Spinning Through Time: Finding New Life in Vinyl’s Comeback

 

Muhammad Shahrem, owner of Ronggeng Records (Photo credits: Ashley Lok)

 

BY
ASHLEY LOK

Deputy Editor

Hype Issue #79

Published on
Dec 12
2025

 

ASHLEY LOK explores Ronggeng Records, where old-world artists meet today’s vinyl revival and culture.

 

When was the last time you really listened to music instead of just streaming it? In an age where playlists are algorithmically tailored and Spotify Wrapped tells us what we think we like, stepping into Ronggeng Records feels like hitting pause on the digital rush. Nestled among shelves of carefully organised vinyl, cassette tapes, and CDs, the store stands as a quiet rebellion against the fast-paced nature of digital listening. From pop-funk pieces of the 70s and 80s to rare jazz editions pressed in limited quantities, the store’s shelves are filled with music that has outlived generations and continues to find new listeners today.

Vinyl’s Revival, Told Through One Shop

Once considered outdated, vinyls have now been embraced by a new generation of listeners seeking a more meaningful way to experience music. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, sales of EPs and LPs in the United States reached 43.6 million units in 2024, marking the 18th consecutive year of growth. “When I started collecting in 2006, people said that vinyls would not be coming back,” Muhammad Shahrem, the store owner, recalls. “But I was confident they would, since they were already trending in Japan.” 

Vinyl’s comeback is often described as a global trend, but at Ronggeng Records, it feels deeply personal. “I think nowadays people start realising that music like pop-funk from the 70s and 80s is in trend now,” said Mr Shahrem, who manages both the curation and preservation of the shop’s extensive collection.

Their customer base now stretches far beyond Singapore. “I have customers from Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and even Europe,” he shared, reflecting how vinyl culture has grown into a borderless community. “They buy vinyls because they are cool and trendy,” the owner says, “but some are really into collecting, and appreciate the analogue sound of vinyl records.”

Mr Shahrem teaching the HYPE team about analogue records (Photo credits: Ashley Lok)

“Some of the youngsters are influenced by their parents,” Mr Shahrem notes, a reminder that vinyl’s comeback is also a generational bridge. His own journey into collecting began similarly. “My dad passed me all his old vinyls because my younger brother wanted to throw them away, so slowly I started collecting myself when I travel, and from other collectors.”

The Challenges of Collecting in Singapore

Still, the passion for vinyl comes with challenges. Mr Shahrem shared that the humidity of Singapore’s climate poses an obstacle to properly maintaining cassettes and vinyls. Newer vinyls also lack the original richness of older pressings. “Even if you buy newer vinyls now, they are not the same as old ones as the master tape is not analogue, which is very hard to find.”

However, this scarcity adds to their charm. Since older vinyls were produced in thousands, not millions, they are both costly and rare. “My customers get excited when they find rare vinyls because they have something nobody else has,” Mr Shahrem added.

Mr Shahrem cleaning his vinyls in store (Photo credits: Ashley Lok)

A Keeper of Memories

For Mr Shahrem, running Ronggeng Records is more than a business. It is a form of cultural stewardship. “I don’t think vinyls will die,” he said. “People still collect them because of the history of bands, the real quality of music from the 60s and 70s.” And most of all, he believes in the deeper meaning behind these records. “I’m not selling a commercial product, but memories and nostalgia.”

As the needle drops and the record spins, it becomes clear that Ronggeng Records is not merely preserving old music, it is keeping a culture alive. “I hope the next generation can keep passing on this culture of collecting vinyls for more generations to come,” he said. 

In a world that moves fast, Ronggeng Records stands as a reminder that some things are meant to be held, heard, and cherished slowly.