Drift Records stands on the high street of a beautiful market town in Devon called Totnes. This quirky, independent and award-winning vinyl retailer fits in well with its surroundings, as Totnes is known to be an alternative, creative and artistic hub.
A family-owned business, run by Rupert and his partner – Drift Records became an international success due to the pandemic, which forced the business to operate mostly online. In turn, this allowed their shop to grow globally (despite having planted their roots in the nineties) and now they’re shipping vinyls all over the world!
But shipping vinyls internationally isn’t Drift’s only success. They have a newsletter that goes out every week full of new release reviews – which has gathered a cult following. Packed with knowledge, passion and detailed descriptions of the records, both musically and culturally – this newsletter is a must-read for the music buffs amongst us. They also print a quarterly newspaper called Deluxe – which delves into record shop culture. And as if that wasn’t enough, they’re also part of a group of retailers called Dinked Edition, who put out special release vinyls, including vinyls from Thee Sacred Souls, TSHA and Tim Burgess.
Shopping at Drift is an exquisite experience, having been recognised by The Guardian as being ‘…mind-boggling great: the kind of place that you’d think was amazing if you found it in New York.’ They have also been reviewed by Pitchfork and BBC Radio 6 who hold them in equally high regard.
The atmosphere of the shop is totally all-encompassing; a perfect place to escape and be transported back into the past or propelled into the future. The wide range of genres and styles allows you to choose. Whether you’re looking for jazz, post-punk, house, techno, country, ambient, psychedelia, rap, funk, rock, noise, experimental – Drift doesn’t discriminate. There’s something for everyone.
Formerly known as ‘World Video & Music’, which was located a few doors down from where Drift Records stands today, they mainly stocked video tapes, which would later turn to DVDs ( capitalising on the wave of interest in arthouse cinema.) This independent retailer has always been a melting pot of expression and creativity, never conforming or restricting itself to selling one particular thing.
Drift, in its renaissance, also stocks books, magazines, ceramics,stationery, clothing and dazzling printed goods. You can also sit back, relax and marvel at their selected tunes in the background whilst relaxing alongside a coffee from their refurbished Fiorenzato Ducale Coffee machine. Did someone say an espresso, music and chill? I think they did.
If you haven’t been persuaded to visit, I don’t know what will. Not only is Drift a uniquely immersive shopping and sensory experience, there is something for everyone to enjoy. They even organise a festival each year called Sea Change, which celebrates: music, art, film, literature, conversation and culture, and has hosted the likes of Damon Albarn. Another great reason to visit the picturesque Totnes. Why not have a browse of their website driftrecords.com, or visit them over at instagram @driftrecordshop
TEXT: Hester Tallack
IMAGES: Pete Bartlett
