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“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music,” says the writer Aldous Huxley. A great music-inspired gift is another sure way to express adoration for the audiophile in your life.
To help, we’ve rounded up the best products for elevating sound quality or transporting tunes, the best book series for serious audiophiles (and bibliophiles!), and meaningful, customizable presents to commemorate your shared music moments.
Here, the best gifts for music lovers.
Absolut Art Signed Music Prints
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Courtesy of Absolut Art
These limited edition prints from Absolut Art are numbered, framed, and signed by emerging and established artists (they're even delivered with a certificate of authenticity). Edition sizes are small, so this gift is as close to one-of-a-kind as it gets.
Two particular collections will be of interest to followers of the 2000s NYC rock scene or fans of the Wu-Tang Clan. The first features portraits of The White Stripes, The Strokes, and Fischerspooner; the second collection brings together artists shaped by the influential hip hop collective.
Canvas Vows First Dance Music Canvas
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Courtesy of Canvas Vows
Strike a chord with your significant other by gifting them this sentimental keepsake. Choose a favorite song—the soundtrack to your first kiss or the first dance at your wedding—and transform it into a custom wall piece. Select from a range of sizes so it’s sure to cohere with your decor.
Price at time of publish: $89
Pan African Gifts Billie Holiday Style Print
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Courtesy of Etsy
This colorful, mixed media print celebrates the music and style of one of music's great icons, Billie Holiday. In addition to famous musicians like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Aretha Franklin, the LA-based artist also offers striking portraits of other notable Black figures from history, from Rosa Parks to Zora Neale Hurston.
Jeff Davis Upcycled Record Coasters
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Courtesy of Uncommon Goods
Cocktail dresses aren’t the only way to spruce up a happy hour! Crafted in Philadelphia from recycled vinyl records, these coasters are sure to complement (and protect!) any coffee table or countertop.
Price at time of publish: $18
LED Lantern Speaker
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Courtesy of MoMA Design Store
Underneath the retro design of this vintage-inspired lantern lies high-tech capabilities—it’s both a Bluetooth speaker and a rechargeable LED light. It's the perfect soft lighting centerpiece for an alfresco dinner party.
Price at time of publish: $22
Personalized Mixtape Doormat
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Courtesy of Uncommon Goods
If the two of you share a timeless love, consider this signature mixtape doormat. This retro mat features a customizable title line: write their name or delight your crush with a more cryptic message understood just by them.
Price at time of publish: $38
The TriniGee Female Rappers Mug
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Courtesy of Etsy
The perfect gift for your hip-hop loving bestie, this mug highlights the women trailblazers who have made their mark in the genre. From Queen Latifah to Cardi B, you'll be inspired every time you take a sip (hopefully while listening to some tunes).
Price at time of publish: $21 for 11 oz
Apple Air Pods
This compact set is the quintessential gift for a music lover who is constantly on the go. The pair connects seamlessly with all Apple devices and charge up in their case, so they’re always at the ready when it’s time for some tunes.
Price at time of publish: $129
Hand Made People Retro Vinyl LP Watch
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Courtesy of Etsy
With this vinyl record-inspired watch, you can rock around the clock like Bill Haley & His Comets. Made with two-sided eco-leather and finished with ion plating, this unique watch is both durable and relatively water-resistant.
Price at time of publish: $50
33 1/3 Series Books
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Courtesy of 333sound
If the music aficionado in your life loves to immerse themselves in the minutiae surrounding their favorite albums, one of the 100+ books from the 33 1/3 series is for them. These books may be pocket-sized, but each offers a deep dive into an impactful album, covering its conception and reception and offering a smattering of musical analyses, cultural criticism, and personal narrative.
Represented in this wide-ranging catalog are mainstream successes like Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, underground darlings like The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs, and indie-rock landmarks like Liz Phair’s Exile in Guyville.
Bose Headphones
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Courtesy of Bose
A pair of noise-canceling headphones is a must-have for any music-aficionado. This sleek, comfortable pair features everything from Bluetooth to a fast-charging, long-lasting battery. Your music-lover won’t want to leave home without them.
Price at time of publish: $299
Hatch Show Print Music Poster
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Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame Store
This iconic Nashville-based printer has been in operation for over 100 years and is best-known for creating graphic music posters for top country artists like Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, and Johnny Cash. The bright, retro designs will add a pop of color to your music lover's wall.
Threshhold Fillable Lamp Base
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Courtesy of Target
Your favorite concert memories occurred under the spotlight; why not keep them that way? This clear, fillable lamp base functions like a shadow-box for ticket stubs.
Sonos Move Battery Powered Smart Speaker
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Courtesy of Amazon
With a powerful battery that lasts up to 10 hours, this weather-resistant speaker will keep the music flowing late in the evening hours. Favorite songs can be streamed easily using Wifi or Bluetooth and the built-in Alexa means that your music-lover will also have instant access to news, weather, and more.
Price at time of publish: $359
Cameo Shoutout from Musician
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Courtesy of Cameo
Beneath the deep love we have for our significant others...is the crush we harbor for our favorite musicians. Secure your sweetheart a video shoutout from musicians they love and admire via Cameo.
Artists span genres and decades; choose from classic rockers, ‘90s boy band members, and even today’s hip-hop artists.
They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us
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Courtesy of Amazon
Whether your partner loves Fall Out Boy, Nina Simone, Carly Rae Jepsen, Chance the Rapper, Bruce Springsteen, My Chemical Romance, or any combination of the above, they’ll discover essays that resonate with them in this collection.
An essayist and critic who is also a poet, Hanif Abdurraqib’s writing possesses musicality that pulses throughout the scenes and subcultures he describes. Though it’s clear that music has long been an escape for the author, he’s unafraid to use it to confront significant questions about grief, love, race, labor, desire, and survival.
Price at time of publish: $17
DJ Cat Scratching Pad
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Courtesy of Uncommon Goods
This gift satisfies all of your loves: male, female, or feline! This whimsical, faux spin table keeps the humans and furniture safe from “Cat Scratch Fever”—but we can’t stop Fluffy from spinning Ted Nugent.
Asobu Wireless Insulated Water Bottle with a Speaker Lid
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Courtesy of Amazon
If your sweetheart is 70% water but 100% about the music, then this sleek stainless steel water bottle with a speaker might be just the gift for them. The double-walled insulation means that it also works for hot drinks as well.
Price at time of publish: $38
Victrola Bluetooth Portable Record Player
This retro, suitcase-style record player is a vintage vinyl lover's dream. Available in over 30 hues, this machine looks old school but has updated high tech capabilities for today's modern listener. You can even stream tunes from your smartphone if you're on the go and don't want to tote records along.
Price at time of publish: $80