deckdeckdeck: Collecting keeps me from completely losing it
With this piece, we are launching an occasional column where we will chat with collectors of merch, physical formats, and other music memorabilia about their collections.
Over 5 years of active collecting, Andrii Vasyna — better known as deckdeckdeck on Instagram—has gathered around 600 cassettes and 150 vinyl records. We talk about the quirks of finding and storing these specific physical formats, the motivation to expand or, conversely, downsize a collection, the most valuable items, and more.
Prone to Collecting
I am an engineer, and even though society mostly views this profession as something pragmatic and completely non-creative, I’ve been into music and photography my whole life. It’s an incredible feeling to hold an album or a zine featuring your own photos in your hands!
Overall, I'm a bit prone to collecting—I used to collect analog cameras, and I also "collected" posters from fixed-gear races on one of my Insta pages :) And then there are cassettes and vinyl—this particular collection is my biggest.
My parents were the ones who got me into quality music. At a time when most of my peers were listening to low-grade pop, mine would play [Braty] Hadiukiny, Skryabin, and Ozzy for me. Later on, there was Enter-Music (editor’s note: a Ukrainian music TV channel that operated from 2001 to 2012), which allowed me to look at music from a broader perspective.
Our world is overflowing with a variety of interesting music, so why limit yourself to just one thing? It’s important to learn how to filter everything playing around you to keep what resonates with you, not lose yourself in all of it, and choose sincerity in music. But yeah, to be more specific, I’d highlight punk rock (editor’s note: laughs).
The Start of the Collection
It all started with my old Volvo and a Panasonic cassette deck gifted by my dad. The cassette that kicked off this collection was Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds — Murder Ballads. It’s hard to put that vibe into words—sitting in a luxurious leather interior late on an autumn evening, popping in Cave elegantly singing about something gruesome, and enjoying a hand-rolled cigarette.
Though overall, the very first one was a Meteora cassette, which I traded for a toy shotgun when I was 13.
Right now, my collection has about 600 cassettes and 150 vinyl records. Sadly, all the cassettes and CDs from my youth are long gone, so I’d say the countdown really started around 2021.
What I love most about cassettes is their J-cards—they brilliantly complement the music with their visual component. But the most important criterion is that I have to absolutely dig the music and want to pull that cassette or vinyl off the shelf over and over again.
"Space was always tight"
I kind of dropped the ball choosing to collect cassettes—they are way less convenient to store than vinyl or CDs. In every apartment I rented, space was always tight, and I had to invent special shelves. So, I eventually custom-designed a cabinet specifically for my collection, where all the cassettes and vinyl records could be kept comfortably.
When space runs low, I clear it out with a clear conscience, getting rid of things that are no longer relevant to me and hold no real value.
It was actually my wife who nudged me to design the cabinet so everything would be neatly and conveniently organized. And she was the one who asked me to arrange the cassettes by genre—just so she wouldn't accidentally pull out some pink cassette with people screaming again :)
Cassettes are a pretty high-maintenance format when it comes to storage—they’re vulnerable to demagnetization, temperature changes, and humidity. But I try not to sweat it too much—I keep forgetting to move my speakers further away.
An Interactive Investment
I’m against locking up a collection like a princess in a castle; it needs to serve its primary purpose—setting the mood. I absolutely love it when friends come over, dig through my cassettes, and pop their choice into the player, setting the tone for the evening. In case they bring kids, I have a cassette with children's songs. Thanks to that, a three-year-old now knows how to turn on the tape deck and put a cassette in.
I listen to my collection on a Braun Atelier system designed by the legendary Dieter Rams.
The most expensive item in my collection is a box set by Touché Amoré, which I dropped about $90 on.
In general, I try not to lose my head or make impulse buys. I even set a loose budget limit for a single cassette (roughly $20), but every now and then, I tend to turn a blind eye to it (editor’s note: laughs).
A Keepsake for Later
Given how niche cassettes are these days, I discover most new releases through streaming platforms first, and only then do I look for them on cassette or vinyl. Though that doesn't rule out pre-orders, either.
I love picking up additions to my collection at concerts! It’s a mix of supporting the band, the fresh emotions right after the gig, and a keepsake for later. I also adore flea markets, where you can find unexpected gems buried among the junk. And, of course, OLX — how could I leave that out? I scroll through it daily, hoping to catch something interesting.
The Top 5 in my collection are:
1) Touché Amoré five-cassette box set — an incredibly beautiful box set of multi-colored cassettes by my absolute favorite band.
2) Skryabin — Kazky (Tales) — two volumes by NAC Records, one of the most brilliant Ukrainian albums ever made
3) Romantic Collection Deluxe — this is the soundtrack to my as-yet-unreleased photography book, Romantic Collection. To complement the book's vibe, I curated a dark jazz compilation on cassette and designed a J-card for it.
4) TOL — Syndrom Bazhannya (Desire Syndrome) — does this one even need an introduction? :)
5) Full Of Hell / Nothing — When No Birds Sang — the most brilliant split album ever. Sadly, it was never released on cassette, so I made two bootleg copies—one for myself and one for a friend. I think it turned out looking really beautiful :)
Analog Values
In my opinion, the renaissance of physical formats comes down to a few factors. First and foremost, everything around us is overloaded with algorithms and fast scrolling, so sometimes you just want to slow down, touch something real, and listen to something analog.
Overall, listening to physical formats is a process where every single action feels like a bit of a ritual. You definitely don't get that feeling when listening to music on streaming platforms. I’d especially highlight making mixtapes, where you get to be your own algorithm, cover designer, and record studio all in one :)
On top of that, physical formats are merch and a way to support the artists, because, as we all know, they can't get very far on streaming payouts alone. And last but not least, I guess, collecting is a great way to distract yourself and keep from completely losing it.
A few of my close friends collect music too—and they are all people who are connected to it in one way or another. That’s why we often inspire each other with collaborative ideas and projects.
A (Non) Essential Item
The war has made me look at the collection in a completely different way. Given the experiences of people close to me, there is a clear realization that a collection is not an essential item. Against this backdrop, there was a lot of reflection on what to do with it "just in case," and I would definitely want to prevent it from ending up in the trash or being sold for pennies. That’s why, every now and then, I remind my partner how much all of this is actually worth :D
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Translated with the help of Gemini AI.
