EUTOPIA

'Eutopia' are an exceptional new rock band with melodic, powerful and emotional songs that come from the heart but rock in a soft sort of way. They deliver dreamy landscapes of sound that pack an emotive punch. Their single " Valentine " will be released through Matchbox Recordings on the 14 Feb 2008. 

About the band 

The Greek term 'Eutopia' means a "perfect and safe place" which describes the music of Eutopia in a nutshell. 

The band features the playing of guitar virtuoso, Alexander Kotziamanis, who is the main driving and creative force behind this super-group. Alexander is left handed and yet plays the guitar right handed. Alexander is totally self-taught. 'I was 15, and I saw my bro playing guitar with another friend.... and I just thought..I can do that, easy! So that's when I began to learn. I could only play two things for a whole year -'missi' (mississippi) blues' and the beginning four bars of a Def Leppard song called 'Women'. I thought I was just awesome....my parents and friends thought otherwise!!' I took Leppard, Van Halen, Bon Jovi , The Police, Deep Puple, Coverdale, Megadeth, Zeppelin, Free, Clapton, Duran Duran, Theodorakis, Hadgidakis, Dalaras, Alexiou, Hendrix, Queen, Yngwie, Di Meola, Abba, Elvis, John Williams, Cat Stevens, SRV, Beach Boys, J.S Bach, A. Vivaldi, Haydn, Handel, W.A Mozart and Beethoven....put them in the blender, and Eutopia is the result!' (real haute cuisine! haha! ed)

Alexander plays Fender guitars. He is also particularly fond of the HM series strats and Vintage sunburst electrics. For Amplification Alexanders main driving tone is found in Marshall amplification, but he is also very keen on the tones of Fender vintage amps also. A big fan of vintage and modern effects, Alexander uses Keeley,T-Rex, Morley and Boss pedal units.

On bass is Luca Forlani. Luca to put it bluntly is an extremely talented bass player. After a recent live performance the audience was left stunned by the tight and virtuous playing. With over 15 years of playing the instrument, mainly in hard/prog rock bands in Italy and UK Luca is experienced and dynamic. influences include progressive rock bands such as Queensryche, Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Rush through to classic hard rock like Whitesnake, Van Halen, Europe, all the way to more cross-genre bands such as Toto, The Police, Dixie Dregs and even Yanni. There are many bass players that have inspired him, but to mention 3 or 4... "Dave La Rue (Steve Morse Band/Dixie Dregs), Stuart Hamm, Billy Sheehan and Robert Trujillo. The bass player who inspired me to pick the bass when I was a kid, though, was Steve Harris". Luca mainly plays a Peavey Cirrus 5 strings, but depending on the situation he also uses a Yamaha TRB5PII tuned EADGC and a Charvel 4 strings fretless.

The Rhythm section is completed by our Skins mechanic -Dave Thurlby! Described by Alexander as the guy who 'keeps us all in check!' with his great sense of timing and balanced playing style. Dave is influenced by instrumental acts like 'SKY' but is also known to love the lush rock styles of 'Aerosmith', 'Toto' and 'Pink Floyd'. With great drive and determination, Dave is continually seeking 'that' drum tone. Dave uses Yamaha drum kits with Paiste cymbals.

The Band are truly dedicated to their art of writing, what is best described as 'romantic solid power metal pop!' Citing influences from Beethoven to Elvis to Def Leppard to Greek traditional music, this is a very eclectic musical background.

THE OFFICIAL INTERVIEW 

1. What made you decide to form Eutopia? Tell us a bit about your history to date. Where are you guys from/based?

We're based in London, our drummer hails from Belfast, our bassist from sunny Italy and I'm half Greek, born and brought up in Kensington.  Since I was a teenager I've been composing my own music and tried forming a band at university in Sheffield.  Once home, I advertised for like-minded musicians. I was impressed with the MP3's the members of the band sent me and their overall attitude, so Eutopia was formed.  We've been playing together since January 2007 and have a gigging history since April.

 2. You have a very warm and uplifting melodic 80'sesqe rock sound. Who or what are your influences ?

I'm a big fan of melodic rock from the late 70's and 80's. I took Def Leppard, Van Halen, Bon Jovi , The Police, Deep Purple, Coverdale, Megadeath, Zeppelin, Free, Clapton, Theodorakis, Dalaras, Alexiou, Hendrix, Queen, Yngwie, Di Meola, Abba, Elvis, John Williams, Cat Stevens, SRV, Beach Boys, J.S Bach, A. Vivaldi, Haydn, Handel, W.A Mozart and Beethoven....put them in the blender, and Eutopia is the result!

 3. What modern artists do you like?

I have come across a Dutch band called Radius.  I really like their take. 

 4. Where did the band name Eutopia come from?

I've already said I'm half-Greek. Eutopia is based on Classical Greek. 'Eu' means 'good' or 'well' and 'topos' a place.  Our band's name is a positive one, that it's a good place, for we eschew drugs and violent and abusive language in our lyrics.  We are seeking to rock the pendulum back and give a good message to our fans - particularly the young people, and usher in a golden age of music, music that inspires and enriches the soul.

 5. What inspires you to write your music/lyrics?

 I love music and I've always loved music as far back as I can remember.  I am glad to be alive and I feel under an obligation to make something of myself and offer our fans a wonderful and inspiring listening experience.

6. Name your all time fave track by another band/artist?

It's difficult to name a single track but to narrow it down, favourites are definitely Bon Jovi’s ‘Slippery when Wet’ and Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria’.  I also love Handel's Messiah, Vivaldi's Gloria, Mozart's Symphony No. 40 and Requiem. Depending on my mood or situation, Beethoven's 9th Symphony always does it for me.

 7.  Tell us a little more about the incredible single ‘Valentine’. What or who's it about?  ls it a love song?  Are the rumours true it will be released on Valentine's day itself? 

 Like all young men, I've had my ups and downs in love, self-searching and wobbles in confidence.  I had a serious relationship with a girl, but we weren't communicating properly.  It wasn't meant to be.  I used to feel the shadow of this woman in my writing.  But, in my view, you need to have had an experience like that to be a better writer.  Am I wistful for a love that might have been?  Not any more.  Valentine is to be released on 14^th February 2008.

8. What are your ambitions for your music. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I hope that my passion for music will be recognised and that my music will travel worldwide.  I have had so many messages from fans across the world on myspace, that I believe my music, as played by Eutopia, has a universal appeal, to all ages. I love playing Fender HM series Stratocasters that, in my view, are severely underrated, so I hope to convert serious guitarists to them and, maybe, persuade Fender to reinstate the model.

 9. How would you describe your music and what genre do you think it fits into?

I don’t think it fits easily into a single genre.  I suppose Valentine, our new single, is a ballad, which perhaps can be described as Emo (in other words Emotive Rock). The 'B side,' 'Meant to Be', is a fusion of Rock and Pop.

10.  Where was the single recorded and who is producing it?

  Some of my music has been produced by 'Sugar', a gifted bouzouki player, a huge character in North London, who sadly died of cancer earlier this year.  He was my friend and mentor.  His encouragement and enthusiasm for my music has kept me going in the lean periods that every creative person goes through.  Our new single is part being produced by Studio 45 in Oxford and part-produced by myself.

 11. Who are the members of Eutopia and what do they play?

     David Thurlby plays drums. He keeps us all in check, especially me!  Luca Forlani plays bass.  He's a truly gifted performer. I'm Alexander Kotziamanis, the front man, as singer and lead guitarist.