working with Earache Records (part 2)

So, with the variants confirmed and a tight deadline in place, it was time to actually put it all together, and that’s where things got real for me.

You have to remember, at this point I was still in college. I hadn’t formally learned any of the Adobe programs, and this was my first time working on a release at this scale. Up until then, most of my work had been done on an iPad, but this time I needed to step into the world of industry standard software, and fast.

To say it was daunting would be an understatement. I was learning on the go, flipping between YouTube tutorials and trial-and-error sessions just to figure out how to make everything work. I remember being asked to use “smart objects” and having to admit I had no idea what that even meant. It was definitely a test of my patience, my resilience, and how well I could adapt under pressure.

There were moments I felt completely out of my depth. I was terrified of messing it up, but at the same time, I was determined to get it right. This wasn’t just a college project. This was real. People were counting on me to help get an actual record out into the world, that was a huge responsibility for someone still figuring everything out.

But looking back, I’m so grateful for that experience. It taught me how to manage my time, how to problem-solve under pressure, and, most importantly, how to use the tools I now rely on in my everyday practice. By the end of it, I could walk into a record store like HMV, see that sleeve on the shelf, spot my credit inside, and feel genuinely proud of what I’d helped create. The fact that the band and the label were happy with it too just made it all the more rewarding.

And honestly, the release itself was so special. Putting out six completely unique vinyl variants isn’t something you see every day, especially with the level of thought we put into matching the design elements across the front and back. The fan response just elevated that sense of achievement as well. Seeing people excited about the different versions, sharing which one they’d ordered, or even collecting multiple, it gave me such a buzz knowing I’d played a part in making that happen.

That whole experience taught me so much , not just about the industry, but about what I’m capable of when I’m pushed. It helped shape the way I work now, and it’s something I’ll always look back on as a massive step in my journey.

So, do you own a copy of Triggered!? Which variant do you have? Did you pick up more than one or maybe even all six? And which front/back combo is your favourite?