Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker

USS
Background information
Also known as Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker
Origin Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres Alternative dance, Drum and bass, Electronica
Instruments Guitar, Erhu, Turntables, Electronic instrumentation/programming
Years active 2007-present
Labels Coalition Music (Records)
Website http://www.ussmusic.com/
Members Ash Buchholz
Jason "Human Kebab" Parsons

USS (Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker) is a Canadian alternative dance musical duo that began working out of Parkdale,[1] a neighbourhood situated in the west end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The band is composed of vocalist, guitarist, and erhu player Ashley Buchholz (aka Ash Boo-Schultz) and turntablist/hype man Jason "Human Kebab" Parsons.

The USS sound is a mixture of drum and bass beats, grunge-like guitar riffs, and 2-step rhythms. "We like to call what we do the campfire after-party," Ash said, "It's like you're at Nirvana Unplugged but there's a drum and bass party and glow sticks all around you."[2]

History

Ashley Buchholz of USS

USS hails from the Greater Toronto Area, Ash being from the city of Markham and Kebab from the adjacent town of Stouffville.[3] They met in 2004, while stocking the beer fridge and discussing music when they worked at a golf course;[2][3][4] the pair hit it off instantaneously.[5] A couple of months later, Ash's sister was looking for someone to DJ at her upcoming wedding and Human Kebab was suggested for the job.[4] "It was love at first scratch" Ash said, who later moved into Kebab's parents' basement to begin experimenting musically.[4]

The band's name came about when Ash sketched out map of exactly who he wanted to be in life. At the top of this life-plan he wrote, "Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker."[2] Although this title was to become the band’s moniker, the duo says that the name is for everyone: “It's singular — it's the title of a characteristic, not the title of two guys”, Ash said.[2]

“Opportunity exists as a result of what you’re putting out to the world,” said Kebab.[6]

By July 2008 they began to perform live, and they released their first independent EP, Welding the C:/ (pronounced: Welding the C Drive) later that same month.[1][2]

They hadn't predicted the success that was to follow the EP’s release. The band parted ways to pursue different avenues; Kebab went west, to the province of Alberta to work on an oil pipeline and Ash went south, to the US, on an emotional pilgrimage. Everything changed when a friend of Kebab's called to report that Toronto radio station 102.1 The Edge had put their first single, Hollowpoint Sniper Hyperbole, into heavy rotation. The duo then returned to Toronto, to shoot their first video for Hollowpoint Sniper Hyperbole which was soon featured across Canada on the MuchMusic channel.[1][5]

2010

Just before the New Year, in Nov. of 2009, USS directly supported illScarlett, on the Canadian section of their 1UP! Tour.[7]

Shortly after the destruction in Haiti took place, Toronto's alternative performers came together on Feb. 2, 2010, at The Sound Academy, for the 102.1 The Edge sponsored Toronto Plays For Haiti benefit.[8] USS headlined the event, alongside Choclair, The Salads, Die Mannequin, The Trews and Moneen. That evening, on impulse, Human Kebab played DJ to Canadian Hip-hop legend, Maestro Fresh Wes.[9] (USS later performed on stage with Maestro Fresh Wes at Wakestock 2010, in Collingwood, Ontario.[10])

In March and April the band emabarked on their Highway to Health tour. USS headlined Western Canada, from Barrie to British Columbia, with The Stables, a Durham Region band, along for the ride as direct support.[11][12]

USS brought home their second consecutive COCA Award (Canadian Organization of Campus Activities) for Emerging Artist, (Winner of Emerging Artist Award 2009/2010), on June 25, 2010.[13]

In September, Smirnoff launched their “Be There” campaign for the Nightlife Exchange Project. The countries that participated, Canada, United States, Great Britain, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Ireland, Lebanon, Poland, South Africa, Thailand and Venezuela all exchanged their culture with another country, and on Nov. 27, the world partied "together." USS were named as the Canadian curators, to deliver Canadian nightlife to India.

