Home Grown: A Japan-inspired artist in Barcelona

Because every record collection has a story.

Home Grown is our series profiling you lot and your excellent record collections. Taking our cue from the brilliant submissions to the #VFRecordCollections thread on Instagram, we want to share a little of your hard-earned love for vinyl with the world.

Each week, we’ll be profiling a different collector from around the world and finding out what makes them tick. Want in? Send us a pic of your collection and a few words about your collection to [email protected].

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Name: Raül Vázquez

Location: Barcelona

Size of collection (approx.): 300 albums

How long have you been collecting for?

Even though music has always been my main interest, along with fashion and illustration (which has become my livelihood), I’ve only been collecting records for the last three years.

What part of your set-up are you most proud of?

My Leben CS300XS is my dearest “fetish”: it combines classic manufacturing with a splendid sound. As with fashion and art, the Japanese are exquisite artisans. I admire their work so much; the delicate finishes and attention to details and quality.

What records are you most proud of?

My collection is turning out to be really eclectic, with every sort of genre and style. I need music for any mood. Although I own some good pressings, an indie band from Barcelona, Últim Cavall, will release a new album soon and they put me in charge of the cover design. I’m looking forward to having it in my hands. I guess that would be the record I’m most proud of.

What does your record collection mean to you?

My collection comes from the search of happiness. The excitement I feel every time I open an album and play it for the first time… listening carefully to the little nuances, or being astonished by the musical skills of the artists…I find it so inspiring! I listen to music in search of inspiration and motivation to create my art pieces and illustrations. My collection is my muse.