Caspar Sutton-Jones found love for collecting records as a teenager, when on holiday with a friend in Lille, France. He further solidified his connection to the format when he started working with records every single day as a Mastering Engineer at Gearbox Records – independent label with bases in London & Tokyo. Gearbox records London facility has it’s own full-analogue mastering and disc cutting facility, specialising in reel-to-reel tape mastering, vinyl cuts and direct-to-disc recordings. As well as mixing and mastering the labels own releases, recent work includes cutting chart-topping albums “Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)” by Kaliuchis, “No Tourists” by The Prodigy and restoring and remastering Tubby Hayes’ complete Fontana discography for Decca Records

Alongside his studio work, Caspar is a saxophonist and session musician who has been recording and touring for many years, playing for funk band Space Ghetto as well as for artists including Akala, Mahalia and The Ragga Twins

Caspar is also a keen foodie with a passion for growing chillies. He founded and runs Hot Pants Pepper Co, who make the legendary Loose Booty mango pepper sauce plus other highly sought after vegan, organic hot sauces.

Each week we will be taking a dip into the crates and minds of some of the digging scenes most prolific collectors.

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DIGGR: What are your earliest musical influences?

Caspar: “My granddad played stride piano and I remember my parents paying me old Fats Waller records when I was really small. There’s was also a great Jazz bassist who lived in the flat above us and I used to sit at the top of the stairs and listen for hours when he had his band over to rehearse.

This all lead me to want to start playing Jazz music myself, so I picked up the sax when I was 8 years old and have been playing ever since.”

D: What’s your first memories of collecting records?

C: “When I was about 16 I went on a trip to Lille, France with my mate Joel and his family. There’s a weekend called La Grande Braderie de Lille where the city becomes essentially the worlds largest car boot sale. I managed to find some amazing records while I was there (also a lot of crap records!) and I came home with a suitcase full of vinyl.

This was one of my first experiences of digging the crates and it was so exciting hanging no idea about what I might find next!”

D: It’s a slothy Sunday…. What tune are you hanging out to?

C: “When My Dreamboat Comes Home by Illinois Jacquet (from the Desert Winds album)”

D: One record that sums up your happiest memories and where does it take you back to?

C: “Night Nurse by Gregory Isaacs brings me straight back to playing at the ‘Irie Sunset Reggae Boat Party’ while on tour in Bermuda with my reggae band Mighty Leap. One of the best gigs I’ve ever done and a perfect end to an amazing tour around one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever been too.”

D: What is one of your favourite pieces of sleeve art and why?

C: “Herb Dub by Jah Lloyd … I love the detail, the colours, the style of the characters and the hand drawn nature of the art. It perfectly compliments the uplifting yet totally grounded Dub music on the record.”