Vinyls and Mingles: What went down at my first music-themed singles’ mixer
Can you find a spark through music-infused connections? A curious music muser weighs in on a different kind of dating experience
If you’ve been in the dating scene for a while, you know the real struggle of finding that one-of-a-kind connection.
Dating apps, once hailed as a brilliant and fast way to streamline your options, have lost their allure. They’re now flooded with curated photos that lack depth and hollow banters that collect dust faster than the unreachable corner of your room.
A rare few have emerged from the trenches, but for many hopeful singles, it’s been a disappointing cycle.
These dating disasters have spurred so many to organise social mixers, in hopes of offering more organic connections and return dating to its rightful place — good ole’-fashioned mingle parties.
I’m no stranger to social gatherings, but I’m always looking for new ways to vibe. So when I stumbled upon a music-themed dating event, I knew I had to jump at the chance.
Mingling while swapping music recommendations on Valentine’s weekend? That’s not something you come across every day. And it’s right up my alley.
I pressed play to the plot — by which I mean clicking the registration link — curious to see where my wandering will take me this time.
A Vinyl Listening Party Nestled in the Quiet Shophouses of Maxwell
The event was held and organised by a vinyl listening café, tucked within the shophouses a few minutes walk from Maxwell MRT station.
Upon entering, the participants and I were greeted by the staff and given notes on our complimentary drinks. There were plenty of quirky alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available, and I was pleased to find a favorite drink that isn’t usually served in other cafés.
Afterward, we were quickly ushered in for a two-minute walkthrough on how to use a vinyl record player, then asked to select one or two vinyls from the racks for the event.
To the right of the café, I spotted rows of square album covers neatly arranged by genre, with a few popular records displayed above them. Most participants were huddled in that corner, already sifting through the selection, so I waited for my turn and took a moment to look around.
The café’s interior was cozy, with warm lighting that set the perfect mood for a mindful, focused listening session over a comforting drink.
Once the racks were less crowded, I headed over and picked an album to share with the group. I chose some ‘80s classics — Whitney Houston’s debut album and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Mainstream enough for everyone to recognise, yet legendary enough to spark conversations about why they remain my top choices as a zillennial.
Truthfully, I hadn't listened to my favorite ‘80s ballads in a while, and I was starting to miss those synths.
Soon, we were rounded up again and the ladies were guided to our respective seats. I was led to a wooden table in a quieter part of the café, along with three other girls who settled into different spots — one at a corner, another on a bench, and the last on a cozy bean bag.
Then, the guys began filtering into the room, and my first partner took a seat beside me.
Okay, I took a deep breath, here we go. The listening session begins now.
Speed Syncing Beyond Chemistry & First Impressions
The event was structured in a speed dating fashion, with the gents rotating between nine different areas of the café every seven minutes.
What I loved about this listen-as-you-talk setup was that we were given complete social freedom to do whatever we wanted. There were no rigid icebreaker prompts or forced small talk — just vibes.
With some matches, I spent half the time simply listening to their recommended vinyls, while with others who shared my music taste (or were more chatty), we never even touched the record player.
Soon, the usual “How old are you?” and “Where do you work?” questions flew out of the window, and the conversations naturally shifted to favorite artists, unforgettable concerts, and the stories behind our go-to tracks. What started as a dating event slowly transformed into a gathering of music lovers, all eager to connect over shared music tastes and explore new sounds.
Suddenly, the seven-minute time limit that seemed like plenty of time to get to know a new music lover, felt way too short.
By the end of the night, something extraordinary happened — something you don’t usually see at other dating events. We weren’t just swapping social media handles, we were exchanging Spotify profiles too!
Records that Defined the Night
The albums everyone picked that night generally fell into two broad categories — music people already knew and loved, and music they had never heard before. But of course, the vinyls we shared were just the tip of the iceberg.
As the night progressed, I found myself discovering more and more new music I liked, and quickly jotting down song titles and artists in my Notes app.
One artist's name stuck with me for a long time — Ryuichi Sakamoto. One of the guys recommended his vinyl, and I ended up spending an awfully long time listening to it. The melody felt strangely familiar, as if I had heard it somewhere before, but it was only that night that I finally put a name to it.
Something about the music, combined with the café’s ambience, brought me to a whole new level of listening peace.
Another guy was into rock bands, and I did NOT expect this song to go hard as it did when he recommended this song.
Then there was someone into K-indie, who introduced me to HYUKOH. My current jam of his had a slight swing to it and is super chill, like a Sunday morning spent watering your plants.
I didn’t get the chance to talk music with the ladies, but I have no doubt they had some solid recommendations too. I’m definitely looking forward to the day the café hosts a girls’ listening night!
Final Notes
I’m not new to quieter mingling events like this, and typically, the energy tends to be low and slow. But to my surprise, I found myself enjoying this one far more than I had expected.
Maybe it’s because music is a huge part of my identity, so it’s always refreshing to meet people who share the same vibe. I suppose when energies complement each other, any gathering can feel fun and fulfilling, no matter the setting or the state of your social battery.
Party games, group runs, and big social events are fun, but there’s also something special about smaller, more intimate gatherings built around shared passions and like-minded people.
It’s just one of life’s little reminders that connecting through shared interests makes it so much easier to build real, genuine relationships, beyond just showing up to find your next date.
While a romantic spark might have not been in the distance tonight, the connections I’ve made and the new music I’ve discovered were the highlights of my night. And perhaps, I’ve found a safe space in this cozy little café.
I’ll definitely be back for more vinyl listening sessions, that warm, welcoming ambience, and that refreshing cup of tea.
Big thanks to Slow Boat for organising “Love On The Record”!
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