GIVE US THE BACKGROUND - WHEN AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN A RECORD SHOP?

We opened the shop as a pop-up during Covid.

I’d always had a lot of records and bought and sold in an amateur way, so, me and a couple of friends took a 3-month lease on an empty shop in Sevenoaks to see what happened.

After 5 weeks we were back in lockdown, but we muddled through with a few online sales and a lot of thumb twiddling until we were allowed to reopen. Two and a half years ago, we moved into the shop we’re in now and made it a permanent thing.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR STORE? WHAT'S THE VIBE?

It’s pretty much a “proper” record shop. We have new records, second-hand, singles, CDs, tapes, T-shirts, a bit of memorabilia. It’s a little chaotic but a welcoming space where people can feel free to hang out, have a chat meet up, whatever!

CAN YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD YOU SOLD IN THE SHOP? AND THE LAST?

The first was probably a pile of 60s singles, sold to a bloke called Roger (who’s become a regular customer).

The last was a copy of the new Taylor Swift ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ sold late in the day.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD SHOP YOU WENT TO? AND DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST RECORD YOU BOUGHT?

The first record I ever bought an album from the Woolworths in Orpington. I bought one of those Top Of The Pops albums. I liked the track Walk On The Wild Side but didn’t realise it was a cover version until I got it home! Nice picture of a woman in a bikini on the cover, though.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RECORD SHOP (APART FROM YOUR OWN!) AND WHY?

It’s got to be Tower Records (resided in Piccadilly Circus in the early ’90s) A massive and great store.

WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE RECORD STORE EXPERIENCE?

I think it has to be when Supergrass were doing an instore at the Virgin Megastore in Oxford Street.

HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS RECORD STORE DAY BEEN FOR YOUR STORE?

I think it has to be when Supergrass were doing an instore at the Virgin Megastore in Oxford Street.

WHAT'S THE BEST GIG YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO?

Possibly Hot Chip at the Dreamland Roller Disco Margate.

WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FILM?

I often return to Cabaret (1972).

WHAT WOULD MAKE UP YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISCS?

Honestly, I’d take a box of jazz records to a desert island. It’s such a varied genre that it would be difficult to get bored. Oh and a box of UK Garage 12”s, of course.

Who would form your all-time Festival line-up? (past & present)

LCD Soundsystem
Fela Kuti
Hot Chip
Smog
Yellowman
Boards of Canada
Ezra Collective
Dennis Brown
Blanck Mass
Glass Candy
Desire
Sugababes
Pulp
Omar S
Silver Jews
Roy Ayers
Mogwai
Floating Points
The XX
Biz Markie
Daft Punk
Tiga
and Will Oldham

OTHER RECORD STORES