About Lex
Lex is the heart-on-her-sleeve newcomer who jumped into the vinyl world in 2020 — and never looked back. What started as searching for a community of people who “get” this silly, wonderful hobby quickly turned into a full-blown passion.
Along the way, she’s expanded her love for physical media, discovered new favorites, and connected with an incredible group of collectors. Now, she’s as much about the people as she is about the records — and she’s here for every conversation, trade, and late-night unboxing.
Highlights
Current Favorite Record
When Facing the Things We Turn Away From, Luke Hemmings
Current Favorite Artist
The Fray
Ask Lex
I owe it all to Harry Styles’ debut solo album. I loved that record so much that just having it downloaded on my iPhone wasn’t enough. I remember walking through the record section at Target and seeing it on the shelf. Next thing I knew, I was holding it in my hands, imagining how magical it would feel to own music this way. I didn’t have a turntable yet, so I walked away, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. A few months later, for my 18th birthday, I got a turntable and that very album. That was the beginning of everything.
My setup has grown alongside my collection, little by little. It took about three years to be the way it is now, but that was the beauty of it. The Harry Styles poster was the anchor and everything else found its place around that. I wanted the space to feel like my safe haven, a reflection of all the things that make me happy. There’s not really a strict theme. It’s more like a space full of all the things I love.
I absolutely love colored vinyl pressings. I know serious audiophiles might cringe a little at that answer, but for me, it’s all about the visual magic. I love when a pressing feels like an extension of the cover art, like when the vinyl color perfectly matches a detail or makes something pop. It feels like the music and the artwork are in conversation with each other.
Definitely the custom record I had made for myself. My favorite show of all time is The Vampire Diaries, which never got an official vinyl release. So I decided to create one. I chose the cover art, designed the back cover, curated the center labels, and built a tracklist of my favorite music moments from the show. It’s full of that early 2000s/2010s nostalgia, with artists like The Fray, Ron Pope, Cary Brothers, The Civil Wars… you get the vibe. It’s one-of-a-kind, which makes it extra special to me.
Slow Burn by Kacey Musgraves. It’s dreamy, cozy, and full of warmth. Exactly how I want my setup to feel.
There’s so much to love, but what stands out most is the kindness and support. I’ve never felt more welcomed anywhere in my life. For example, this past October, I lost my beloved cat, Spooky, who I often shared on my page. The outpouring of love from the vinyl community was overwhelming, in a good way. I received hundreds of heartfelt messages, and even posts of people spinning their favorite Halloween records in his honor. Because of this community, my best friend was remembered all around the world. I’ll never forget that, and I always share it as proof that the internet isn’t always a bad place.
LFTR Design Co. started back when I was in high school, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. With school suddenly virtual, I felt like I had space to slow down and breathe for the first time in years. I spent my free time doing all the things I never felt like I had the time to do: painting, drawing, reading, and just letting myself fall into creativity again. One thing led to another, and I launched an Etsy shop with some of my designs on stickers. That decision really marked the beginning of me stepping into my true self as a creative. Now, my designs connect me with other music and pop culture fans. They’re awesome conversation starters and little tokens of fandom that people can carry with them anywhere.
In so many ways. Before, my life felt kind of black and white, like I was just going through the motions on autopilot. I’ve always been a fangirl at heart, but I wasn’t really channeling that passion into anything creative or letting myself feel it anymore. Once I leaned into that side of myself — my true self — it was like my life turned to color. I truly don’t believe there is anything more exciting than being a fan of something. It fills you with this energy, excitement, passion, and inspiration pretty much all the time. Collecting vinyl led me to content creation, which brought out creativity I didn’t even know I had. Crafting captions for my carousel posts has made me a better writer and LFTR Design Co. has helped me realize that my work resonates with people. All in all, being part of this community has surrounded me with like-minded people who inspire me every day to be the best creative version of myself.
Setup Breakdown
Lex’s setup is simple, sweet, and stress-free.
This is how you get an awesome listening room without the complications or huge audiophile budget. The U-Turn Orbit delivers audiophile-level sound at an affordable price, and the Edifier M60s absolutely punch above their weight class.
You could buy the same list, but the magic lives in the Build Images—see how Lex turns parts and accessories into a magical space.
| Item | Model |
|---|---|
| Turntable | U-Turn Orbit Basic (Built-in Preamp) |
| Speakers | Edifier M60 |
| Record Shelves | ClosetMaid 4 Cube Shelf |
| Wall Mount | Ilyapa Wood Record Shelf |
| Now Playing Stand | WPESI Vinyl Record Stand |
| Turntable Mat | PRO SPIN White Acrylic |
| Cleaning Kit | Big Fudge 5-in-1 Kit |
| Inner Sleeves | Big Fudge |
| Outer Sleeves | Big Fudge |
Components
Complete The Room
Lex’s Collection
Build Images
Behind the scenes – How Lex’s Setup Began