Human Kebab explains, "To truly experience Canadian nightlife, you need a curator that's all about its awesomeness, and we are honoured and proud to be asked by Smirnoff to accept this role. Having toured our great nation from coast to coast we have rocked hard with Canadians nightly for many years now, so we're stoked to fill our crate with every inch of our country and show our exchange city how it's done."[14]

In October, mid-campaign, USS flew to Mumbai, India. Human Kebab spoke to Eye Weekly about the experience: “We started off by going to a few really well-known spots in Mumbai, like the Indus restaurant in the Hotel Diplomat, right beside the Taj Mahal Hotel, which of course was attacked by terrorists in 2008. We also saw the Leopold Café and Café Mondegar, which are their own version of what you might see here in North America. For the sake of the United Kingdom, we got to go to the Manchester United bar. And then we went to a club, a real hot spot for dance music called the blueFROG where you have to go through metal detectors to enter the bar, which was amazing and strange.”[15]

In December USS released the track "Mavericks" a collaboration with Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac. The single's lyrics reference Jeff Clark.Clark is famous for surfing the wave for 15 years before it was widely discovered.[16][17]

USS earned two spots on 102.1 The Edge’s top songs of 2010, with Anti-Venom at No. 26 and 3 Purple Butterflies at No. 74.[18]

2011

In March 2011, the soundtrack to MLB 2K11 Major League Baseball 2K11, released by 2K Sports, includes USS' second single from Questamation, Anti-Venom.[19] It was also on the Nintendo Wii and 3DS version soundtrack to Need for Speed: The Run, released by EA Black Box and Firebrand Games in November 2011.

USS’s new single, N/A OK, released on February 14, 2011 - Valentine’s Day – across Canada. 102.1 The Edge, in Toronto was the first to jump on the trail, with DJ Alan Cross once again supporting the band.[20]

In an interview with Eye Weekly, Human Kebab elaborates on what USS has been working on:

It’s amazing. We’re working with Tawgs Salter, who’s done records with Lights, The Midway State, and Josh Groban, and he’s been helping us define what the new USS is, from a songwriting perspective. We’re free to be quirky, acoustic, singer-songwriter, electronic turntable-based music, but in a bigger sounding format that has global aspirations. We’ve returned more to the minimal that we showed on our first EP, Welding The C:/, but we’re doing it with the right producer, to make it sound as big and powerful as we can be. At the start of the year we did a song with Ashley MacIsaac, and we followed that with what’s hopefully going to become our new EP. [15]

In an interview with Niagara Music Scene, Ash explains the EP's title: "Approved, because it seems like everyone has issues of self-worth. YOU'RE ALL GOOD ENOUGH! Most of life is just overcompensation for not feeling like you are good enough. APPROVED![21]

“Approved” was released digitally worldwide on May 3, 2011, the day of the album release party at Toronto's MOD Club + the kick-off date for the "USS Approved" Spring/Summer Cross-Canada tour. The physical copy is available exclusively in Canada, at the merch booth on tour[22] or on their official site.

On August 20, USS played at Budweiser Canada's fifth annual Bud Camp.

On September 21, USS revealed their official live drummer, Matthew Murphy, at their Kingston, Ontario show.

By the end of summer 2011, the second single from Approved - Yo Hello Hooray (Everyday) - had begun receiving regular rotation on Canadian rock radio stations.[23] "Yo Hello Hooray (Everyday)" is the band's highest charting rock radio single in Canada to date.[24]

2012

N/A OK is nominated in the 'Rock' format at the 2012 Canadian Radio Music Awards.[25]

In February, USS' second single from "Approved", 'Yo Hello Hooray (Everyday), appears on Degrassi, Season 11, Episode 32.[26]

The band's third single from "Approved" - Damini - hits Canadian rock radio charts.[27]

In April, the NHL Network on NHL.com featured Damini for their XM Plays of the Week.[28]

At the end of May, USS travelled to Singapore to play five shows as a part of Music Matters 2012.[29]

During the summer, Damini hits number one three times in the Modern Rock Countdown on Sonic 102.9 FM in Edmonton, Alberta Canada.

In August, USS traveled to Europe to support fellow Canadian band Walk off the Earth on their sold out tour there.This tour took the band to Germany,Austria,The Netherlands,France, and the United Kingdom.

2013-present

On June 4, USS released "This Is The Best", the first single off of their "Advanced Basics" EP.

