This EP by Oklahoma-based artist Austin Hackett marks another deeply personal chapter in his ongoing story — one that’s equal parts reflection, regret, and resolve.
The artwork was designed to visually hold the weight of a moment — after the damage is done, and before anything is made right. A bail receipt, a condom wrapper from Rodney’s Bail Bonds, and a tattered dollar bill are all that remain. They’re pinned to a corkboard like evidence, but no one’s asking for his side of the story.
The layout forms a subtle cross, suggesting something bigger beneath the surface — like maybe this isn’t just about one night, but about a system that rarely leaves room for grace.
There’s tension here: between what’s true and what’s assumed. Between the cost of mistakes and the cost of being misunderstood.
I also designed promotional assets to match the gritty tone of the track — keeping everything raw, shadowed, and unfiltered, just like the story behind the song.
This is the third cover I’ve created for Austin Hackett Music, following Case Number and Bottle & a Bible — each one offering a different layer of his lived experience. Together, they tell a story that’s personal — and uncomfortably familiar for too many.