CREDIT: USSMUSIC.COM
USS are bringing their unique sounds to the Forwell Hall stage on January 25.

USS is a band that is just as original as their name, which stands for Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker. USS's last album, Approved, came out in 2011, but as I talked to vocalist/guitarist Ash Boo-Schultz, he revealed that fans can look forward to a new release from them sometime in the near future as the band is hard at work on songs for their new album. Fans can also check them out live at Fanshawe College when they hit the stage in Forwell Hall on January 25 as part of New Music Night.

You played at the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls with special guests The Balconies and Whiskey Reverb on New Year's Eve. How was that show?
"We have had such a wonderful relationship with the Northwestern area due to our radio station in Toronto broadcasting across Lake Ontario. So it's really great because who doesn't want to celebrate New Year's Eve that close to one of the unofficial wonders of the world? For our show one thing that I loved a lot was that they did fireworks twice. They had it earlier in the evening for the kids and any adults over the age of 50 so they didn't miss it, and then again at midnight for everyone else.

"Also we played at the Rapids Theatre, which is actually haunted because it's so old. The gentleman who was running the event took us on a two-hour ghost tour before the show. It was actually suspenseful.

"It's always a pleasure to play with The Balconies. We share a manager with them, so it's always cool to play with them. Whiskey Reverb is a local band that we actually requested to come and play with us and they did not disappoint. The one thing that did happen, though; we were supposed to have a ton of balloons fall from the ceiling at midnight, but it didn't work. The guy pulled the string and like four balloons fell from the things above."

Your last album, Approved, was released in 2011 — any plans for new music this year?
"Well, it's funny that you should call me right now. I was actually just working on the lyrics to the second song we've started recording. The new policy we have for recording this time around is actually a baseball analogy that goes, 'There are no walks, singles, doubles, triples or home runs allowed. There are only grand slams.'

"I believe that happiness is a choice. You don't have a choice when it comes to your thoughts, so it's up to you to train your thoughts like a dog or a computer and choose happiness. People have to learn to make that choice to be happy."

You have an upcoming show at Fanshawe on January 25. Have you played here before? If so, what are you most looking forward to?
"We met a student from Fanshawe College named Kylie Greenham, and she was part of the music department. She actually contributed to one of our live performances with her wonderful flute playing. At our last performance, she joined us onstage during our last song 'N/A Ok' and we are hoping to bring her out with us again when we come back on January 25.

"I really love the orchestra. It's kind of like our brains with all these different thoughts of different velocities; timbers and intensities. Your mind is like this amazing orchestra of thought. We actually had an offer one time from the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra to come and do a full symphonic performance of our songs. That, to me, is a dream come true as I have actually written that out as a goal in my life. The offer from the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra is still on the table so we hope it will happen sometime soon."

Tickets for the January 25 show at Fanshawe are $12 for students in advance at Biz Booth and $15 for guests and at the door. The show is all ages with a valid Fanshawe student card or 19-plus without.

For more information on USS, visit their website ussmusic.com or follow them on Twitter @USSmusic.