The Used is one rock group that always has a full surprises up their sleeves. Check out this interview with lead guitarist, Quinn Allman, where Bethany and Joshua try to uncover some news about the new album, Artwork.
Bethany Smith, PopWreckoning: You guys have a new album coming out soon, so let's start there. What is the story behind Artwork?
Quinn Allman, The Used: Well, there is a lot to it. It is a product of a time period where we had come to truth with a lot of things that had happened. We got rid of our management and we wanted to start over. We had like 80% of the record written before we went into the studio. We knew what we wanted because we had the songs sort of dictate everything. We wanted a more rock record and just a more collaborative band record. Usually we go in with John [Feldmann] and go right into the studio and work on tinier ideas, so this is more so sort of our record. The timing is right.
BS: Is there sort or an overall lyrical theme behind?
QA: There is. I mean, it has a really, it really touches on like contemplating your hatred for yourself and wanting to die. It has a lot of suicide contemplations. It is pretty much the best lyrics, I feel like, we've done.
BS: Is there a light at the end where you find a peace?
QA: Definitely. There is. I think that is part of Bert [McCracken]'s magic. To see that light or silver lining.
BS: What is the significance of the title, Artwork?
QA: It spawned from conversations that we were having about art and work and works of art. Putting your passion and what you love into work, it makes it work. It is just kind of a lyric balance that we found it interesting. In another way, too, Bert had just written "artwork" on a folder that he had sent the artwork in for our last record.
BS: He wrote the lyrics or the word?
QA: The word. And we were like, "That looks fucking cool." It was just a spontaneous thing, but it was everything.
BS: You've done a few songs live off the album, but is there a song in particular that you are excited for people to hear or that you relate to a lot?
QA: Yeah, "Blood on My Hands", which is the first single, is just brutal. It has everything that the Used is known for, but it is definitely more edgier. It is a kick in the face and all rock. The whole record is just more rock.
BS: I did see you guys were doing a contest with "Blood on My Hands" where you are trying to get people to record it and upload it to YouTube and then I saw you guys do a lot of social media stuff. Do you have a favorite one?
QA: It is really cool because we can just do videos live like that. We use MySpace a lot and talk to kids everywhere. They constantly send us pictures and contact and whatever. Dan [Whitesides] is really the one who stays on top of it the most. He is always on there.
Joshua Hammond, PopWreckoning: Do you guys feel that with the shift in technology that it is way more important in this generation of bands to stay way more connected with your fans than it was previously?
QA: I guess there is an expectation now. I don't think it, well, it depends on who you are aiming at. I tend to just let the evolution of the commerce, the accessibility, and the average, just the whole machine–I can't stay caught up with other kids' lives, let alone my own. I always have total respect for all our fans whenever I meet them or see them. If I don't keep in contact with them, they're going to know it isn't realistic or at some point they'll realize it isn't realistic, but we'll try as much as we can. It does help.
BS: I think it is noticeable that you guys put forth as much of an effort as any band out there to communicate with fans about your records.
QA: Totally. It is really cool because people ask us, people from all over the world, they ask us to play places that we've never even heard of and so we know now that there are so many fans out there that we don't even know and it is really cool.
BS: What is your favorite place to play?
QA: I really like Australia and South America. They're really interesting because they're totally different. In Australia, everyone is calm. They're really cool and nice and the weather is just pleasant. The fans really care about the music and it is like stepping back a decade.
BS: This is your 4th album. What have you learned since recording the other albums?
QA: What have I learned? About life, life has totally sideswiped me. I learned how to deal with a persona or an alter…There was just sort of a shift in my life, I don't know if just musically, or what, but just my life. I learned that any person should try and learn is just to be honest. We are the tightest friends and we had to realize that we needed to talk rather than sit on our hands and communicate. We learned that any idea can blossom into huge ideas, just with some conversation and honesty. We've been very fortunate.
BS: Do you have a release date on the album yet?
QA: It keeps kind of altering. It will be in July, probably late July, maybe early August. Sorry, I don't know for sure.
BS: That's fine. So what are with those cuffs in your hands?
QA: Haha, it’s just like a patch. Somebody gave me this. Hand cuffs patch.
JH: Something I wanted to ask about, you guys did an amazing cover of "Under Pressure" by David Bowie in compilation with a few other bands.
QA: My Chemical [Romance].
JH: It was My Chemical; I couldn't remember, do you know if there are any plans in the future for anything like that? I guess it is kind of like a gift to your fans.
QA: We just recently did cover a song for a Warner compilation.
BS: The Talking Heads.
QA: The Talking Heads.
JH: I missed that.
QA: It is cool you say that though, because we just did it and it turned out awesome.
JH: I'm going to check that out as soon as I get home.
QA: It was just something we put off, put off, and put off, but then we listened to the song once and Dan started playing over the actual track and we just started playing over Dan and started doing everything with Dan and didn't give a fuck.
BS: This is actually Dan's first studio album with you guys, right? How was that?
QA: Technically, well, I guess it is his first full studio, but he did play on the last record. It was awesome, amazing. He helped us so much. He co-wrote everything we did on the last record, too. I've been playing with him for a long time, just working through the songs. He is an amazing drummer and musician. He keeps it simple. We try to fire off ideas and get through them and find the rhythm that works and locate the parts and move on and work symbiotically. He is a great musician all around and he'll tell me what to do on the guitar. It is great to have him around and he is just really cool and really rhythmic. He is pretty much 99% always on, even if he makes a mistake.
From here the interview digressed into sports chatter and the discovery of the manager’s Kansas City connection. Be sure to look out for the Used’s new album Artwork, due out late this summer.
The Used: website | myspace
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