The band flew to London, England to perform in Trafalgar Square for Canada Day International alongside Canadian rock icons The Tragically Hip plus Jann Arden, The Sheepdogs, and the Arkells.[30]

USS released "Advanced Basics" in Canada on February 11, 2014. "Yin Yang" was used to promote the fall lineup for CTV.[31][32]

USS Day - For the release of “Advanced Basics”, the band played ‘pop-up’ shows across Toronto. The entire day was filmed and released on YouTube.[33]

The band toured Canada in March/April, 2014 with Hedley and Classified.[34]

On July 18, 2014, USS headlined “This Is The Fest” at Echo beach in Toronto. The show was a part of Edgefest Concert Series presented by 102.1 The Edge. They were give the opportunity to hand-pick the lineup which included artists such as Ms Mr, Said The Whale, Bearhands, Wildlife, Dear Rouge, and more.[35]

In fall of 2014, the band toured across Canada with Mother Mother. They finished the tour with two American dates (Niagara Falls, NY and Detroit, MI).[36]

In 2015, USS was nominated for the Juno for Breakthrough Group of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR and Radio Starmaker Fund)[37] and 102.1 The Edge's Casby Award for Favourite New Song for Shipwreck.[38]

On April 8, 2015, USS signed an American recording contract with Bad Mascot Records via Universal Music Group in America.[39]

From November 14 to 19, 2016, the band played 6 sold out shows in 6 different venues in Toronto for over 3,500 fans. This consecutive six show run was called Six in the 6ix.[40]

Releases

Welding the C:/

The band's EP, Welding the C:/, was released July 30, 2008 and became a hot seller across Canada. After the video for Hollowpoint Sniper Hyperbole started airing regularly on MuchMusic, the band was offered a music video production grant from VideoFACT to do a partially animated video for the follow-up single, 2 15/16 - which also found its way onto the MuchMusic charts.

On May 30, 2008 the band headlined 102.1 The Edge's Next Big Thing Concert Series, to a record-setting capacity crowd of over 2600 people. The pair performed at the 2008 World Electronic Music Festival and were also the opening act on the main stage of the annual new-music festival, Edgefest, held by 102.1 The Edge.[1][2][3] August 2008 saw the duo opening at the Cutting Edge Music Festival in Grand Bend Ontario.[41]

On Sep 16, 2008 the duo performed live on MTV Canada.[42] By October 22, 2008, USS won both of the CASBY Awards for which they were nominated: Best New Artist, and Best New Single, for the song Hollowpoint Sniper Hyperbole. In winning the 'as voted by fans' awards, USS bested the likes of Bedouin Soundclash, Sam Roberts, Die Mannequin and Tokyo Police Club.[43]

The duo also signed a worldwide publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing later that October.[44]

Hollowpoint was featured on the 13th edition of EMI's Big Shiny Tunes ('Sniper Hyperbole' was commonly publicly dropped, due to pronunciation issues).

Questamation

USS released their first full-length album Questamation, through their independent label, Smashing World Records, on Mar 9, 2009.[44] For the recording, USS teamed up again with Matthew Von Wagner (Crystal Castles, Alpha Galates) for production and engineering, while Chris Davies and Charles Topping 'aided musically'.[44] Music engineer Bob Ludwig was recruited to master the original album in Portland, Maine.[5] James Black of Finger Eleven is featured playing guitar on "P.S. I Can Change".

The CD packaging was based on the patented Z-CARD design, folding out much like a map. USS was the first band in North America to adopt this design for their album packaging.[45][46]

Parallel to the album release, USS created the video for Laces Out, which followed onto MuchMusic in March 2009[47]

USS won the award for Favourite Group/Duo at the CMW Indie Awards on March 14, 2009 in Toronto. During their performance, the duo lit up the stage with a high-energy set, complete with handstands and full-size cardboard cutouts of Barack Obama and Einstein.[48] The duo sat down and talked to Gene Simmons of Kiss in Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern after meeting at a local radio station.[49]

During the holiday season of 2008, USS found themselves touring the Western provinces for a second time.[50] Come March 18 and 19, 2009, USS crossed the border to showcase in the RedGorilla Music Fest, in Texas.[51] USS made their way to Los Angeles to play the Viper Room March 31, 2009[52] and continued on to New York City's Mercury Lounge on April 6, 2009. Between April 14–25, 2009, the duo returned to play Western Canada, this time performing at the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival, April 21 in Whistler, British Columbia.[53]

