STS9
ANNOUNCE NEW STUDIO ALBUM
‘THE UNIVERSE INSIDE’
SET FOR RELEASE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE NOW
VIA iTUNES AND 1320 RECORDS
Above: album art for STS9’s THE UNIVERSE INSIDE
Acclaimed electronic rock band STS9 has officially announced their first new full-length studio album in nearly eight years, THE UNIVERSE INSIDE, will be released via their own 1320 Records on Friday, September 2. The 13-track album is the band’s first featuring bassist Alana Rocklin and continues their stylistic exploration in the studio, which is notable on the album’s lead single “Get Loud.” Fans can pre-order THE UNIVERSE INSIDE on iTunes or 1320 Records now and receive instant downloads of the tracks “Get Loud” and “Supercluster.“
The members of STS9—Hunter Brown (guitar/sequences), Jeffree Lerner (percussion), David Phipps (keyboards/synths), Zach Velmer (drums) and Alana Rocklin (bass)–went through a lot over the course of making this record. In order to connect and express something more direct than they could with the music alone, the band chose to utilize more lyrics than they have on any of their previous efforts. It’s an album about human identity and the magical truth of who we are, where we’re going, and our place in the Universe. THE UNIVERSE INSIDE–which was written, recorded, produced and mixed by the band at their own 1320 Mission Control in Santa Cruz, CA–comes on the cusp of STS9‘s 20th Anniversary (in 2017) and in the midst of their appearances on the summer festival circuit.
The album’s first single “Get Loud” is a collaboration with singer/songwriter Betty Idol and acclaimed production team the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. Envisioned as a throwback from the future, the song is an ode to the musicians and producers that STS9 grew up loving. Like much of the band’s work, it features a rallying cry disguised as a dance hook. The lyrics are a call to “let it lift you up,” “say it proud,” and stand up for justice and civil rights. THE UNIVERSE INSIDE opens with “Supercluster,” which samples the original NASA STS-9 radio transmission and represents the band’s return from a journey that began with their 1998 debut, Interplanetary Escape Vehicle. The first words that are heard are a shout out to STS9‘s home, and muse, California. See full track listing below.
STS9 developed their innovative style by standing on the shoulders of giants, but they’ve influenced an entire scene in their own right too. Superstars like Bassnectar, Pretty Lights and Big Gigantic found some of their first audiences opening for STS9, where they encountered a community that was eager to embrace a new kind of dance music. In this way, the band acted as a common ancestor for much of today’s EDM culture, providing a solid foundation that allowed others to reach new heights. By continuously pushing the envelope in ways that are both accessible and unfamiliar, the five-piece continues to stay ahead of the curve. Modern audiences are clamoring for a new kind of electronica that combines the energy of 21st century dance music with the dynamics of a band. For many music fans, this is a brand new sound. For STS9, it’s a movement they’ve been pioneering for two decades.
Recent years have been filled with countless milestones as the band evolves both in and out of the studio. STS9 has criss-crossed the country on an annual basis, bringing their expansive sound, one-of-a-kind light show and message of unity to larger and larger audiences. Along the way, they’ve been joined by a wide range of supporting acts, from electronic music giants like Diplo, The Glitch Mob and Tycho to hip-hop icons like Snoop Dogg, Nas and Big Boi (the tables were turned when STS9 opened for Jay-Z at Denver’s Pepsi Center). Their tours have featured near-annual stops at beloved festivals like Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Lollapalooza and Outside Lands, as well as 20 performances at Colorado’s famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre (where they return this September 9 and 10 for their 14th consecutive year playing the venue) and 30 sold out shows at Atlanta’s majestic Tabernacle (including this August 26). Altogether STS9 has sold over one million tickets, landing them a consistent spot on Pollstar magazine’s list of the nation’s top 40 current touring acts. Their last three releases–2008’s Peaceblaster, 2009’s Ad Explorata and 2011’s When The Dust Settles EP–all reached #1 on the iTunes electronic charts. In 2015, they helped the Grateful Dead prepare for the “Drums/Space” segments of their 50th anniversary “Fare Thee Well” concerts.
Track listing for THE UNIVERSE INSIDE:
“Supercluster”
“Out of This World”
“Get Loud”
“Light Years”
“Totem”
“World Go Round”
“Give & Take”
“Elsewhere”
“Sun, Moon & Stars”
“New Dawn, New Day”
“Worry No More”
“Common Descent”
“The Universe Inside”
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