Utopia (EP)

In describing Utopia, Kerli said it was "about [her] search for love and happiness" and that she underwent a "huge transformation personally" while writing it.[7] She also noted the contrast between Love Is Dead's darker, more rock-influenced sound and Utopia's more uplifting and electronic dance-influenced sound, which she analogized as "sweaty angels raving in the desert."[7]

According to Kerli, the first track of the album, "Can't Control the Kids", is about "the power that kids these days have because of technology and internet" and that "everyone with a laptop can make something amazing and share it with the rest of the world. Everyone can have a voice" and that it was that "kind of rebellious and badass energy [she] was trying to channel."[8] The following song, "The Lucky Ones", was written after a friend's cancer scarce after which she said they had been "given a second chance".[9] Both of these tracks are electronic dance medleys produced by Svante Halldin and Jakob Hazell (SeventyEight), the following track, also produced by SeventyEight, is the piano-driven ballad "Love Me or Leave Me", which Kerli released as the iTunes Store's "countdown single" on March 5.[10] The next track, "Sugar", is a simple electronic track with acoustic elements produced by English producer and DJ Switch[11] characterized by breathy vocals and repeated moaning from Kerli. "Here and Now", the following track, is another EDM song produced by SeventyEight, and features a more progressive house influence. The album's final track, "Chemical", is a softer piano ballad written solely by Kerli and produced by Brian Ziff.[12]

The artwork for the EP was designed by photographer Brian Ziff and artist Natalia Shau, who designed the artwork for Kerli's debut studio album Love Is Dead (2008).[13] The artwork displays Kerli wearing a white, short dress, with a blue background. The singer holds a bottle in her right hand. Behind her, there is a structure, decorated with dragons and curved lines, and surrounded by a white light.

Promotion for Utopia was limited; it began with a club tour where the album's lead single "The Lucky Ones" and the previous promotional singles "Zero Gravity" and "Army of Love" were performed. Kerli made her American television debut on April 17, 2013 on Dancing with the Stars; Vibe called the performance a "major milestone in the [electronic dance music] world."[14]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[15]

Upon its release, Utopia received positive reviews from music critics. David Jeffries of AllMusic said perhaps the extra material would help explain the dance diva's evolution from gothic to grand dame, but she's just as persuasive here with this more positive material, especially during the you-only-live-once dance anthem "The Lucky Ones".

Credits adapted from the Utopia liner notes.[17]

• Kerli – background and lead vocals, songwriter (1,2,3,4,5,6), producer (6)
• Carl Bagge – string arranger (3)
• Claudia Bonfiglioli – strings (3)
• Erik Holm – strings (3)
• Tomas Lundström – strings (3)
• SeventyEight – drums, keyboards, songwriter, producer (1,2,3,5)
• Switch – mixer, producer, songwriter (4)
• Fredrik Syberg – strings (3)
• Phil Tan – mixer (1,2,3,5)
• Danny Taylor – songwriter (4)
• Brian Ziff – keyboards, producer (6)

• Utopia at AllMusic