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Future Utopia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | England |
| Genres | Electronic music Hip hop Spoken word Orchestral music Psychedelic rock |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Label | 70Hz Recordings |
| Website | futureutopia |
Future Utopia is a British multidisciplinary music project founded by English record producer, songwriter and musician Fraser T. Smith. Established in 2020, the project incorporates electronic music, hip hop, spoken word, orchestral music and psychedelic rock, and has featured contributions from musicians, poets, actors, writers and visual artists. Future Utopia's debut studio album, 12 Questions, was released in October 2020 and included contributions from Dave, Stormzy, Kano, Idris Elba, Arlo Parks, Kojey Radical, Simon Armitage, Es Devlin and Albert Woodfox.[1][2] The song "Children of the Internet", performed by Future Utopia featuring Dave and Devlin, won Best Contemporary Song at the 2021 Ivor Novello Awards.[3] The project subsequently released the EP We Were We Still Are in 2023 and the studio album Django's High in 2024. A third studio album, Being Human, is scheduled for release in October 2026.[4]
History
[edit]Formation and 12 Questions
[edit]After working primarily as a producer and songwriter for other performers, Smith began Future Utopia as an outlet for his own work. He chose not to release the project under his own name, explaining that he was more interested in exploring its questions and ideas than placing himself at the centre of the recordings.[5] The concept developed after Smith began writing questions on a whiteboard in his studio concerning subjects such as artificial intelligence, the environment, faith and social division. He initially composed the music before inviting artists from different disciplines to respond to individual questions. Future Utopia's debut studio album, 12 Questions, was released on 30 October 2020 by 70Hz Recordings and Platoon. Its titles were structured around social and philosophical questions, including "How Much Is Enough?", "Is It Too Late to Save the Planet?" and "Why Are We So Divided, When We're So Connected?". The album brought together musicians and rappers including Dave, Stormzy, Kano, Ghetts, Arlo Parks, Kojey Radical, Dan Smith, Duckwrth, Mikky Ekko, Tom Grennan and Jelani Blackman. It also featured contributions from figures outside conventional popular music, including Elba, Armitage, Devlin, Woodfox, poet Alysia Nicole Harris and artist Katrin Fridriks. In its review, The Observer characterised the album as inventive and "joyously unpredictable", noting its combination of spoken word, poetry, progressive rock, electronic music and rap. The Line of Best Fit gave the album a score of seven out of ten and described it as an ambitious first release under Smith's Future Utopia identity. The album track "Children of the Internet", featuring Dave and Es Devlin, examined social media and hyperconnectivity. Written by Dave and Smith, it won Best Contemporary Song at the 2021 Ivor Novello Awards. In 2021, Future Utopia released 12 Questions After Dark, a remix version of the album. It included reinterpretations by producers and electronic artists including Themba, Melé, DJ Seinfeld, HAAi, Christian Smith, Franky Wah, Greentea Peng, UNKLE and I. Jordan.
Later releases
[edit]Future Utopia released the EP We Were We Still Are on 9 June 2023 through 70Hz and The Orchard. Its title track featured Kae Tempest, while other tracks featured Biig Piig and TOMI.[6] Smith described the EP as combining the experimental harmony, 1970s-influenced production and collaborations of 12 Questions with a progression in his work as an artist. In 2023, Future Utopia, Avelino and Tomorrow's Warriors recorded a new version of Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop" for a Greenpeace short film directed by Samona Olanipekun and executive-produced by Steve McQueen.[7] Future Utopia's second studio album, Django's High, was released on 12 July 2024 by 70Hz Recordings and The Orchard.[8] Serge Pizzorno contributed to its production and acted as an executive producer. Unlike the large collaborative cast of 12 Questions, Django's High was primarily centred on Smith's own vocals and performances. Its sound was influenced by psychedelic music, spaghetti Western film scores and the work of composer Ennio Morricone. Smith said that he wanted the album to have more of a band-oriented sound that could be reproduced in live performances.
Being Human
[edit]In June 2026, Future Utopia announced its third studio album, Being Human, alongside the single "The Wire". The album is scheduled for release on 23 October 2026 through 70Hz Recordings. The album addresses the effects of technological development and artificial intelligence on connection, community and personal identity. Smith described it as an evolution from the externally directed questions of 12 Questions towards questions about his own identity as an artist. Being Human includes songwriting or performance contributions from Pizzorno, Davide Rossi, Alysia Harris, Yomi Sode, Niels Brandt and Tim Gent.
Concept and musical style
[edit]Future Utopia was conceived as a project through which Smith could collaborate with contributors from music, literature, acting and visual art. Its first album was based around a series of social and philosophical questions, with individual contributors asked to respond to particular subjects. The project's music has incorporated hip hop, electronic music, spoken word, orchestral arrangements, progressive rock, psychedelic music and film-score influences. The Observer noted the range of performers involved in 12 Questions and described its music as having a mixtape-like energy, while The Line of Best Fit highlighted its examination of inequality, technology and environmental concerns. The Evening Standard compared the collaborative format of 12 Questions to Gorillaz, while distinguishing the album through its focus on philosophical and social questions.
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| 12 Questions |
Released: 30 October 2020 Labels: 70Hz, Platoon |
| Django's High |
Released: 12 July 2024 Labels: 70Hz, The Orchard |
| Being Human |
Scheduled: 23 October 2026 Label: 70Hz |
Remix albums
[edit]| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| 12 Questions After Dark | 2021 |
Extended plays
[edit]| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| We Were We Still Are |
Released: 9 June 2023 Labels: 70Hz, The Orchard |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Organisation | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ivor Novello Awards | Best Contemporary Song | "Children of the Internet" | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ Morris, Damien (25 October 2020). "Future Utopia: 12 Questions review – joyously unpredictable". The Observer. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ^ Johnson, Chris (23 October 2020). "Fraser T Smith's foray to the front of the stage as Future Utopia constructs a better world". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ^ "The Ivors with Apple Music 2021 winners announced". The Ivors Academy. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ^ Sandiford, Kayla (11 June 2026). "Future Utopia explore what it means to be uniquely human on upcoming album, Being Human". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ^ Smyth, David (30 October 2020). "Fraser T Smith interview: 'I wanted to find my answers to life's big questions'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (20 January 2023). "Fraser T Smith announces new Future Utopia EP with Kae Tempest collaboration "We Were We Still Are"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (22 June 2023). "Fleetwood Mac's 'Don't Stop' reimagined for Greenpeace short film starring Will Poulter". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (31 January 2024). "Fraser T. Smith hails 'incredible' Serge Pizzorno for work on second Future Utopia album". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 31 July 2026.