.
• A full hi-fi setup blasting "Aino Shirushi" in a curry shop? Let's gooooooooooooo!

I haven’t done my usual rounds at the actual shops yet, but some friends from Austin did when they were visiting last week, and let's just say they went home with more bags than they came with. I can't wait to jump in!

So here’s a question for you:

💬 What would you want to know about Kyoto record culture?

Whether it’s digging spots, collector culture, or something more offbeat, hit reply and let me know. I might turn your curiosities into future Collxn Connxn posts.

💼 Luggage Records: What would you bring?

I couldn’t bring everything on my record shelves from NYC. Most of my collection is still boxed up in storage, but I did tuck a few records into my luggage: some essentials, some comforts, some I just wasn’t ready to be without.

Over the next few newsletters, I’ll be sharing a handful of those picks in a short series I’m calling “Luggage Records.”

Here’s the first:

Luggage Record #1: Choose Your Weapon

• Artist: Hiatus Kaiyote
• Album: Choose Your Weapon
• Format: 2 x Glow-in-the-dark vinyl + 7" single
• Acquired at: Turntable Lab, Brooklyn

Why this came with me: I had this album in heavy rotation in late 2016/early 2017 while I was waiting for my daughter to be born in far southern Japan. Years later, she got old enough to ask for it by name ❤️. "Molasses" (on side D) was my first obsession from Hiatus Kaiyote. My wife and I saw them at Brooklyn Steel a couple of years ago. Such a fun show. And their opening act? The drummer, solo. Absolute machine.

🌀 Daily Drops still brewing

Development on Daily Drops is picking back up after my international-move hiatus.

If you're new here: it’s a feature that gently surfaces one record from your collection each day, complete with context and a small nudge to re-visit.

It's like getting a morning mixtape... from your past self.

You’ll see it in beta very soon.

✉️ Alpha still open (quietly)

Alpha onboarding is still open for those with a Discogs account, though replies are slower than usual while I settle in. If you’ve emailed and haven’t heard back—you’re still on the list. Thank you for your patience. 🙏

Thanks for reading. If you're still here after a quiet few weeks: thank you even more.

- Ash

TL;DR: Collxn has a new website, new Connxn blog is live (you're reading it now), Collxn stickers live at For The Record, and... so long NYC 🥲.

Read on for the details!

New site + Connxn blog

collxn.com has a fresh look and a new blog called Connxn. It's a space for product notes and community stories from the Collxn team (which right now is just me, Ash! Hi!).

For the moment, Connxn mirrors the newsletters, but it gives us a shared space outside the inbox (long live RSS 📡) and room to grow into something more.

You can check out the Connxn top page here: collxn.com/connxn

Daily Drops under development

With the new site and blog up, I can pour more focus into getting Daily Drops up and running and finally in your hands later this summer.

As I build, I have a question for you: if your record collection could email you, what would you want it to say?

Collxn stickers at For The Record

Collxn stickers are now at For The Record NYC in Greenpoint, Brooklyn! I love hanging out at this shop, chatting with owner Lucas, drinking the coffee he roasts, and digging through the crates.

(👀 Here's a haul I picked up at For The Record a couple of months ago, one for each person in my family.)

Places you can get Collxn stickers now:

• 🟠 Catalyst Records (Lower East Side)
• 🟣 Pancakes Records (Astoria, Queens)
• 🟢 For The Record (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
• ⚫️ n5MD (mail order)

If you spot one, send a pic and make my day/week/month/year.

Kyoto move = slower replies

My family is already in Kyoto, where we’re starting a new chapter and extending my wife’s ikebana business. I’m flying out tonight/tomrrow (whatever 4am counts as).

Alpha onboarding is still open (Discogs required), but replies will continue to be slow for the next week or so.

If you’ve reached out already—thank you. You’re still on the list. 🙏

Thanks for being here. More soon—from the other side of the world.

- Ash

The TL;DR: Daily Drops are coming to Collxn, I'm moving to Kyoto, and alpha onboarding continues.

Read on for the details! And get in on the Collxn Insta account.

Daily Drops are coming

You: "Did my vinyl collection just email me?"

Collxn: "Yup."

Based on alpha user feedback, I'm building a new feature called Daily Drops. It's a simple way to rediscover forgotten records from your collection one day at a time.

Each Drop highlights a hidden gem you already own, gives you some context or trivia about the release, and invites you to explore from a new angle. It's becoming a fun daily serendipity, keeping my listening fresh and helping me get deeper with my own collection.

