Utopian (album)

Utopian is the debut studio album recorded by Canadian singer and songwriter Virginia to Vegas, released through Wax Records on December 2, 2016. It includes the Platinum-certified single, "We Are Stars", and the top-10 pop radio hit, "Lights Out".

This article is about the Virginia to Vegas album. For other uses, see Utopia (disambiguation).
Utopian
Studio album by
Virginia to Vegas
ReleasedDecember 2, 2016 (2016-12-02)
Recorded2013–16
Genre
Length30:16
Label
Producer
  • Kevin Figs
  • O.C.
  • Michael Wise
Virginia to Vegas chronology
Vol. I
(2014)		 Utopian
(2016)		 Hartland St.
(2019)
Singles from Utopian
  1. "We Are Stars"
    Released: January 7, 2014
  2. "Don't Fight the Music"
    Released: September 2, 2014
  3. "Our Story"
    Released: May 4, 2015
  4. "Lights Out"
    Released: September 2, 2016

Background

Derik Baker began his career as a songwriter before focusing on singing, at which point he adopted the stage name Virginia to Vegas after failing to garner attention using his birth name.[1] He was discovered on YouTube in 2013 by Wax Records executive Jamie Appleby and signed to the label that year.[3] His debut single, "We Are Stars", was released in January 2014.[4] The song, which features labelmate, Alyssa Reid, reached the top 15 on the Canadian Hot 100 and was certified Platinum by Music Canada.

A follow-up single, "Don't Fight the Music", was released in September 2014 which failed to replicate its predecessor's success.[5] Both songs were included on an extended play, titled Vol. I, which was released that November.[6] His radio success with the singles contributed to him being nominated for Pop Artist or Group of the Year at the 2015 Sirius XM Indie Awards.[7] Over the next two years, Virginia to Vegas continued recording new material and released two further singles, which are included on Utopian. The album was announced in November 2016 and was released in Canada on December 2, 2016.[2][8]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Find Me"
3:15
2."Wasted"
  • Baker
  • Jamie Appleby
  • Jordan Benjamin
  • Hayley Penner
  • Roberts
  • Michael Wise
 
3."Lights Out"
3:32
4."F*** Me Up"
  • Baker
  • Penner
  • Wise
3:02
5."Polaroid"
  • Baker
  • April Geesbreght
  • Andrew Hyatt
  • Eric Olsen
2:48
6."Don't Fight the Music"
3:37
7."Our Story"
  • Baker
  • Ferraro
  • Kevin Figueiredo
3:38
8."We Are Stars" (featuring Alyssa Reid)
  • Baker
  • Appleby
  • Ferraro
  • Kevin Figs
  • O.C.
  • Reid
3:54
9."Beautiful" (Utopian version)
  • Baker
  • Appleby
  • Ferraro
  • Reid
  • Wise
3:26
Total length:30:16
Notes
  1. "Lights Out" samples "Somebody's Watching Me", written by Kennedy Gordy (a.k.a. Rockwell), so Gordy is credited as a co-writer.

Chart positions

Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions
CAN
[9]		 CAN
AC
[10]		 CAN CHR
[11]		 CAN
Hot AC
[12]
2014 "We Are Stars" 14131114
"Don't Fight the Music" 97303336
2015 "Our Story" ——4732
2016 "Lights Out" 40141014

Release history
Country Date Format Label Catalog No. Ref.
Canada December 2, 2016 CD Universal [8]
Digital download Wax N/A [13]
Japan CD WAX700189 [14]
Worldwide December 9, 2016 TBA [15]

References
  1. Kennedy, John R (November 8, 2016). "Virginia to Vegas Channels Rockwell In 'Lights Out'". iHeartRadio. iHeartMedia. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  2. Doole, Kerry (November 25, 2016). "Virginia To Vegas: Lights Out". FYI Music News. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  3. Adams, Pilar (May 20, 2014). "Pilar's Picks: Virginia To Vegas". Ottawa Life. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  4. "We Are Stars - Virginia to Vegas | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  5. "Don't Fight the Music - Virginia to Vegas | Release Info". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  6. "Volume I - Virginia to Vegas | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  7. Delmar, Sari. "2015 INDIE AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". INDIES. Sirius XM. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  8. "Utopian: Virginia to Vegas: Amazon.ca: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.ca. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  9. "Virginia to Vegas - Chart history (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  10. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada AC for Virginia to Vegas. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  11. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Virginia to Vegas. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  12. "Chart Search". Billboard Canada Hot AC for Virginia to Vegas. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  13. "Utopian - Virginia to Vegas | Release Info". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  14. "Utopian : Virginia To Vegas | ローチケHMV - WAX700189". HMV (Japan). Hilco. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  15. International release references:
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