With a name like Vinyl Kitchen, it probably comes as no surprise that Sunil has a passion for cooking up tasty treats both on & off the decks. Having been a former head chef at MTV, he also used to run the tunes on the sound system there, while in service. His selections gathered a lot of attention which inspired him to put on his own night “Vinyl Kitchen” where his customers and new found connections could congregate outside of work to listen to his music.
“The concept is really simple… we have open decks, residents plus an added element where selectors can play and then trade the vinyl they bring, it’s a lot of fun and quite unique in London, as far i’m aware we are the only ones doing this”
“We haven’t restarted since covid but were looking at relaunching this year”
“As for my personal background in music, my taste developed from my older brother Suresh who loved black music, warmth and genuine music that held its own generously when loud!
“Growing up when you had the tail end of rave, beginning of UK garage and melting pot of jazz I’d say I was really quite blessed with what was around me, but the UK has always been both connected and divided by music so as a young person I wanted to be influenced by it all so looking back my variety of friends and cultures kept me very open minded I’ve always been deeply connected to jazz but via many many genres”
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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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What were your earliest musical influences?
“Jamiroquai, Mica Paris, Omar, James Taylor Quartet.”
One record that sums up your happiest memories and where does it take you back to?
“Got to Give” by The Brand New Heavies is a big one for happy memories as it reminds me of my late and great brother.”
You’ve been sent on a mission to outer space… you’re allowed to take one record… What is it?
“If I was in space I’d probably want something like “I Have a God” by Ezra Collective and marvel at both the universe and the gift of jazz.”
What is one of your favourite pieces of sleeve art and why?
“…A tough one, but one of them is Gil Scott Heron’s “Pieces of a Man”. It’s compelling, it’s accurate and it speaks loudly of a peoples creative persistence through the worst of humanity.”
Favourite record labels of all time?
“BBE of course, this is both a dos Label and music lovers label, vinyl and music should be easy and accessible they are the pocket knife of uk labels.
Talkin Loud for a lot of reasons but mainly music history and legacy.
Bluenote for its contribution to history past to the present day.
Mainstream Records for its essential jazz.
Ninja Tune for its important place in uk music.
Strata for its story and its place in history.”
