Posted by: From the editors New.Topia, Reviews No Comments on Eine neue Stimme im Kölner Underground: New.Topia und ihre EP “ENKONDUKO”

A new voice in the Cologne underground: New.Topia and their EP “ENKONDUKO”

Hi and welcome to Lila's review!

Voiceless, yet unmistakable: a new band is enriching Cologne's underground with its multifaceted instrumental sound that moves between metal and rock. New.Topia lends a musical voice to unspoken feelings and loudly shouted pain, and their EP “ENKONDUKO” is a first taste of what's to come.

Founded by Andy (drums) and Gregor (guitar) - two veterans of the Cologne music scene - New.Topia has a clear mission: to musically capture the chaotic world that surrounds us before it finally disintegrates. Both musicians can look back on an impressive career in various bands with which they have helped shape local music history. Now they are at the beginning of a new chapter with New.Topia.

The title of their EP “ENKONDUKO” comes from the Esperanto language and means something like “introduction”. Esperanto, developed by the Polish ophthalmologist Ludovic Zamenhof, was an attempt to create a universal, politically neutral and easy-to-learn language. Zamenhof, who grew up speaking Yiddish, Polish and Russian, recognized the dividing lines that language can draw. With Esperanto, he wanted to build bridges to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts. Although Esperanto never became a world language, it remains a symbol of hope - a different version of history that did not become a reality.

Just as Esperanto was intended to build bridges between people, New.Topia, also succeeds in creating connections in their EP. “ENKONDUKO” is an attempt to unite different musical elements and styles to create a unique soundscape. The introduction plays a central role in New.Topia's music, as it reflects the complexity and diversity of the band's influences and inspirations. With a mixture of traditional instruments, modern electronic sounds and experimental soundscapes, “ENKONDUKO” creates an innovative and fascinating dimension.

The EP comprises three songs in which the band addresses topics that affect us all and contribute to the dystopia of our time. For example in the song “Paris”, which samples Greta Thunberg's speech at the UN climate summit, in which she denounces the powerful for their failures. Thunberg's words "We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!" have become a symbol of the urgency that New.Topia also addresses in their music. Their first EP offers a musical journey that is thought-provoking and at the same time directly addresses current global problems.

We highly recommend the new EP from New.Topia and look forward to more. If you want to see the band live, you should come to Odonien in Cologne on September 13. New.Topia will be performing there together with Echo Among Trees and Shipwrecks. Admission is free and the show starts at 6 pm.

Photocredit: Lena Kircher

Lila is out, be the beat with you!