In honour of the Questamation album, USS hosted their 'Let's Get Weird' concert to a variety of artists at Toronto's Sound Academy on May 1, 2009.[54] Describing the evening, Human Kebab said, "It's our official hello to the world."[5] Up first were The Good Times, contest winners from Etobicoke, Ontario, followed by 15-year-old rockers from the US, Crooked X. Blackie Jackett Jr's set was next featuring James Black and Rick Jackett from Finger Eleven. USS finished the night with singing, smoothies, and a volcano.[54]

Advanced Basics

Advanced Basics is the third Extended play by Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker. The album was funded through crowd sourcing site PledgeMusic, the project was titled "#Letsgetweirdtogether".[55] This EP is notable for being the first official USS release outside of Canada. The EP was inially released in Canada on February 11, 2014 but didn't hit the international market until October 30, 2015.[56] Following the US release of their album the band toured the States playing and promoting their album ‘Advanced Basics’ [57]

New World Alphabet

New World Alphabet is the 4th studio album by Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker set to be released January 13, 2017. It can be pre-ordered now.[58] They are set to start touring for this album on January 12, 2017 with the band Repartee.[59]

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

Song Year Chart peak Album
CAN CAN
Alt
[60][61]
[62][63][64]
"Hollow Point Sniper Hyperbole" 2008 — × Welding the C:/
"Laces Out" 2009 — 23 Questamation
"Anti-Venom" — 22
"N/A OK" 2011 — 8 Approved
"Yo Hello Hooray (Everyday)" — 7
"Damini" 2012 — 8
"This Is The Best" 2013 75 3 Advanced Basics
"Yin Yang" 2014 95 3
"Shipwreck" — 14
"Nepal" 2015 — 14
"Work Shoes" 2016 — 2 New World Alphabet
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.
"×" denotes periods where charts did not exist or were not archived.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Artist bio on MuchMusic.com Last accessed March 11, 2009
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Carey, Steve, “Good old fashioned Victoria block party”, Victoria Times Colonist, Aug 17, 2008 Last accessed March 11, 2009
  3. 1 2 3 Arbour, Ross, “Band needs your help”, yorkregion.com, Oct 17, 2008 Last accessed Jun 4, 2011
  4. 1 2 3 Interview for Crave TV Last accessed March 11, 2009
  5. 1 2 3 4 Paul, Andrew, “Vocab Junkies”, See Magazine, Aug 14, 2008 Last accessed March 11, 2009
  6. ↑ http://chronicle.durhamcollege.ca/story.php?id=5023&issue=
  7. ↑ "illScarlett announce cross Canada tour". Chart Attack. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Toronto Plays For Haiti benefit gig at Sound Academy, Tuesday 2 February, 2010". musicvice.com. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ http://www.wakestock.com/uss/maestro_fresh_wes/
  11. ↑ FrontseatBurnhole. YouTube. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  12. ↑ "www.attherockshow.com - Concert Photography and Reviews from Toronto, Barrie, Southern ON: Concert Photos and Review: Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker (USS) , Ascot Royals @ The Mansion Nightclub - 03.17.2010". attherockshowblog.blogspot.com. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  13. ↑ http://www.coca.org/en/history/awards/music-emerging-artist/
  14. ↑ "SMIRNOFF© LAUNCHES THE WORLD'S FIRST NIGHTLIFE EXCHANGE". newswire.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  15. 1 2 http://www.eyeweekly.com/interview/article/107060
  16. ↑ Mavericks (location)
  17. ↑ "Corus Radio". YouTube. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  18. ↑ "102.1 the Edge". edge.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  19. ↑ [47]. "[47]Reviews". 47reviews.blogspot.com. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Corus Radio". YouTube. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  21. ↑ http://niagaramusicscene.com/view_news.php?id=110
  22. ↑ Chee Kam. "USS Announce 'USS Approved' EP; Canadian Tour Announced « News « PureGrainAudio.com". puregrainaudio.com. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  23. ↑ http://www.musicpublishercanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/MPCsummer2011.pdf
