Azahar Sánchez is a Production Assistant at RPM Records in Denmark, where she contributes to the hands-on process of bringing music to vinyl. Her role highlights the important QC, and finishing process bringing records from the pressing plant to your shelves and record stores.

Founded in 2015, RPM Records began as a small dubplate cutting studio before growing into a full-scale vinyl pressing plant serving artists and labels worldwide. Based in Copenhagen, the company specializes in high-quality vinyl manufacturing, offering everything from mastering and pressing to packaging and shipping. With a focus on sustainability, creative flexibility, and supporting independent artists, RPM Records is helping make vinyl production more accessible while preserving the craft behind the format.

Outside of work, Azahar describes herself as an artistic person that enjoys singing and doing things with her hands, crafting, cooking and painting. She says, "...very much love my social life and going out to concerts, festivals, traveling and being in nature".

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

Vinyl has been orbiting around my life for a while now, it's quite popular in Copenhagen and common to find vinyl shops or bars that play them. Once I saw a video of someone working at a vinyl pressing plant and thought it was very cool and interesting... So guess what, I was unemployed and curious and wondered "is there anyone pressing vinyl in Denmark at all?" Then I got in touch with RPM and started my apprenticeship, and ended up working full time with them.

What is a day in the life like?

Usually it's a consistent routine of reviewing production - quality control, packing, and preparing the orders to be sent.

In your opinion what has been your favorite / the coolest thing you've worked on?

Once we pressed for the band a friend was part of, felt like a lovely coincidence.

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

I'd say it's the physicality of it - as any manual job it sometimes comes with some back pain and whatnot.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you’re doing?

Keep the curiosity up.

I don't have anything too specific except for understanding that it is a job in manufacturing, so it entails repetition. But it is a great environment to learn about new music and the people behind it. So just keep the curiosity up.

Are you a vinyl collector yourself? What drew you to it? If not, why the vinyl industry?

I am yeah! Buying a record supports the artists much more than any streaming platform will ever do. And not to romanticize the process but there is some sense of intention and liturgy in playing vinyl that's unmatched.

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you’re excited or worried about? i.e. innovation, or trends you’re seeing.

I'm excited about innovation in the appearance of vinyl and how the colours change or adding new crazy materials. Some look like works of art!

Who has been influential to you and your growth as a professional in this industry? 

Well my colleagues are the biggest influence I believe, I've learnt the most with them after all!

Anything else you want to share? If not, tell us what you're listening to right now: 

Depends on the week - I love Jon Hopkins and Aurora.