OUTinPerth interviewed Seattle’s renegade electo-outfit U.S.E. Here’s the full interview about Japan, the last remnants of Seattle grunge and songs about aliens.

Who or what are your influences in laying down tracks?

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Emotions are fundamental in the initial groundwork. We usually start with a riff or vocal chant/grunt and develop a groove, then lay down colouring. Generally, we all have diverse musical tastes, so when that is thrown into the collective soup bowl it simmers with all of our influences. For instance, Derek our bass player is very electronic-oriented with a soupcon of Jamiroquai in his style, which seems to go well with Jon e. Rock’s old soul/r&b grooves. Our divas, Carly and Amanda have tinges of modern r&b and old country, respectively. Peter and Jason, our resident axe slingers love big riffs from the likes of the Beatles and Andrew W.K., as well as some power pop and the devil. Noah Star Weaver, our ivory tinkler and robot voice loves that song “Who let the dogs out? (who, who, who, who)”. Bottom line is that we listen to lots of different music all the time, so it is hard to attribute any one style or influence into our songs. Ultimately, we just want to evoke tears of joy and dances of happy from our listeners and each other.

What is the greatest compliment you could receive about a track?

That it produces a warm, adrenaline rush inside – akin to making love, eating your favorite food, and getting a back massage all at the same time.

Walk us through your recent album. What were your favourite tracks? What were the stories behind them?

Our album started as “cave-man techno”. About 8 yrs ago, Jason and Peter made a couple rough songs about a friend who is a robot, and another acquaintance who we suspected of being an alien. They were doing it in jest of the basic 4-on-the-floor techno beat ubiquitous when the word “techno” was still being bandied around. They called the project “United State of Electronica”, and several years later we went to jam in our practice space with a drum machine that only played 1 type of beat (the 4-on-the-floor). From there we started yelling and drinking into the microphone about cities, techno, and love. Some of us would listen to the local dance station here and come up with inspiring melodies we would hear from smarmy divas at the time and work them into riffs. We began to develop a call-to-arms agenda with such songs as Open Your Eyes and It Is On, knowing that Seattle was still suffering from the cross your arms and stare at your grunge-dipped converses at the time. This mentality, coupled with our love for Seattle and each other helped to build the other songs.

What’s the best show you’ve ever played and why?

It would probably have to be our main show at Fuji Rock festival in Japan 2 yrs ago. Why? Well, everything you hear about Japan is true.

If you were asked to put together a massive party weekend, where would you hold it and who would you put on the turntables?

On a floating mountain top that simulcasts our exact digital likeness to all the party people at once. There would be lots of foam, of course. We would like to have a petting zoo with Unicorns and white cheeked gibbons-but no snakes. A macramé booth, several shaved ice stands, perhaps a popcorn palace, and many ample dance floors with touch sensitive l.e.d. panels and see-through mirrors would be included.

The turntables would include the usual headliners – Sasha, John Digweed, Roni Size, Mylo, Daft Punk, J.U.S.T.I.C.E., Sebastion, Kavinsky, Cassius, DJ Falcon, Alan Braxe, DJ Mehdi, Stardust, Space Cowboy, DJ Falcon. Then we would have another stage with either dead, or hard-to-get-a-hold-of people like: James Brown, God, Muhammed, Bob Marley, Bach, Daniel Johnston, Otis Redding, Brian Wilson, John Lennon, John Bonham, Big Bird, Superman and Dr. Who. In addition to this a stage with some of our fave musicians who don’t normally DJ: Phoenix, Andrew W.K., Beyonce (if she’s any good), Shakira (as long as she just dances), Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen, the Monkees, Bread, Goldchains, Mr. Lif.

Also, a tertiary stage with people who always wanted to try DJ’ing but are always too drunk or have no rhythm would be a necessary service.

U.S.E.’s self-titled debut album is out now on Original Electronic Recording Company through Inertia. For more info, visit www.inertia-music.com.