This one's for everyone who's stood in front of their shelves thinking, "I love all of this, but I don't know where to start today."

My family is moving to Kyoto

We're trading bodegas for temples.

In just a few weeks, we'll be leaving our beloved NYC and landing in Kyoto, Japan. It's a big shift: life, school, routines, the works.

I'll of course still be working on Collxn (and exploring new vinyl subcultures along the way), but if I've been slow to reply to your alpha request, this is why. Thanks for your patience.

Alpha Still Open

Speaking of the alpha, if you've got a Discogs account and want to try Collxn early, just reply to this email with your username. I assure you I'm still onboarding users, just a little more slowly while the moving boxes pile up.

Already messaged me and haven't heard back? Sit tight, you're still on my list. 🙏

📦 How do you move a vinyl collection?

Packing up our life also means packing up my records.

Some I'll carry in luggage. Some might stay behind for a bit. I've been experimenting with vacuum bags, carry-on sleeves, and the classic "stack between jeans in your suitcase" technique.

I might write more on this soon, but I'd love to know: Have you moved with your records? What worked? What didn't? Hit reply. I want your horror stories and your hacks.

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

TL;DR: Collxn Vibe Match demoed at the ITP Camp Show, User Profiles exist, stickers are live at Catalyst Records LES and in n5MD orders, and alpha onboarding continues—jump in.

Read on for the details! And never don't follow the Collxn Insta account.

ITP Camp Show: Vibe Match

On June 25 at the NYU ITP Camp "Show All Things Show", I showcased Vibe Match, Collxn's new AI-powered music discovery tool.

The big idea? Tell Vibe Match how you're feeling (or how you want to feel), and it will search my personal record collection and make you some recommendations.

Here's what Vibe Match looked like in action:

Now check out a few recommendations created for real visitors (with some really, uh, unique vibes) at the show:

For that "chill but I'm annoyed that none of the 'spicy food' in the US is actually spicy" vibe?

🎧 Nujabes – Metaphorical Music

Mellow jazz samples and warm hip-hop beats with just enough rhythmic snap to remind you there's still some heat in the mix.

For that "aloof nihilist instrumental nonsense" vibe?

🎧 Aphex Twin – Syro

Eccentric IDM grooves and modular synth curiosities create an enigmatic, instrumental labyrinth that feels both nonsensical and detached.

For that "tired but if i had a monster i could dance" vibe?

🎧 LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver

Weary introspection fused with propulsive dance-punk energy—perfect for tired bodies craving a cathartic stomp.

For that "tropical hobbit cooking on a sunday" vibe?

🎧 Khruangbin – Con Todo El Mundo

Laid-back grooves and tropical guitar lines evoke sun-drenched kitchen vibes in a cozy homestead.

For that "stomach itch" vibe?

🎧 Flying Lotus – Los Angeles

Off-kilter percussion and warped textures twist like a phantom itch creeping under your skin.

I'll be honest: I'm not super sure how Vibe Match would work in the actual app yet, but it sure was a blast to demo. I'll keep tinkering as we approach public beta. If you've got ideas on how you'd use this, reply and let me know!

New Feature: User Profiles

On a more practical note, Collxn users will now have a user profile that highlights various aspects of their collection.

Here's what the user profile looks like so far:

User profiles will include:

• Collection Statistics: Total albums, top decade, and more at a glance.

• Recent Additions: See your latest imports front and center.

This is still a work in progress, but alpha users will have access to it as it progresses.

Sticker Status

Collxn's very sparkly stickers have landed at:

• Catalyst Records (LES)

• n5MD mail orders

If you spot a sticker out there, snap a pic and and send it to me. It will make my day.

Alpha Onboarding Still Open

Alpha sessions keep rolling! If you haven't yet, reply with your Discogs username to book a one-on-one walkthrough. Together we'll import your collection, demo Vibe Match, and flip through Selector. I'll take on your feedback to make Collxn shine before it launches.

The Collxn Alpha requires a Discogs account; open beta drops later this summer.

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

TL;DR: Collxn is demoing at an ITP show next week, alpha onboarding continues (open beta later this summer), and you'll find Collxn sparkle stickers sprinkled across the land (thanks to n5MD)!

Read on for details. (And don't sleep on the world's new best Instagram account.)

ITP Camp & Show Update

Next week (Wednesday, June 25, 6–8pm), I'll be demoing Collxn in the Show All Things Show on the ITP floor (follow this account for info). If you're in striking distance of downtown Brooklyn, swing by to see Collxn in action and grab a sticker!

