THE UTOPIATES SET TO FOLLOW UP BBC RADIO 6 BACKED ‘NEIGHBOURHOOD’ WITH ROMPING NEW FUNK ‘REPUTATION’

London-based indie-electronic outfit, The Utopiates, are back with a bang! Following a ten-month hiatus, they are set to release their new single, ‘Reputation’, on 22nd November. This track is the second single from their upcoming, yet-to-be-named second album, slated for release in late 2025. The single release party will take place on 23rd November at The Finsbury in London.

After the success of their debut album, ‘The Sun Also Rises’ (V2 Records, May ‘23), and the Steve Lamacq-endorsed single ‘Neighbourhood’, The Utopiates are proving to be one of the most prolific new bands on the scene. They spent the early part of 2024 recording and mixing 11 new tracks at The Nave in Leeds, a studio known for its work with Yard Act and Kaiser Chiefs.

Their last single, released on 20th September, secured prime-time play on BBC Radio 6 by Steve Lamacq, an XS Manchester playlisting, and impressive streaming numbers. Now, they aim to take things a step further with the danceable indie-disco track ‘Reputation’.

Singer Dan shares the inspiration behind the new song:

“I wrote this song while in a typically immature sulk with my girlfriend. It’s about always having the same arguments with your significant other and losing your cool but also knowing you’ll always come crawling back for forgiveness. Even if you might have had a point!”

‘Reputation’ showcases a simpler, stripped-back groove, with credit to Joe and Luke (drummer/bassist) for enhancing the rhythm section from Dan’s original demo.

The addition of disco synths and off-beat guitar stabs brought the track to life quickly, making it an instant favorite for the band. Dan adds:

“It’s such a groovy stomper and we reckon people will definitely wanna move to it.”

Regarding their second album project, Dan explains:

“We’ve always been a band that likes to mix it up and look to loads of different influences in the music we write. Since our inception (in 2021) we’ve been labelled New Wave, Baggy, 90s Revival and even (New) Nu-Rave! Our mantra has always been ‘let’s make people move’ and that won’t change. We’re sticking with the ‘big-guitar groove’ label Steve Lamacq gave us but this time around we’re looking a little more in the direction of New York over Manchester.”

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