  24. ↑ Canadian Rock/Alt. "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive". canadianrockalt.blogspot.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  25. ↑ "NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR 2012 CANADIAN RADIO MUSIC AWARDS -2016 Canadian Music Week May 4-14, 2016". Canadian Music Week 2016. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  26. ↑ http://blog.muchmusic.com/degrassi-music-32-and-33-all-i-want-to-believe-in/
  27. ↑ http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/nielsen/en_ca/documents/pdf/newsletters/billboard_canadian-update/nielsen_music_canadian_update.pdf
  28. ↑ http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=175520
  29. ↑ http://www.canadianblast.com/Page.asp?PageID=100005&ContentID=4393
  30. ↑ "Afternoon Concert". Canada Day International. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  31. ↑ CTV Fall Lineup 2014 (feat. Yin Yang by USS) Last accessed January 25, 2015
  32. ↑ Commercial for CTV 2014 Fall Lineup - Extended Version (feat Yin Yang by USS) Last accessed January 25, 2015
  33. ↑ USS Day - February 11th, 2014 Retrieved March 20, 2015
  34. ↑ PHOTOS+REVIEW+SETLIST: HEDLEY w/ CLASSIFIED & USS Air Canada Centre The Heavy Press. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  35. ↑ This Is The Fest Rocks Toronto The Edge. Retrieved March 20, 2015
  36. ↑ Mother Mother With Guests USS (Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker) Retrieved March 20, 2015
  37. ↑ Junos 2015 nominations: Drake, Leonard Cohen, Magic!, Hedley get nods for best in Canadian music National Post. Retrieved on March 20, 2015
  38. ↑ "The 2015 Edge CASBY Music Awards - 102.1 the Edge". edge.ca. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  39. ↑ Retrieved April 9, 2015
  40. ↑ http://www.edge.ca/2016/11/21/sixinthe6ix-full-recap-interview-with-uss/ Retrieved Nov. 22, 2016
  41. ↑ Alexisonfire, Arkells And IllScarlett To Play Cutting Edge Music Festival Last accessed June 12, 2009
  42. ↑ MTV Canada performance, Sept 16, 2008 Last accessed March 11, 2009
  43. ↑ 2008 CASBY Award Winners Last accessed March 11, 2009
  44. 1 2 3 "USS Ready To Be Ubiquitous Again", ChartAttack, Jan 27, 2009 Last accessed March 11, 2009
  45. ↑ "U.S.S. Questamation", Kill The 8 Merch Last accessed June 12, 2009
  46. ↑ Greene, Mike, "CD Review: USS Questamation", Toronto Music Scene, April 9, 2009 Last accessed June 12, 2009
  47. ↑ MuchMusic "The Wedge" message board Last accessed June 12, 2009.
  48. ↑ "Canadian Music Week: USS Takes Fav Group At 2009 Indies. Last accessed June 12, 2009
  49. ↑ Gauntlet, "Smoothie Virtues" Last accessed June 12, 2009.
  50. ↑ ChartAttack, "USS Announce Canadian Dates" Last accessed June 12, 2009
  51. ↑ RedGorilla Music Fest, "USS at RedGorilla" Last accessed June 12, 2009
  52. ↑ seanward.net, "USS at Viper Room" Last accessed June 12, 2009
  53. ↑ Zune Concert Series Last accessed June 12, 2009
  54. 1 2 ChartAttack, "USS Seek Synergy At Sound Academy" Last accessed June 12, 2009
  55. ↑ http://www.ussmusic.com/newsitem/85/new-album-new-tour-new-everything/
  56. ↑ http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/hear_uss_chart_topping_album_advanced_basics_exclusive
  57. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/ussmusic/photos/a.10150922973433849.531656.21876203848/10154610283498849/?type=1&theater
  58. ↑ https://uss.pmstores.co/?token=2cdeb33abdcb46e6640e36e7c3312fbabc2b31b4
  59. ↑ http://ussmusic.com/tour/
  60. ↑ "Canadian Active/Alternative Charts". proboards.com. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  61. ↑ "Canadian Active/Alternative Charts". proboards.com. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  62. ↑ "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock - April 19, 2011". America's Music Charts. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
  63. ↑ "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock - December 6, 2011". America's Music Charts. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
  64. ↑ "Canadian Active Rock & Alt Rock Chart Archive: Alternative Rock - June 5, 2012". America's Music Charts. Retrieved June 5, 2012.

External links

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