United State of Electronica

Infobox musical artist
Name = United State of Electronica


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Origin = Seattle, Washington, USA
Genre = Dance/Rock
Years_active = 2002–present
Label = Sonic Boom Recordings in USA; Side-Out Records in Japan
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URL = [http://www.usemusic.com/ Official Website]
Current_members = Jason Holstrom
Jon E. Rock
Peter Sali
Noah Star Weaver
Derek Chan
Carly Nicklaus
Amanda Okonek
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

The United State of Electronica, or U.S.E., is a Seattle, Washington-based dance/rock band formed in 2002. It includes the four members of the band Wonderful: Jason Holstrom (guitar), Jon E. Rock (drums, vocals), Peter Sali (guitar, vocals), and Noah Star Weaver (keyboards, vocoder), as well as Derek Chan (bass guitar), Carly Nicklaus (backup vocals), and Amanda Okonek (backup vocals).

History

U.S.E. was formed when the members of Wonderful and Shane Tutmarc posed as an imaginary electronica band from Mannheim, Germany at a Seattle-area nightclub. When the group noticed the audience's enthusiasm about their improvised dance songs, they decided to form a side project that would take dance music more seriously. Carly Nicklaus, Amanda Okonek and Derek Chan joined the members of Wonderful to develop that project, which would become the United State of Electronica.

U.S.E. released its debut self-titled, self-recorded album with handpainted covers in 2004. With no distribution, U.S.E turned to the Internet and gave the album to the world for free via http://www.mannheimworldwide.com. The album was released nationally through Sonic Boom Recordings in early 2005 and released in Japan in 2005 on Side-Out Records. U.S.E continued to tour the U.S. extensively with The Presidents of the United States of America, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, The Hold Steady, Aqueduct, Schoolyard Heroes, The Divorce and many more. U.S.E made also made two trips to Japan in 2005, including the 2005 Fuji Rock Festival and played the Sasquatch! Music Festival in Central Washington.

After another trip to Japan and a tour to SXSW in early 2006, the U.S.E. album was again re-released in the U.K. by The Original Electronic Recording Company.

As of September 2008, U.S.E is currently mixing their 2nd LP in Seattle. Recording has taken place in Seattle at AVAST studio's with engineer Cameron Nicklaus.

Their song "Open Your Eyes" was used at E3 2008 for the New Xbox Experience Promo.

Band Members

Current members

* Derek Chan — bass
* Jason Holstrom — guitar
* Carly Nicklaus — vocals
* Amanda Okonek — vocals
* Jon E. Rock — drums, vocals
* Peter Sali — guitar, vocals
* Noah Star Weaver — keyboards, vocoder

Past members

* Shane Tutmarc — bass

Discography

*"Emerald City EP" (2002)
*"Emerald City 12" (2003)
*U.S.E. (self-titled) (2004)
*"Live and Direct from the Emerald City EP" (2005)
*"Party People EP" (2005)

External links

* [http://www.usemusic.com United State of Electronica official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/use United State of Electronica on Myspace]
*
* [http://www.timmcmahan.com/use.htm Lazy-i Interview: March 2005]
* [http://www.threeimaginarygirls.com/use07apr Seattle live show review on Three Imaginary Girls: April 2007]