With the unprecedented, ongoing global disruption of COVID-19, it's important to support the music community however we can. With Record Store Recs, GRAMMY.com checks in with vinyl-loving artists to learn more about their favorite record stores and the gems they've found there so you can find some new favorite artists and shops.
Detroit's "First Lady of Wax," DJ Minx, is a true gem of a DJ/producer and dance music OG. She's been going hard for three decades, yet is still wildly undercelebrated. Back in 1996, she founded the Women on Wax DJ collective to celebrate and promote fellow Detroit women DJs and artists, expanding it with a still-active label called Women On Wax Recordings in 2001. She spun at the inaugural Movement festival in her hometown in 2000 and has been a regular at the iconic house and techno event, as well as others across the city and globe.
Minx is one of a handful of Detroit DJs keeping their classic sound, rich history, and collaborative and supportive creative community alive and well. Today, for the latest edition of Record Store Recs, she takes us to her favorite Motor City record stores and shares some hot releases she's recently scored there.
What are three to five record stores you love?
Detroit Threads in Hamtramck, Michigan
Somewhere in Detroit in Detroit
Spot Lite in Detroit
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Why do you love these shops? And what kind of goodies have you found there?
Detroit Threads is all of that and a bag of whatever you are looking for because they have vintage clothing and trinkets that you can grab while shopping for records. The vinyl bins are loaded! If I'm looking for some classics, boom! They've got it goin' on!
Somewhere in Detroit is a hot spot! People from around the globe visit there because of the good selections of music and for its sweet history. It's owned by Submerge [Records] and is in the basement of the Underground Resistance building.
Spot Lite is a gem that recently opened and my goodness it's the whip! The atmosphere is funky and chill at the same time, so you can spend hours in there just vibin'!
For at least one of your favorite shops, share a recent record or two you bought there and what you love about the record/artist.
I picked up the Parabellum Detroit album from Detroit Threads, and it is loaded. There are releases from Kenny Dixon Jr. (Moodymann), Rick Wilhite, Delano Smith, Jon Dixon, Javonntte (whom I work with quite a bit), Marcellus Pittman, and more on the release. Every track is well crafted and soothing to the soul. I could play something for my every mood and yours too! 11 tracks, three pieces of vinyl, one vibe. LOVE it!
I also picked up the DET-313 EP because there's a track called "Jus Hangin" that's a groover. Norm Talley and Moodymann produced it and D Julz got a hold of it and mashed it up real nice-like. The other track on the release, "Muggy Detroit Heat," gave me the feel of old school, Music Institute, full dance floor vibes. NOT TO MENTION the pressing sounds smooth as glass. Very well done.
What's an upcoming/recent release or two you have your eyes on picking up and why?
There's a series of House Music All Life Long EPs [from Defected Records] out there and one, in particular, stands out—the fourth one. Dario D'Attis' "Space & Time" needs to come home with me. I can see a crowd rockin' to the beat of that one. Todd Edwards has a track on it too. I've always liked his productions, so it's a treat that it's available on the same release.
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When crate-digging, how do you pick out records? (Is it the cover that grabs you, or do you shop for specific artists?)
First, it's the cover that could get my attention, but it's the artist that I look for mainly. If I love an artist's productions, I'll look for their records and see what they have goin' on.
What were the first CD and first vinyl you remember purchasing when you were younger?
The first vinyl I bought was two copies of "100% Disin You" by Armando. I thought I was the sh*t when I was able to blend two copies of it!
CD? That would be the Dee Dee Brave album produced by Kerri Chandler. Every track on there was pure fire.
In your opinion, what can music fans do to better support Black artists and businesses?
For starters, get to know their business, what they do and who they are. Share why you support them and post it on your socials. Write a review about them or their business, visit their page(s) often, listen to their music and if you like it—buy it instead of asking for a free copy or download!
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