Turntable Tales is a place for music, stories, and the people who care about both. It’s where I share my life as a record collector, a listener, and a writer. At its core, it focuses on the culture around recorded sound and the ways we stay connected to it. Some of that comes through the records themselves. Some of it comes through the act of collecting. Other parts emerge through reflection, taking the time to consider what this music has meant and what it still means.

My name is Andrew Cashin. I was born on Merseyside and grew up during the final years of vinyl’s first golden era. My earliest shelves held records by The Jam, The Specials, Sex Pistols, Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen. In the early 1980s, I moved to Canada with my family and brought my small but growing collection with me. Over time, collecting records became more than a hobby. It became a way to stay grounded, stay curious, and stay connected to something meaningful.

This instinct shaped my first book, Andy’s Musical Journey… from Mathew Street to Yonge Street. It is a children’s story about growing up through music. The book follows a path from Liverpool to Toronto and stops along the way to show how songs can become landmarks. Although written for kids, the story reflects a real journey. It is a way of remembering how music first takes hold and how it can guide you forward.

More recently, I wrote Zen and the Art of Record Collecting. That book came from thinking more deeply about what collecting actually means. It is not about grading or gear. It is about the experience behind the habit. The quiet focus of crate digging. The feeling of finding a record at just the right moment. The way certain albums become markers of who we were or who we are becoming. I wrote the book as a conversation about patience, presence, attention, and the role music plays in shaping a life.

Turntable Tales grew naturally from both books. It brings together long-form writing, curated playlists, visual design, and small-batch merchandise. The writing lives on Substack, where I publish essays, reviews, collector notes, and reflections on music culture. Some pieces are personal. Others look closely at specific albums, overlooked formats, or what it means to keep a physical collection in a digital world. Each piece asks a version of the same question: why do we keep returning to records?

The playlists live on Apple Music and are curated with the same care I bring to the writing. Some are shaped around moods or memories. Others follow a thread in current listening or tell a story about an artist. Each one connects to a theme I’ve explored in writing. These are not random or automated. They are made for people who take their listening seriously.

On Instagram, I post photographs of records, excerpts from recent writing, and snapshots from my collection. It helps keep the conversation going from day to day. Facebook and LinkedIn offer other ways to stay in touch or explore the project further. Whether you’re a collector, a reader, or simply someone who listens closely, I welcome the connection.

I’ve also created a line of shirts and tote bags inspired by record culture. Each design carries something I care about, typography, music history, subtle references, or a quiet sense of humor. Some are minimal. Others are louder. All are made for people who know the feeling of holding a record and want to carry that experience with them. You can find them at turntabletales.music, alongside links to recent posts and playlists.

Turntable Tales is built for people who are still listening. It is for those who believe music is more than sound. Music holds memory, invites attention, and creates connection. Whether you collect thousands of records or only a few, this space is meant to meet you where you are.

It is about records. It is about listening. It is about taking the time.