An Authentic Synth Chat with US3R

US3R (Pronounced USER) takes you back to the sounds of authentic Synth POP! Echoing the Retro Vibe of the Human League mashed up with the Pet Shop Boys US3R is at the forefront of the ElectroClash style. His stirring playful edge with an emotional merger of brilliant vocals and Electronic Synth result in a sound that won’t disappoint the ears. This vivacious Electronic Pop Artist is leaps and bound away from the typical Usual Musical Lick on the way to the Top Of The Pops!

Some info on… solo indie electronic pop artist based in Seattle, WA. He formed US3R in early 2018 and grew as an artist by performing around town and writing his debut album 1985. He grew up a SoCal native, spending much of his childhood living in Palm Springs, CA and Los Angeles, CA.

US3R’s music can best be described as glitchy electronic pop music that makes a commentary on life, technology, and society. His latest LP is titled INFLUENCE, which criticized modern influencer culture and the loss of intimacy in the digital age. INFLUENCE is a pointed commentary on the new world we live in.

Take a listen to his music…

What first got you into music?

My mom and dad are professional musicians for a living. As long as I’ve ever lived, I’ve been surrounded by world class musicians. I’m so lucky to have been near so many talented people. It really helped me get exposed to beautiful music, blazing talent, and just give me a view that there were no limits on the horizon in music.

Who inspired you to make music? .

Ever since I was young, there have been instruments within arm’s reach. I can’t really think of a time where I wasn’t playing drums, guitar, piano, singing, etc. Its just been there all along.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

My music has such a hacker’s spirit to it and a profound love for so many styles. I generally sound like glitchy electronic pop music with borderline R&B vocals. Aside from the genres, I generally try to find little ways to break the rules or subvert expectations so that the music it feels really unique. In a couple words, I tell people my music is like “indie pop singing with daft punk music”

What is your creative process like?

I often sit down and write vanilla pop songs and then start pulling sounds from old styles of music, or just identify some aspect of the song I can turn on its head so that way the song has a strong opinion in some form.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

A few artists that I’d be extremely excited to collaborate with are The Weeknd, Pharrell, Skrillex, Disclosure, Queens of the Stone Age, Tame Impala, to name a few.

If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?

Disclosure or Daft Punk. Two artists that have impacted my music so much, I think the audience would have fun with it.

What is one message you would give to your fans?

Have a passion and explore that passion – it will make your life so much happier and fulfilled. That’s what I’m trying to do with my music.

Do you sing in the shower? What songs?

I sing EVERYWHERE. I can’t shut up. My coworkers know me as the guy who hums. Whatever I’m listening to that day is what I sing. This week it was Borderline by Tame Impala, Oh What a World by Kacey Musgraves, Latch by Disclosure, and Blinding Lights by the Weekend.

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

I love to make things. Art, objects, sound, software, everything. So i’d definitely be creating things with computers. No doubt. (Spoiler: I do have an established career outside of music, and it is in “making things with computers”)

Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?

I recently toured the US just as the corona outbreak started – i had to go home because of that, incidentally. I played at some really crazy venues. The two craziest venues i’ve ever performed at were the Lovecraft Lounge in Portland, and the California Institute for the Abnormal Arts in the Hollywood. These places are so absurd, I can’t even do them justice, but they’re great. Some of my other favorites were Junction City Music Hall in Toronto and the historic Central Saloon in downtown Seattle. I like most venues – every place has a vibe and it is a fun challenge trying to unlock the spirit of the room by putting together the right set list with the right energy. When you get it right, it feels AMAZING.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

The internet makes it possible for anyone to promote anything. It also causes a lot of oversaturation. Sometimes you’ll get the feeling like you’re in an echo chamber where everybody is wearing a mask and trying to sell you a story about their internet fame. This is actually what my album INFLUENCE is about. Its such a weird sensation to feel surrounded by so many characters online and yet feel totally alone.

What is your favourite song to perform?

Its a tie between Electricity and Regeneration. Early on, I used to struggle with striking the right energy in a live set. Once, I was performing Electricity and I noticed that the groove was hitting the room with so much impact that the audience had turned toward each other and they were dancing, fully immersed in the moment and weren’t even looking at me. That felt like heaven. My other favorite to play live is Regeneration – its an uptempo house track that I used to be a little self conscious about – it wasn’t clear that it belonged on my first album. when I was on tour, I decided to arrange my set according to energy. I’d build up the energy from song to song and end with a heavy banger. Regeneration became that song. It works every single time. Now that I know this, I’m so grateful that I included it on the record, its amazing and fun to tear the house down with that song.

What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

I got arrested for stealing when I was in my early teens and then put on probation for a few months. It was a time in my life where I was with friends who were getting into some dangerous things in life. While I was in trouble and getting back on a straighter path, some of my other friends got in even more trouble due to drugs or other serious crimes. In that time, we drifted apart and I came out of it a much better person, and they didn’t. I really look back and think about how getting caught really saved me from a lifetime of making bigger mistakes. I turned out pretty successful in life, and I think this is one of the things in life that really was perfect timing for moulding me as a person.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

“If they wanted to, they would” – sometimes its hard to reconcile that people who act like your friends are just not there for you when you need them. The truth is, some people DO want to be there for you and WILL BE. Some people simply wont be there for you, and if they wanted to, they would. It really helps put things in perspective when you’re investing in other people, or choosing not to invest in people.If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be? · What’s next for you?I want for the music industry to become more supported by the government so that working musicians can actually get healthcare and a reasonable living. Having had musicians for parents, there were times when they were doing well, and times they weren’t. Just having access to healthcare and not having to treat wages like contractor work would be a huge start to stabilizing the lives of so many musicians.

What’s next for me?

Now that I’m off tour, I. just shot a live performance from my home in Seattle and broadcast it online. I’d love to do more of that. Also, I’m wanting to collaborate with more artists and make more music. One notable thing I’m working on is using a new Amazon Artificial Intelligence software tool to write a new song that isn’t yet available to the general public. Once I finish and publish that, I’ll be one of the first artists in the world to do that. Pretty wild!

How important is the current climate crisis to you and how do you think you could help?

Right now, the coronavirus pandemic is top-of-mind for me. I think the most responsible thing we can do for each other is to listen carefully and stay home so we don’t risk each others health. Everybody in this world is connected to or related to someone who is at risk of dying from this virus. Some people close to me legitimately don’t seem to believe any of this is real and aren’t staying home, it really clarified what kind of outlook they have in life, and I now understand that we truly have different outlooks in life.

To keep up to date with US3R follow him on social media…https://twitter.com/ImTheUs3r

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