How long have you been collecting?
From my earliest introduction to the soul music scene, I’ve always been constantly looking for new sounds to excite me. In the early days pre internet, the only way to hear soul music was mainly by attending different venues regularly, that and the Kent compilation albums were a terrific source of soul for me.
In the last 10 years I have started to collect more seriously, whether it’s scouring the internet or charity shops at weekends, I am always on the lookout for my next record Fix. But my first love will always be the dance floor, and most weekends I will be at a Soul venue. I tend to prefer the more progressive thinking soul events nowadays because my tastes have broadened across the whole soul music spectrum from northern to funk, deep, sweet etc, from the 60’s right thru to contemporary such as the the new Anthea Lang album … If it’s soulful I want to hear it!
Do you remember your first buy?
My first buy… I think it was Animal House lp, soul wise is was Jackie Wilson – I’m the one to do it on Brunswick
What’s your favourite record in your box?
My favourite record changes daily depending on my mood, but two records in totally contrasting styles that are always near the the top of my pile are Al Wilson – Now I Know What Love Is on Soul City and Aaron Neville – Hercules on Mercury
Which record do you regret selling the most?
To be honest, I haven’t sold many records, I usually only buy records I really like and not just for Dj purposes, so I have emotional attachment to most of my collection.
What’s your fave all time soul club?
That’s an easy answer the 100 club. Myself and friends used to fly over when we were in our 20’s just for the all -nighter. We’d dance all night and catch a flight back in the morning!
When Mattie asked me to Dj there it was a dream come true, it’s hard to explain but there is really something magical about the 100 club, I’ve had some of the greatest nights of my life there and now I only live 30 mins away which is fantastic.
Also, I enjoyed special times at a a lot of clubs back home in Italy such as The Rimini Soul weekender. Covo in Bologna, Breakout in Milan and Blacktrefoil in Genova where a lot of it started for me.
I would also like to recommend two of my current favourite events in my Soul calendar.
Soul shakers in Bamberg is the Best Soul weekender for me in Germany and the fantastic Pordenone All Dayer in Italy.
What’s your all time want?
Jimmy Mack – Go On on Palmer, Rosetta Johnson – Whatever I Am (Butch cover -up) and
Fresh – That’s The Way It Is on Upper Hand.
Follow Valentina on Instagram
