A high-energy collision of campfire acoustic folk and warehouse drum and bass. Grungy vocals meet turntablism for an uplifting, raw, and deeply Canadian rave.
USS sounds like a paradox that shouldn't work but somehow feels inevitable. It is the sound of a sensitive folk singer who wandered into a 1990s jungle rave and decided to lead the congregation. You get the intimacy of an acoustic guitar and a raspy, Cobain-esque vocal delivery, but it is strapped to a rocket of hyper-kinetic breakbeats, scratching, and heavy bass lines. It is music that feels both grounded in the dirt and floating in the stratosphere.
What truly distinguishes them is the 'Human Kebab' factor. While Ash provides the melodic soul and metaphysical poetry, the turntablism and hype-man energy transform the songs from indie-rock tracks into communal experiences. They utilize 2-step rhythms and drum and bass patterns not as electronic window dressing, but as the primary engine for songs that are structurally closer to pop or grunge. It is a 'campfire after-party' where the introspection of a solo songwriter meets the physical release of a dance floor.
Start with the 'Approved' EP or the 'Advanced Basics' album. These records capture the peak of their 'pop-step' sound, where the hooks are massive and the production is a dizzying blend of factory-line precision and wide-eyed enthusiasm. It is the perfect entry point for anyone who loves the energy of alternative rock but wants the rhythmic complexity of electronic music.
USS (Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker) are an alternative rock musical duo from Toronto, Canada. It is composed of vocalist and guitarist Ashley Buchholz (aka Ash Boo-Schultz) and turntablist/hype man Jason "Human Kebab" Parsons. The band's 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 Buchholz has said; "It's like you're at Nirvana Unplugged but there's a drum and bass party and glow sticks all around you." The duo announced their split in 2021 and performed their final show on June 11, 2022. They reunited in 2025.
Shares sample based, layered dense, analog warmth (production style); drum and bass (subgenres)
Shares sample based, layered dense, analog warmth (production style); drum and bass (subgenres)
Shares drum and bass (subgenres); basement show, festival, urban night (atmosphere)
Shares sample based, analog warmth, drum machine (production style); drum and bass (subgenres)
Shares sample based, analog warmth, drum machine (production style); euphoric, playful, restless (moods)
Shares sample based, analog warmth, drum machine (production style); basement show, urban night, festival (atmosphere)
Shares sample based, layered dense, analog warmth (production style); drum and bass (subgenres)
Shares sample based, layered dense, analog warmth (production style); urban night, basement show, festival (atmosphere)
Shares festival, urban night, basement show (atmosphere); sample based, drum machine (production style)
Shares sample based, layered dense, analog warmth (production style); festival, urban night, basement show (atmosphere)
Shares drum and bass, turntables, drum machine, sample based (signature)
Shares drum and bass, turntables, drum machine, rap (signature)
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