AWmusic

Milton, Ontario, Hardball Cafe; never did I once ever think that two of my favorite bands would ever be playing this small city let alone the same venue. After rescheduling the show after minor technicalities involving bookings and what not, Wednesday February 3rd I finally got my interview with USS. While I didn’t get to interview Ash that night, Human Kebab was more than happy to answer my questions.

A- Where did the name Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker come from? Whose idea was it?

HK- It was Ash’s idea, it was his desire to become this whole thing from the very beginning. We spent a lot of time flipping through dictionaries looking up different and ultimately putting together something that fit. We’re in pure essence information sponges, we soak up everything we can. Ash wanted to care out this niche for himself to become this all encompassing figure that he could adapt for himself and in 2007 he asked me to join. It’s just amazing how this whole thing came about and how what essentially became Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker was shortened to USS by most people as an easier quicker way to say our name. I just find it amazing that we have an acronym that in essence can mean so many different things but also applies to us.

A- After releasing the EP and parting ways shortly after, did you ever expect to get that life altering phone call? What was your first reaction to it?

HK- Well by that point we had done all we could, and we had basically reached a road in financially so it was just great timing that we essentially parted ways and I was able to head out to Alberta to the oil rigs while Ash travelled to Texas with a friend just on this inner journey of his doing a lot of meditating and self searching. When it comes right down to it just don’t have any expectations, you just have to let it happen. I’ve learned you just have to love yourself no matter what. Being happy and content with what you do in life are two of the biggest rules o success and we’ve been grateful for every moment that we’ve had so far.

A- Every track seems very poetic and beautifully written, where does all this inspiration come from?

HK- Well if Ash were here he’d probably tell you that it comes from everything around him. It comes from waterfalls, documentaries, forests, nature itself. Ash is the main creative engine behind the band and puts so much that surrounds him into everything we do. While my inspiration tends to lean to other bands, Ash takes in what he’s living where the influences can be anything, and it really shows in our music.

A- Your stage performance is so unique and truly one of a kind. When was it that you decided you wanted to organize something as chaotic, spontaneous and entertaining as what you do up there?

HK – Well back in 2007 when we were fist starting up, we were very tame, more about the music, and were basically very stationary on stage. Then it was like something just snapped in us and we wanted to move. With me I always want to see just how acrobatic I can be and what bounds could be pushed. I’d classify us as alternative entertainers, we do things so differently with no limits constraining us and holding us back.

A- Where did all the props come from? Any stories behind any of them?

HK- Well the heart rate monitor we use, Ash picked up from 1-800-JUNK, which we aptly named Heart Scope. Back in 2005, during a jam practice, Ash started to push buttons on it and it would start beeping and ended up displaying something that could be described as an 8-bit Loch Ness Monster. Another story would be the blender we have up there which came about one night when Ash really wanted a smoothie so he ended up bringing a blender on stage to the show and making a smoothie right then and there during the performance and both pieces have remained aspects of the show ever since.

A- With two heavily successful albums released thus far, what’s up next for USS?

HK- We’re writing new songs as we speak, working with new producers and we’re hoping for a fall release, something in 2010 nonetheless. We’re also getting a lot of one off opportunities as of late and hoping to do more in the future. We played the Toronto4Haiti show yesterday and it was an unbelievable experience unlike any other. There just seems to be new opportunities always arriving and we just follow them wherever they take us.

A- One of my favorite songs off Questamation would have to be “Stationary Robbery”. It’s a fun and upbeat song that is fuelled almost entirely by yourself. Any of your rap stylized tracks planned for anytime soon in the unforeseen future?

HK- I’m starting to get a bit more involved on the rap front specializing in what I like to call garage rap. There will definitely be a lot more on the next album, I’ve just been working and experimenting with different things for the next release. I’m also interested in venturing out on a solo album and entering more into that once USS becomes more established. I’d like to take it in a direction of something along the lines of Buck 65, where some of my inspiration and sound comes from. It’s funny because I get a lot of comparisons between my voice and his even though where he doesn’t have that naturally deep voice and continually practices to perfect it, I have it naturally. He tends to write his songs a lot more cryptically, while I tend to push towards a more humorous side of things and I’d like to take that whole process further in the future.

