Continuing our spotlight series called Favourite Finds, we ask some of our favourite DJs, collectors and selectors to tell us the story behind how they came across one of their favourite records.

For the next instalment we’ve asked Italian selector Sara Mautone to tell us the story behind how she came across one of her favourite records.

A creative at her core, Sara is not only a cherished DJ and record collector but also a lecturer and photographer at Istituto Marangoni. With an ear and eye homed in on capturing those special moments, Sara has a natural ability at seeing the bigger picture, composing and crafting mixes that are more than the sum of their parts. Taking you on a journey across genres, yet weaved together with thought and meaning, whether that be joining the dots between Brazil and Japan, or blending cosmic cuts with balearic nuggets.

With brilliant podcasts for the likes of Bar Part Time and Planet Trip and appearances behind the decks throughout Europe at clubs like Djoon and Sameheads and festivals such as Polifonic, Divagations and Secretsundaze Multi Multi, Sara is fast becoming a revered DJ for all the right reasons.

Long before I started buying records, I was really passionate about psych rock and I wrote my own column about it in a music magazine here in Italy.
My history as a record collector began only a few years later, with a focus on Brazil and Latin music, but recently I found myself listening to psych and garage US bands from the 60s/70s, and I understood how much this genre influenced and shaped my taste.

I saw 'Mother Night' two years ago during a record fair in Paris, and I was immediately captured by the beautiful and mysterious cover. Being a photographer for my day job, I've always been drawn to the visual side of music and, not always but in many cases, it really drives me towards certain records. I had a listen and I found a song I really love called 'Fools Are You'.

This track is special to me because it is a psych rock song with an interesting, energetic progression, culminating in a powerful Latin break. It fits perfectly into my sets because it connects all these types of music that I've been looking for over the years.

Big thanks to Sara for taking the time out to tell us her story. Be sure to give her a follow on Instagram to keep up-to-date with her gigs and check out her mixes on Soundcloud.

Portrait Photo credit: margmitchem