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 esteemed digger, DJ, compiler, producer and good friend of Mr Bongo, Tee Cardaci to tell us the story behind how he came across one of his favourite records.

As an American living in Brazil, Tee’s knowledge of the music of his adopted homeland is second to none. A constant source of deep cuts and off the-beaten-track digging spots, Tee is a wealth of knowledge. Collecting records since he was 8 years old and DJing since the early ‘90s, Tee put together one of our favourite comps of last year - ‘Sonhos Secretos: Brazilian Private Press & Independent MPB On 7″ (1980-1985)’. With a diverse and enviable collection, alongside a wealth of productions as part of various groups and under several aliases, he has toured the globe sharing three decades worth of musical insight.

"I was sitting in my flat in Rio this morning, pondering which record to highlight for this piece, when a message popped up on my phone. The message was from an older collector I'd encountered years ago. He told me had recently obtained a few hundred compactos and had remembered that they were my thing. He asked if I'd like to come look at them.

My digging strategy, in large part, was inherited from my father, my original digging partner and fellow collector. It basically boils down to "Talk to everyone you meet, let them know you're the guy to call if they come across anything and maintain those relationships". This message was once again bearing the fruit of this approach.

When I arrived at his place, he'd set up a small table in the shade out front. On the table was one long box with about 250 7"s. He brought me a fresh cup of coffee and, as I finished flipping through the first box, he brought out another. In all, there were seven boxes like this. I separated about seventy records; Marcos Valle, Tim Maia, Cassiano, Elis Regina, Jorge Ben... all the big names were there. There were also loads of more obscure and independent releases yet to be added to any online databases. Really lovely stuff.

But the one record I've selected out of the lot to share today, despite being a major label release from a well-known artist, had eluded me for many years. Over those years, I'd passed on a few copies found in shops, thinking the price was beyond my budget. Also over those same years, as often happens, I'd watched as the price continued to creep, making a bargain of the first copy I'd passed on. I wouldn't say I'd given up on it, but the odds were looking slim of ever finding this one in the field.

But today, there she was staring back at me from the last box, Wanderléa's blistering b-side version of the Roberto and Erasmo Carlos tune, "Mane João". I pulled it out, trying to act casual, as you do. Despite being covered in a few decades of filth, it played ok on the portable. As I type this, she's upstairs covered in wood glue, awaiting her second lease on life where she'll continue to devastate dancefloors for years to come; living proof that these records are still out there for those willing to put in the time and effort to find them."

Big thanks to Tee for taking the time out to tell us his story. Be sure to give him a follow on Instagram to stay up to date with his gigs, mixes and latest releases.