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A few years ago, Sarah Hudson was being played on radio stations and giving interviews about her debut pop album, 'Naked Truth.' Today, she's the front-woman for Ultraviolet Sound, an electronic-based band that fuses the elements of pop, rock and the DJ scene.
Their latest album, 'Obsessive Compulsive Dancing (OCD)' has been downloaded over 130,000 times in the just over a year that it's been out, and they've toured with the likes of Jeffree Star and Family Force 5. In March, they'll hit the road again with Jeffree Star and venture out on a U.K/European tour. Not bad for a band that's unsigned. As it turns out, simple socializing can be the driving force behind success like this.
Hudson met her band mates Sami D. and B-rad through just that.
"I'm originally from L.A and I flew to New York for a little bit just for...inspiration, and [to] get out of L.A...and there's such a strong DJ/Dance scene there, so I just kind of wanted to get inspired. And I moved over there, and I actually met Sami D. through just some friends, and being out and getting in that whole scene," remembers Hudson. "And he was making these amazing beats. Just these super cool, fresh beats. And I've always written pop songs, I've always been into pop music and melodies, and that kind of stuff, so we just started writing together, and the combination was just awesome, and we really have been inseparable ever since."
Even though the combination was working as it was, Ultraviolet Sound took it a step further by recruiting the help of classic rock enthusiast B-rad after moving back to L.A.
"We just had people I knew back home in L.A, and I just said, 'Let's go back and go hang out and meet people and get in the scene.' And we met B-rad through friends, and just kind of [the] same deal, just hanging out and going out to the same places at night, and hanging out in the same circles," says Hudson. "And he brought in this whole rock and roll, classic rock element. We're all coming from different genres, but we all like the same danceable, pop, just feel-good kind of music. So we just started writing and Ultraviolet Sound just formed."
The band has been together less than two years, but they've already released an E.P and a full-length album. The album literally urges people to hit the dance floor, but still has socially-conscious, relatable lyrics. The song, 'Brainwashed' begins with the lyrics "I want to be a celebrity so you will be obsessed with me." Quite a blatant message, but more of a sarcastic one.
"We're mostly all about being free and letting go, and stripping away limitations, that's what we try to focus on most, but at the same time, I always try to put my opinion out there whether people like or or not," says Hudson. "When we wrote that song, it was like...I don't know, I was just watching TV, watching the E! channel or something, looking at US weekly, something like that and I just had this thought...the main message to the song is really be who you are, and not be influenced and want to be like everybody else, and I definitely want to get those messages and opinions across, as well as have fun and party."
Ultraviolet Sound got in touch with a company called True Anthem, which allowed them — and continues to allow — to give their music out for free to their fans, but didn't leave them empty handed, either.
"We worked with the founder of the company, just through other things. Just some other little avenues, and then she started this company True Anthem, and we were the first band on it, and Adidas sponsored our album," says Hudson. "Which basically means they sponsored it, and we put an Adidas plug at the front of each song. So [people] could download it for free, but we would get paid for each download."
It seems that the band doesn't even NEED a label. In fact, artistry seems an easier channel of success than signing with a corporation.
"Real artists are able to have control over their destinies, over their path. You're not so much relying on executives or big label heads," says Hudson. "So it's just cool now because you're able to do it on your own and be independent, and make a living out of it at the same time."
Collaboration is also a big part of the band's creation. They have produced songs with Jeffree Star and other L.A artists such as Electric Valentine. They've also spun a track with London DJ Dorion. And how did they meet all these friends? The helpful influence of Myspace.
"We really love having that outside influence. It's just so innovative and creative. Not to say that we couldn't do it on our own, because we could, but it just brings a whole new perspective when you're in the room with other creative people," says Hudson. "Electric Valentine, Sami D. and Chris from Electric Valentine just started writing to each other on Myspace, just, you know, 'I like your music, what you're doing is cool,' and they actually came up with this idea called the Electro-Riot Mixtape, and it's sort of, you know, trendy, cool electric bands and hooks, all on a mix-tape that we pass out. And originally passed out free at shows. Then we did a number two, which is a little bit more legit and had a lot legit artists on it, and we did that for free downloads, sponsored free downloads. So they kind of did form that together, and it was all just through meeting on Myspace."
Soon, Ultraviolet Sound will take their collaborative tracks to the U.K as support for Jeffree Star.
"We're all just so excited. I think that more than...I mean, obviously we want to be big everywhere we can, but I think that the U.K and Europe is really going to be great for us," gushes Hudson. "We're not a conventional band; we're definitely out of the box, not really like a lot that's going on. And I think that they accept that more over there, they're more open to something unique."
With the way that Ultraviolet Sound rip up the dance floor, no boxes are necessary.
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