Secret 7” was an initiative that combined music & art for charity.

Seven tracks from various musicians/bands were donated to each show. These tracks then being pressed to create one hundred 7" vinyl records for each track.

Seven hundred records now required sleeve artwork. A selection of famous artists and designers were invited to create some. The remaining sleeves were covered thanks to an open submission.

The only rules for all submissions were that they couldn't feature either the artist's name (either the musician/band or the sleeve creators) or the track's title. That's where the secret part comes in.

The seven hundred sleeves featured in an exhibition before then being put on sale at a fixed price, on a first come first served basis to raise funds for that years chosen charity.

Miles + Skull x Voodoo = Magic

This sleeve contained two Easter Eggs for Foo Fighters fans.

#1

The phone number used is that of Robert Lang studios where This Is A Call was recorded. Only it’s no longer shown in full after an 11th hour intervention from the Foo’s management/lawyers… Got to respect the GDPR.

#2

The handwriting typeface used is one that was created from samples of Kurt Cobain’s lyrics & diaries.

But aye, created a sleeve that’s essentially Dave Grohl saying 'Fancy being a Foo Fighter?' then ‘Don’t be a dick’.

The sleeve has a step that’s been created and positioned top and right so as to signify the onwards & upwards message from the tracks lyrics. Holographic card was used to reflect the ethereal majesty of the bona fide legend Aretha was.

It took three attempts. There were tears, wobbles and paper cuts. But realising the vision, knowing the cause and with it being Aretha - I got this.

A lesser known fact is that Joe Strummer ran both the London and Paris marathons. Always loved that, just one of those things that had always stuck with me.

With this years charity being MIND, and the track donated being ‘I’m Not Down’, knowing how much running has helped me in darker times. It felt like this was a sleeve that needed to happen.

I was acutely aware that the Everything Must Go album, and in particular its final track No Surface All Feeling dealt with the disappearance of Richey Edwards.

Felt somewhat appropriate to recreate the album cover in miniature and to leave an empty frame for Richey.

“Will you meet me more than halfway”

is a lyric I love and it’s when the beat drops.

Thank you to Kev, Jord and all the Secret 7" team for their time, love and dedication over the years.