A- Out of every song you’ve written so far, which song would you want people ages from now to most remember you by?

HK- I’d have to say Hollow Point, it was our first song professionally mixed, produced, written, and recorded. There’s also this whole Canadiana touch to it that just reminds us where we came from. Ash’s experience with a former friend from Newfoundland is also largely part of the song and really relives that whole experience for him. It got us to where we are now and just largely speaks to every bit of essence that is us, from Canada and Newfoundland, to family and friends.

A- Looking back to when you guys were both working that golf course in 2004 did you ever think that you’d be where you are now doing what you love most? What’s it like now being where you are currently with the band, the fame, and all the fans? Would you do it all over again?

HK- No not at all, I mean in some way or another I always knew in some capacity that I would get into entertainment and always had that feeling I’d be on stage but never in as big a capacity as all this. There’s still so much we want to do, going, seeing, and travelling to new places. It’s a whole never ending process with so many goals to get done. The only regrets I’d have if it all ended right now would be that we still have all these unrealized goals but in some capacity or another I believe it would get done through another project of sorts. I’ve been doing a bunch of voice work and acing as of late, while Ash has been trailblazing, doing a lot of silent meditation, keeping himself in good physical shape, he really takes care of himself. In one way or another there’s always those open doors to which we can accomplish our goals. We never ever thought we’d have this much success though and we’re just very grateful to all the fans out there who truly helped make this happen. I’ve had five near death experiences within the last month and I’ve learned that you just have to live for the here and now.

A- How important are the fans to you?

HK- We couldn’t go where we go if it weren’t for the genuine fans out there. Like there’s been people out there who’ve used the song “Pornostartrek” for their wedding. We’ve had a whole bunch of people now taking some of our artwork and getting it tattooed all across their bodies. Like it’s truly amazing to see how far some of these fans will go just because they genuinely admire you this much. There are times where you’ll get hung up on a dream and then you’ll get that realization that “Holy shit! There are people out there who will go all out for us”. It’s just that realization that makes everything that we do worth it in the end. Everything from wedding to tattoos and everything in between, just thinking about the fans is all worth it.

A- If you could have any super power at all what would it be?

HK- I would have to say the ability to teleport. If I had the ability to teleport I would go see a very special person to me right now in a split second and be right back to play the show in another split second. I genuinely need it especially for this evolving relationship with this someone special.

A- Okay for the final question; what was the feeling that went through you guys during that first gig? What was the setup like?

HK- During our first gig we were actually known as Team of Captains, which we have since retired, and played the first show up in Stouffville. In all honesty it was just a mixture of shitty beats and a rough setup of turntables. We were setup so close beside each other and during that first show Ash had me count him in. We’re just leaps and bounds from where we were. From that first show we knew from then on that it would work. You just have to go with your guts.

Human Kebab provided so much beautifully intellectual insight on the band as well as some good life lessons to live by. A truly retrospective and informative look at Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker, these are some of the most genuinely great guys that you don’t usually come by in this era of teen pop sensations so full of arrogant stuck up artists. It’s nice to see these guys doing so good out there because they genuinely deserve to be where they are now. Hoping to keep in touch with the both of them in the near future and even though I didn’t get my interview with Ash I did end up having a 2 hour philosophical talk with him that lent subject towards anything from the pure beauty in life to meditation to different bands and everything encompassing life. I found him to be so enlightening that I picked up my new favorite seven little words from him “I never saw it that way before”. All in all they played an amazing set list that night and it turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve had thus far in my life. I wish HK and Ash all the best in everything they do, because these guys truly deserve the best.

Hollow Point Sniper Hyperbole by Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker
Stationary Robbery by Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker
Pornostartrek by Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker