Feature: Render Me Useless Decodes ‘Past Tense’
What was the creative process like for this particular album?
We wrote most of the songs in our parents basement. Pat Alfano has a talent for writing beautiful melodies and hormones on the guitar. The rest of the group would kind of build off of that. Justin would usually come up with vocal melody first and hum along as we figured out the arrangement. He usually records the rehearsal session on a digital recorder and then writes the lyrics over night.
Which song(s) from 'Past Tense' do you think best represents your artistic vision?
I would say everything about the intro in the song “Murder She Wrote.”
What did you enjoy most about making 'Past Tense?'
Other than “Half Past Struggle,” all the songs were recorded as a live take. My favorite (Justin Turk) was watching the rest of the band from the vocal booth as they rocked out in the main studio room.
What has been the most memorable experience or achievement in your music career so far?
Winning the Gorilla Music Battle of the Bands contest in 2010.
What role do you feel emotions play in your music, and how do you channel them into your performances?
For this specific genre, my emotions play a major role in the music both on and off stage. Emotional punk is all about emotion.