I've been capturing early screenshots and behind-the-scenes photos of the Collxn prototype at NYU ITP. Check em out:

Also: still open for record shop recs in downtown Brooklyn—drop me a note with your favorites.

Alpha Onboarding & Beta Plans

Thanks to the hand-picked few who are diving into the alpha—your one-on-one sessions have been invaluable. My goal is to make Collxn great for you.

I'm on track to get an open beta in your hands this summer, where anyone with a Discogs account can sign up and explore Collxn's full feature set (multi-vibe browsing, collection stats, and more).

Stay tuned for the beta launch date, and if you haven't joined the alpha yet, reach out with your Discogs username to snag a spot.

Sticker Shoutout

Huge thanks to n5MD for including Collxn stickers in their latest mail orders!

Speaking of n5MD, I attended my first Bandcamp listening party last week for the release of Jason Van Wyk's Inherent. Great record and cool feature for Bandcamp.

Upcoming Event

I'll be at Catalyst Records (LES) for their BYO Record event this Thursday, June 19, from 7–9 PM. I went last month and it was a blast.

Bring a record, chat about your collection, and let's swap stickers.

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

TL;DR: Alpha onboarding is in full swing (Discogs account required for now), I'm in Brooklyn for ITP Summer Camp this month, and Collxn stickers bring a sparkle to everything they touch.

Read on for details! (And share Collxn with a vinyl-obsessed friend.)

1:1 Alpha Onboarding

In the last post, I mentioned that I'd have the alpha ready for a few users soon. And soon is now: one-on-one sessions start this week.

If you haven't pinged me yet and want in early, respond to this message and I'll slot you for a walkthrough.

(Reminder: you need a Discogs account so Collxn can import and play—nicely!—with your collection data. Collxn only asks for read access so your Discogs data is always safe.)

ITP Summer Camp Update

I'm at NYU ITP in downtown Brooklyn through the month of June, learning from and collaborating with a workshop full of ~175 mad-science creative technologists.

1️⃣ If you're around the ITP building and want to chat over coffee, let me know—I'd love to show you the alpha app in person (with Collxn stickers in hand). ITP is right on top of the Jay St/Metrotech stop.

2️⃣ Also: know any great record shops in the southern half of BK? Let me know so I can live the dream.

Sticker Drop

Ah, and I let it slip above, but Collxn stickers now exist, and they are sparkly! If you want a sticker and/or need sparkles, hit reply and I'll figure out a way to get you some.

Astoria Queens' very own Pancakes Records is the first shop to put out Collxn stickers. Thanks, AJ!

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

TL;DR: I'm onboarding a handful of alpha users (Discogs account required... for now) and demoing the Collxn prototype that started it all at an online event this week.

Read on for how to join in!

1:1 Alpha Onboarding

I'm hand-selecting a tiny group of vinyl heads to try Collxn's alpha. This isn't fake scarcity: it's me trying to make sure Collxn becomes great for you. To keep things manageable, all alpha users must have a Discogs account so we can test the collection imports.

If you're in, reach out with your Discogs username and I'll set up a one-on-one session to walk you through the alpha, gather your feedback, and hopefully get some FOMO from your latest finds.

Val Town Prototype Showcase

This Wednesday, May 21 at some point between 12pm–1pm EDT, I'll be showing off how the seed of Collxn came to be at the very first Val Town Hall event. Val Town (https://www.val.town) is a service for software developers where I wrote the first Collxn prototype. (If you ever saw a demo hard-coded to my own collection, this was that.)

NOTE: Val Town is for the developers in the room, so only join the event if API roadmaps, database migrations, and AI deathbots writing React components are a few of your favorite things.

Details and signup: https://town-hall.val.run/

Thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash

You're getting this message because we've talked about music, design, building things, or all of the above. You are one of a few people I've shared collxn.com with at this point, and you were curious or kind enough to drop your email.

Thanks for that. It means a lot.

Collxn (pronounced "collection", or "kxxxxxxx" if you're really feeling something) is the "something new". It's a simple app to help you explore your record collection in playful or perhaps unexpected ways. Less database, more daydream.

• If you've ever stood in front of your shelves unsure what to play first or put on next...

• If you want to rediscover forgotten loves or chase that "how did I miss this?" feeling...

• If cataloging your records feels like an admin chore with little reward...

... Collxn might be for you.

There's nothing to try just yet. I'll be sending updates every couple weeks as I shape Collxn into something you can get your hands on. If you want early access to the app or to help test, reach out and let me know. I'd love that.

Seriously: thanks for being here. More soon.

- Ash