Tucked away in Marrickville’s creative heart, Fanático is more than a record store, it’s a gathering place for vinyl diggers, DJs and curious newcomers alike. After all, isn’t that what dance and electronic music culture is all about? We asked co-founder Esther Reyes to tell us more.

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What was the genesis of Fanático? How did you three meet and start the business?

Well, Andres and I are married. We are university sweethearts who met studying the same course in Spain. We moved to Australia in 2012 because we got positions as software developers. We spent our first ten years here working for the same software company, but then at some point we both needed a change. That's when we decided to move away from that and start something new. We spent some time thinking about options. At some point Andres was like, "I think we should follow our passion and give the record store a go."

We met David at a doof, which was a whole scene we discovered here. They’re not really a thing in Spain. We began connecting with all these like-minded people and it felt like there was an opportunity [to open a record store] in Sydney, because unfortunately many of them closed. I've been told that in the past Sydney was full of record stores, and it's a shame that’s not the case anymore.

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Fanático has a very DIY aesthetic. Was the store design all done in-house?

Totally. We saw it as an opportunity to exercise a lot of our skills and really shape something that reflected us. We did the renovation ourselves, the painting, the interior design. Part of it was to minimise costs as much as we could. As everybody knows, record stores are not a big money business. The profit is low compared to other businesses like fashion and things like that. The do-it-yourself approach was a pragmatic decision, but it also aligns well with all of us. And of course we handpick every record. Being an independent record store, curation is everything.

Was moving from Surry Hills to Marrickville also a pragmatic decision?

Everything with Fanatico has happened organically. When had to leave Surry Hills, the opportunity to open at Rikota came through friends in common. Thankfully it’s turned out to be the perfect fit. There is a great community of creatives here and we feel a part of something. The underground party scene in Marrickville is amazing too.

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What kind of record store is Fanatico? Is it tailored more towards DJs, collectors, or both?

We want to be a record store for everybody. We cater to the diggers, which is why we take special care of our secondhand collection, because we have all these gems that people who have been digging for years are going to be surprised to find here. But we also want to be an introduction for people who have never been to a record store before. Maybe they don’t even own a record player. We want to provide a welcoming environment for these customers. For us, everybody is the same here. Every record buyer has an entry point at some stage in their life.

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I guess that’s what is missing from the modern ecosystem of music these days. Because everything is online, it is also quite disconnected, so having a space that can introduce people to record culture is important.

Totally. Also, unfortunately, people can have terrible experiences in shops, retail in particular. That feeling where you literally know nothing and you need support. It's like, I want to buy a book, but I don't know which one. Or this pair of jeans, but I don't know what works for my body shape. It’s important to have someone there who can help you.

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Was it a big gamble to leave the corporate world to pursue your dream of a record store? Particularly in an age where people can purchase records online.

We were never fixated on the idea of whether it would work or not. We have always been very pragmatic about that. We try our best, know where our limits are, and hopefully it works. But if it doesn't, that’s okay. There was more money and security for us in the corporate world, and I know it sounds like a cliché, but we were unhappy. It gets to a point that you don't want to get another pay raise. You want to have more time to do the things you love. You also reach the middle of your life and you think, okay, what am I doing? Am I going to continue doing this? So we took the gamble and hopefully we can live the dream for a while.

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How does the business operate between the three of you? And how do your musical tastes shape the vibe?

From a business perspective, it’s very straightforward actually. I look after the marketing, social media and sales, and Andres and David look after the curation of the records. Andres takes care of new releases, and David the secondhand. While our roles are very defined, we still collaborate a lot and listen to each other. Our direction and vision for the business are very well established and understood. That we are very good friends also helps.

Music wise, I feel that we are all very eclectic in our tastes. We like everything. When people ask me what my favourite music is, I can never give a proper answer, because I like everything depending on the moment of the day. I think that is one of the pillars of this job. The store has a strong focus on electronic music - we love it. But we do explore other genres like Latin, jazz, and hip-hop as well. But we know there are other shops in Australia that already cover many of these other music genres really well, so we try and stick within the realms of electronica, which itself is very broad and eclectic.

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Are there any record stores you drew inspiration from?

There are so many record stores we look up to! One of them is Discos Paradiso in Barcelona. David grew up in there and experienced its creation and the care they put into everything they do. They gave us a lot of advice and heavily influenced our cataloguing and the way we display records. Our in-store DJ sets are also inspired by a lot of European stores that do the same. We like stores that are more than just a place to go buy records, but where you can go and talk to people who are music lovers. This was also the idea for Fanatico from the beginning, and I think it’s something that is coming together nicely. We want people to come here and enjoy the space. And maybe they don't buy a record one day, and that's okay. This is also why the Fanatico events we do are free entry. It's about supporting and providing a space for music lovers.

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You’ll be hosting a record fair at the upcoming Keys to the City event. What can people expect?

Yes, so it will be like a chill zone or downtempo area. We will have the record pop-up and we’ll be collaborating with the Moral Laxa collective. We’ll have DJs spinning tunes and there’ll be an area to sit down, grab a meal, enjoy a drink, and dig through some records. But there will definitely be an opportunity to dance as well! Last year was really good, we had lots of fun and are looking forward to this one.

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Finally, are there any producers, musicians or labels that have been catching your attention lately?

I think this is a question for David or Andres, but yes, there are many. Honestly there are so many Australian labels doing great things. Also, Jura Records. It’s a label that releases forgotten gems and finds an opportunity to bring them back. To start our own label would also be a dream for us. Maybe one day.

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