Utopian (album)

This article is about the Virginia to Vegas album. For other uses, see Utopia (disambiguation).

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

Utopian
Studio album by Virginia to Vegas
Released	December 2, 2016 (2016-12-02)
Recorded	2013–16
Genre	Dance-pop[1] electronica[2]
Length	30:16
Label	Wax Universal Ultra Records
Producer	Kevin Figs O.C. Michael Wise
Virginia to Vegas chronology
Vol. I (2014) Utopian (2016) Hartland St. (2019)
Singles from Utopian
"We Are Stars" Released: January 7, 2014 "Don't Fight the Music" Released: September 2, 2014 "Our Story" Released: May 4, 2015 "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.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Find Me"	Derik John Baker Dani Coey Ethan Roberts	3:15
2.	"Wasted"	Baker Jamie Appleby Jordan Benjamin Hayley Penner Roberts Michael Wise
3.	"Lights Out"	Baker Alyssa Reid Appleby David Thomson Wise Kennedy Gordy[a]	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"	Baker Appleby Nathan Ferraro Alyssa Reid	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. Alyssa Reid	3:54
9.	"Beautiful" (Utopian version)	Baker Appleby Ferraro Alyssa 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"	14	13	11	14
	"Don't Fight the Music"	97	30	33	36
2015	"Our Story"	—	—	47	32
2016	"Lights Out"	40	14	10	14

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label	Catalog No.	Ref.
Canada	December 2, 2016	CD	Universal		[8]
		Digital download	Wax	—	[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.

   • For "We Are Stars": "Canadian Music: Top 100 Songs Chart" (Week Of: May 3, 2014). 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:

    • For the United Kingdom: "Utopian by Virginia to Vegas: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
    • For the United States: "Virginia to Vegas - Utopian - Amazon.com Music". Amazon Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved December 3, 2016.