To (re-)capture this, the band turned to John Feldmann, today one of the scene’s most sought-after producers, and back then one of The Used’s earliest champions. John has been involved with nearly every album The Used have created since, with the exception of Artwork (2009) and The Canyon (2017). “John is the hardest working – not only producer – but maybe human on the planet,” says Bert. “He’ll never quit. It’s an inspiration to be around.” The frontman remembers calm, reflective mornings spent in the studio, chatting through different songs or concepts before putting them to tape. The producer also connected them with some star-studded features for the album, including Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker (blink-182), Caleb Shomo (Beartooth) and Jason Aalon Butler (FEVER 333, letlive.). All of them stuck around for a few days to write alongside the band, as well as contribute their vocals (or, in Travis’ case, drum skills).
While Bert would ruminate on the deep lyrical connections to literature or art, John was able to corral the thoughts into usable verses. “He's the perfect pop filter,” says Bert. “He’s the one to say, 'You can't have 'oubliette' be one of the main words in the chorus.'” He lets out a laugh. “People love to be challenged, but if I had it my way, the record would be an incomprehensible mess. Feldmann is a great connection to what's a little more sensible.”
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Being sensible hasn’t always been a cornerstone of The Used. But after almost 20 years as a band, they were learning how to balance their latest creative vision with what has made them who they are: vicious, unblinking honesty. Such aggression led Bert to envision the very piece of work as The Used personified. He pictured The Used as a teenage boy, struggling with many of the same afflictions that Bert has spent a lifetime overcoming. While he later says that this concept was dropped, certain elements remain. “I think we all hope to find ourselves in a story,” he says. “That's the powerful part of the connection to art. We listen to hear ourselves in whatever it is.”