U.s.u.r.a.

U.S.U.R.A. is an Italian electronic dance music group formed in 1991 by Time Records owner Giacomo Maiolini, along with producers Walter Cremonini and Alessandro Gilardi. The name U.S.U.R.A. is derived from that of Maiolini's mother, Ursula. The band gained prominence with their debut single "Open Your Mind", released in October 1992. This track featured a dialog sample from the film Total Recall, vocal sounds from "Solid" by Ashford & Simpson, and sampled elements from Simple Minds' song "New Gold Dream". The accompanying music video incorporated morphing faces of notable political figures such as Ronald Reagan, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, Ian Paisley, Margaret Thatcher, Richard Nixon, Mary Whitehouse, and Joe McCarthy. Following the success of their debut single, U.S.U.R.A. released their first mini-album Sweat in 1993 under Deconstruction Records. The group's unique blend of electronic beats and political commentary resonated with audiences, establishing them as a notable act in the dance music scene of the early 1990s. Their subsequent release was the mini-album Trance Emotions, issued in 1998, which further solidified their status in the genre. Throughout their career, U.S.U.R.A. was known for their innovative use of sampling and their provocative music videos, which often featured controversial imagery and themes. The group disbanded in 1998.