Building your vinyl record collection: interview of Jérôme, co-founder of maPlatine.com
Jérôme, co-founder of maPlatine.com, a true music and high-fidelity enthusiast, tells us about how he built his vinyl record collection, from his very first up to his latest purchase. 
– How many vinyl records would you say you have in your collection?
I think I have around 1,000 records in my collection, mainly 33 RPMs. In terms of musical styles, there is a bit of everything: mostly metal and indie rock, but also a lot of classical and hip-hop. In a more specific genre, I’m a great fan of math-rock. The band Battles or French band Electric Electric are perfect examples of this musical genre, they send shivers down my spine when I play their records, and even more when I see them live! I started off my record collection almost 10 years ago, which amounts to around 100 LPs a year… At this stage, it’s fair to say I have a real passion for vinyl records! =)
– When did you buy your first vinyl record? Which one was it?
For my 30th birthday, I got my first vinyl turntable. So I naturally bought my first vinyl record soon after. It was ‘The Whitey Album’ by New York band Sonic Youth. They’re an 80’s rock band who influenced Nirvana and many other bands from the Seattle grunge scene.
– Which is your all-time favourite LP?
That’s a bit difficult to tell… If I had to pick one, it would have to be Santana’s first record, ‘Santana’, released in 1969.
– Why that one in particular?
It’s actually quite an emotional thing… I like it because my father gave it to me as a present and he was a fan of Santana. I used to listen to this record a lot with him when I was younger.
– Which record in your collection was the hardest to find?
I don’t really define myself as the type of collector desperate to find rare items, or who will spend years looking for a specific record. I prefer to call round record shops regularly, without a specific record in mind. Of course, like every audiophile, there are some LPs I’m on the lookout for, but I can’t name a specific one that I found hard to get my hands on.
– Is there a specific vinyl record that you haven’t found yet and that you would like to own?
Yes, there is one that immediately springs to mind! I’d like to find Kanye West’s latest album called ‘The Life of Pablo’. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will be released on vinyl…It’s a shame because I love this album! I like it so much that I actually reviewed it on my records of the months.
– What was your latest find?
It is the latest album of a young American artist Kevin Morby, called ‘Singing Saw’ that was released recently in 2016. And I’m really happy with this discovery, it’s just a great album! I recommended it to the Bob Dylan and Neil Young fans out there…