Getting To Know: The Utopiates

London’s indie-electronic sensation, The Utopiates, are back with a bang after a 6-month hiatus, ready to unleash their latest single, "Neighbourhood," on September 20th. This powerful track is the first glimpse into their highly anticipated second album, set for release in late 2025. Following the success of their debut album *The Sun Also Rises* (TSAR), The Utopiates are proving they’re not just prolific but a force to be reckoned with. With a sound that fuses New Wave, Baggy, and post-punk influences, "Neighbourhood" delivers a sharp critique of societal double standards, capturing the pulse of a nation demanding change. Don’t miss their headline show at The Victoria, Dalston, on September 24th, where they’ll bring this electrifying new chapter to life.

1. After a six-month hiatus, you're set to release "Neighbourhood," the first single from your second album. What was the creative process like during this break, and how did it influence the sound and themes of this new track?

We've had a lot of these tunes on the backburner for a while, as we always do really. Me (Dan) and Josh are always putting ideas down and making sure we keep a healthy stash of demo's going for the next time we're in Leeds with Andy (Hawkins; The Nave). The more we do, the better we get and the less time it takes in the studio to piece it all back together, so it was all really smooth sailing. I feel like we're enjoying it more and more, which I didn't think was possible last year. We also had a big convo, as a band and with Andy, about what we want to do moving forwards and the way we want the production and our songs to sound. 'The Sun Also Rises' is great but it's also a band that is still finding its thing. We've always liked to mix it up but I think we're honing in on our signature sound now, which is a great feeling and it sets the whole project up nicely for the next 6/7 releases. 

2. Your debut album, The Sun Also Rises, garnered a lot of attention for its eclectic mix of influences and big guitar grooves. How does "Neighbourhood" build on or diverge from the sound you established with that album?

Neighbourhood's a perfect example of what I just said really. It's still definitely The Utopiates. It's still got a solid groove and has that blend of guitars and synthesisers but we're not chucking the kitchen sink at it this time. Less is more with the production; it's got a harsher, in-your-face drum sound and we're taking more of our musical cues from New York, rather than Manchester. We've proven we can do the big baggy sound with long, psychedelic solos and now we're just trying to get to the point quicker. As a song it's not too shoddy either! Josh put down the backing track, and that bass hook and weird riff at the top is basically the same as the demo he made. I did a little mix and wrote the vocals and then Andy and Joe (our drummer) really brought it all to life in the studio. When that real kit hits at the top of the song you know about it. We love it.

3. You've mentioned that "Neighbourhood" is an angry assessment of society's double standards. Can you delve deeper into the message you're conveying with this song, and why you felt it was important to address these issues through your music?

It is a deeper song than it might seem and I am trying to convey the despair I feel at the world but I'm not always sure I should spell it out to everyone. People can take their own meaning from it and start the conversation from there, but I think we can all agree that there's work to be done and everyone's attitude could probably do with a reset. It certainly feels like time for change but whether that'll really happen, I'm not sure. 

4. Your music has been described as everything from New Wave to Nu-Rave. How do you balance these diverse influences while maintaining a distinct identity as The Utopiates, especially in your upcoming second album?

Haha, yeah I think it was 'New Nu-Rave' we saw in an article about us. Like Nu-Rave, but even worse!? I'm being a d**k cos I wasn't the biggest fan of some of those bands but I can see some parallels in certain songs, I guess. And I'm not the only one in this band! New Wave I can get behind and our first couple of singles (Only Human, Antidote) borrowed from that, definitely. We also went very baggy on our 'Anywhere But Here' EP and Love Salvation is still a strong favourite amongst the fans that come out and see us. We've always just wanted to make songs that have a good groove about them and we love so many different bands that do that across the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s, that I guess it made for a nice blend. We started in 2021 and put out about 20 songs up to our debut album's release in May '23 and none of them sounded the same and we're very proud of that. It's the way I write I guess. I like to tick off a certain vibe and then go for something totally different on the next one. On album two I think people will definitely see more trends and more of a signature in the production and arrangements but they are all still mostly bangers. That won't change. Come see us live and I think it all makes way more sense!

5. With the new single and a tour on the horizon, what can fans expect from your live performances, and how do you plan to bring the energy and themes of "Neighbourhood" to the stage?

We're looking at a full, headline tour next Spring but for now we're getting some of the new ones off their feet in our base in London (first show at The Victoria on the 24th September, tickets still available) and working on further announcements up North ASAP (might be in support of others). The song speaks for itself and we've never struggled to back it up live so we'll just do what we normally do and go smash it out full pelt and wait for the approval of the audience. I'm bragging now but we're the real deal, honestly. Not played a bad show yet and the 24th will be no different. Buzzing to get going again, thanks for this mate!