Vinyl has seen a resurgence in popularity in Malta thanks to the strong hipster wave that’s been unrelenting for the past half a decade or so. Suddenly, ancient record stores like D’Amato were joined by newer kids on block, like Sliema’s Sunset Records. Now, another record store is set to arrive to Malta’s streets; Solo in Msida.

The name Solo will be instantly recognisable for the most weathered fans of LPs in Malta. The business actually started as a successful shop in Milan back in 2011. Last summer, Solo opened as an experimental “pop-up” store in Valletta within NO.ME studio, just down the road from the alternative hangout Ġugar. The three co-existed as part of what was essentially a heavenly hipster trinity for a couple of months, but soon enough, Solo Vinili & Libri (which, as the name implied, only sold vinyl records and books), had to close its doors. 

Before 2017 came to a close, however, shopkeeper Pietro had already set his sights on a new location; the even more central Msida, specifically the popular Junior College area. 

July 2017: Solo teases its Valletta “pop-up” store concept

October 2017: A new, more permanent home is found for the cult store

After a brief but successful spell, Solo’s new shop location is finally teased: Bondin Street, just behind Msida’s Junior College. “You need to wait a few months for the official opening,” Pietro told local fans.

January 2018: Canopy up, hype abounds

Months later, the store is now finally set to open this Saturday. And while the name is still Solo, it will be selling way more than just LPs and books. “We will be focusing on music, vinyl culture, art, illustration, photography, subculture, underground and DIY stuff,” Pietro told Lovin Malta. “We will host exhibitions, book launches, workshops, festivals and gigs.” In other words, a new haven for the alternative scene seems to be waiting in Msida.

The shop has been steadily teasing photos from the inside alongside information on its catalogue of records, and it seems like Pietro and his crew are leaving no stone unturned. Customers will be able to find everything from jazz and hip-hop to psychedelic and hardcore noise records amongst its shelves, not to mention a great deal of books ranging from architecture and lifestyle to graphic design and comics.

And for fans of what the shop means to the scene, Solo have even lined up some of their own merchandise; t-shirts and stickers with their soon-to-be instant classic eye logo.

Solo will be officially opening its doors this Saturday from 4pm to 8pm.

After that, it’ll be following these opening times:

• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday to Friday: 10am – 2pm, 4pm – 7pm
• Saturday: 11am – 6pm
• Sunday: Closed

For more information on the new record store’s big day this weekend, check out the official Facebook event page.

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David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).