This is the Platform Behind Dubai’s Vinyl Revival

How Vinyl Souk is spearheading Dubai’s analog revolution

Of all the trends Gen Z could have borrowed from decades past—lava lamps, flip phones, bell-bottom jeans—it’s vinyl records that are spinning their way back into the spotlight. Forget streaming playlists or AI-curated recommendations; this generation is all about dropping the needle and embracing a format that feels oddly rebellious in its analog simplicity. But why are vinyls all of a sudden making a comeback? LL Cool J put it best: “Vinyl makes you participate in music. You have to get up and physically prepare it and put it on. You have to engage with it. It isn’t just background music, it’s music you actively listen to. You don’t listen to songs, you listen to the whole album. You experience it as the artist intended you to.”

These days, vinyl has become the ultimate symbol of audio purism. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of getting lost in a vinyl market, flipping through stacks of records, and unearthing that one dusty gem you’d never find anywhere else. Enter Vinyl Souk—a recurring event that brings together music lovers and crate diggers from across Dubai. 

“Dubai was quickly catching up on the vinyl trend and we certainly felt there is a gap we could fill in by creating an accessible platform to bring collectors and sellers under one roof,” said founder of Vinyl Souk, Jayesh Veralkar.  Considered to be a maven in Dubai’s up-and-coming experimental music community,  Veralkar aims to create an atmosphere that resembles the one-of-a-kind vinyl and record fairs you could find on the streets of London, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, and more.

“The idea came to life when we came across Analogue Circus, a dedicated pop-up for vinyl’s cassettes at 25hours Hotel One Central. The space inspired us so much that we started pitching the idea of creating open decks for vinyl collectors and a marketplace to trade vinyl and cassettes to the hotel as an extension to Analogue Circus. They loved the idea, so here we are,” he adds. 

 

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Since its inception, the Vinyl Souk has curated a handful of events, stages, and pop-ups around the city that introduced a diverse range of regional and international vinyl communities to the UAE. “By bringing together independent labels and crate diggers—such as Disco Arabesquo (Egypt/Netherlands), My Analog Journal (UK), Afrosynth (South Africa), Back from The Crate, FeedASoul (Lebanon/UAE), India Record Co. (India), Beyond (Greece), and MzRizk (Australia)—through these showcases our community got an opportunity to explore rare and unique music from different corners of the world creating a deeper appreciation for vinyl as a medium of music discovery and expression,” shares Veralkar. 

He adds, “Our monthly event series thrives on collaboration. These include live DJ sets, performances, talks, film screenings, and workshops, creating an immersive experience for attendees. This approach allows Vinyl Souk to build a space where both artists and fans can engage directly.”

At the core of everything they do, Vinyl Souk’s first and foremost desired result is to create a platform for lesser-known artists and labels, whether they are local or international, ensuring that anyone that submerged themselves in one of their events is bound to discover a new talent and sound. “Many of the record fairs around the world focus on larger commercial vendors, but Vinyl Souk intentionally collaborates with smaller, independent labels that are pushing boundaries in music discovery,” states Veralkar. 

Below, we asked Veralkar about his long term goals for Vinyl Souk, his dream artist to collaborate with, and to share some crate-digging tips for beginners. 

Can you share any standout stories or moments from previous Vinyl Souk events that highlight its impact on the community?

Just the sheer number of collectors today getting an opportunity to share their collection through Vinyl Souk has made us the most loved music discovery platform. We get more joy in breaking or introducing new talent over booking an international headliner. Having someone play their debut gig is more rewarding for us. Also, we were in Riyadh recently and the owner of Bohemia Café s Records (Saudi’s first record store) curated a record fair at XP Music Futures and informed us that we inspired them. That was overwhelming for us.

In what ways do you hope to inspire or educate attendees about the cultural significance of vinyl records?

We aim to inspire and educate attendees by creating a thoughtful experience that goes beyond just buying and listening to music. Vinyl is much more than a format; it’s a cultural artifact, a tool for storytelling, and a bridge between generations. We’ve started taping the sets (both audio and video) to put spotlight on local collectors and DJs– these spotlights are a great way of documenting the local stories. Our film screenings, talks, and workshops play an important role in creating meaningful engagement with our community.

What’s your most cherished record, and why?

I would say I grew up on cassettes and CDs. I caught up to the vinyl trend during pandemic like many of us who picked up different hobbies– I decided to plunge into the world of records to overcome the streaming fatigue. My most cherished record would be our recent and first release under Vinyl Souk Records Made in the Emirate – Volume 1, not just as a vinyl record but as a milestone for both Vinyl Souk and the UAE’s music scene. We hope this compilation can inspire others—whether locally or internationally—to seek out more of the rich musical landscape of the UAE.

What role do you think vinyl plays in storytelling and preserving musical legacies?

We consider record– just like a book–an immortal format that can get passed on from one generation to another. It also serves as a great tool for archiving and preserving. Today we are able discover the rich musical legacy from remote places such as Suriname, Reunion islands, Ghana to Southeast Asian countries– all thanks to reissue labels who are tirelessly working to dig out gems for us.

If you could invite one iconic artist to participate in Vinyl Souk, who would it be?

Tough one–Aphex Twin maybe. He is the most innovative producer/DJ and his live sets are legendary.

Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for Vinyl Souk, and how do you see it evolving?

Two of our biggest milestones since the launch of Vinyl Souk back in April 2023 has been Vinyl Souk Mini Festival and Vinyl Souk Records. We would love to see these initiatives grow and sustain themselves– but also stay true to its core which is rooted in “artist first” and “music discovery.”

What do you hope visitors take away from the experience of attending Vinyl Souk?

We hope our community walks away with a deeper appreciation for vinyl records, not just as a format for music, but as cultural artifacts that carry stories, histories, and emotional connections. Vinyl Souk isn’t just about the records on the shelves or music played on hi-fi speakers—it’s about creating an immersive experience that inspires visitors to engage more meaningfully with music and the broader cultural contexts from which it emerges. We also hope we can build greater appreciation for the local artists and grow the local music scene.

For someone new to vinyl, what advice would you give to help them start their journey?

Tip 1: Go say hello to the shop owner/manager/staff. Get to know them and let them know what you are looking for.

Tip 2: Start with used records crate/bin. High likely chances of you finding gems without emptying your wallet. You will always find something that you like in the range of US $5 – $10.

Tip 3: Don’t judge the record by its cover. It’s always good to try them out. Look for any visible scratches and the condition of the record. Most record stores have some amazing listening setup.

 

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