Interviews: The Unofficial Utopia

On this new occasion, we had the opportunity to interview the Progressive Metal band The Unofficial Utopia from India. Check out the interview and follow this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? You planned it or came out like that?

To be honest, it came to us just like that. I (Roger) and Swarup were just jamming out one day. We were in high school back then, and suddenly we started discussing that if we ever formed a band, what we'd name it. Initially, Swarup said Dystopia, and later we found the word meant exactly the opposite of it, and started calling the band Utopia. Later on, we added "The Unofficial" because we thought it added more to the essence of the name.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Heavy Metal or Rock Music in general has probably touched our hearts long before we met. I think all of us have different stories about why we chose heavy metal above any other genre. But the fact is, heavy metal became a part of our lives long before we started the band, and we were all on the same page when we wanted to make music together. All of us wanted to create a heavy metal band.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Roger and Swarup went to the same school, and Scorcher and Arijit (the first drummer of the band) were classmates. Later, Roger met Scorcher at his university and decided to make a band with him. Later, Dip became a part of it

4. Each band member's favourite band?

Roger Strings: Pink Floyd

Scorcher: Megadeth

Swarup: Pink Floyd

Sam: System of a Down

Barron: Dream Theatre

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

There is no specific muse that keeps inspiring us to write songs. I think if you live on this planet, and you have a knack for observing the situation around you, and you want to write songs, you will never run out of songs.

6. Where was your last gig?

The last gig we played was in Kolkata. It was the album release gig of a band called Disquietude Vengeance.

7. Where would you like to act?

If you wanna know the ambition, it would be a dream come true if we ever perform at Wembley Stadium, London.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

Well, we would definitely love to be featured with Dream Theatre, I think.

9. Whom not?

Probably never with any electronic music sample artist, or whatever you call them. 

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tips for beginners on how to beat that?

Perhaps all of us have had stage fright at some points in our careers. A very famous tip that goes around and that really helps is to perform in front of the mirror when no one is around. This helps you open yourself up without being embarrassed or anything.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

I think the bands that inspire us the most would be Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Rush, Opeth, Death, Testament, etc.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

We have never had a weird fan moment yet. Looking forward to it.

13. What do you think of your fans?

I like to call them our listeners. And I think they are absolutely amazing. We share a lot of common ground, and I can guarantee that they are absolutely extraordinary people.

14. What do you think of our site?

I think the site is really creative and well-categorised. However, the thing that caught my eye in terms of creativity is the devil horns in place of the cursor. Not a big thing, but it adds a little flair to the whole experience.

15. Something to add?

We wanna say this to everyone that The Unofficial Utopia is back in the studio and we will be back with a brand new album very soon. This is the side of The Unofficial Utopia that the audience has not come into contact with yet. Till then, go ahead and enjoy our debut album, Realized Fiction: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ZeSxCytwygDUi3TpKl1w1?utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree