Photo by Molly Landergan from the U.S. Girls myspace page.

Interview by contributor Catherine McCarthy

Sonic Circuits, D.C.’s annual experimental music festival, is in full swing this week, and tonight marks the second night of performances at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and the Pyramid Atlantic gallery in Silver Spring. Tonight’s “Night of 100 Lock Grooves –District of Noise Vol. 3 Release Party” at Pyramid Atlantic features Philadelphia-based one-woman-band U.S. Girls and D.C.-based DJs BLK w/BEAR, Sean Peoples, Tone Ghosting and Cole Goins.

Megan Remy, who performs as U.S. Girls, is causing a stir in her adopted hometown of Philadelphia with her inventive, lo-fi sound that marries du-wop vocal stylings and electropunk synthesizers. Her performance style is DIY to the hilt, using a mix of older instruments and devices to create a sound her label, Siltbreeze, has deemed “23rd-century style.” It was only recently that Remy procured a table for her stage equipment, previously choosing to crouch on the edge of the stage, twisting gauges and howling fuzzed-out lyrics to her hallucinogenic songs. The exact genre of U.S. Girls is a moving target. Some group her in with the female electronic artist “bliss” movement, but the influence of classic rock is as evident as the harsh touch of electropunk pioneers Suicide. About to embark on her second European tour, DCist caught up with Remy briefly as she stops in D.C. to play Sonic Circuits and give this city a taste of what’s to come in electronic music.

What made you decide to live and work in Philadelphia? Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the heartland — Illinois. I chose Philadelphia as my residence because I didn’t really know a soul here…which back in 2008 was number one on my list of things to consider when finding a home.