By Maura Marcellino
Earlier this month, a local 5-piece alternative rock band that has been on my personal radar for months, Unity for The Outcasts, released their rockin new five-track EP, “The Land of Make Believe.” I had the pleasure of seeing them perform at The Pocket in November and became excited for their EP to release! Their stage presence and crowd interaction absolutely won me over. According to singer and rhythm guitarist, Rohit, “This EP is about exploring the consequences of our choices and learning to accept them.” Samrat, the lead guitarist states; “I hope that the coming-of-age message of this EP can speak to young adults like ourselves while they navigate life”
Their music is a mixture of energetic pop rock, 2000’s pop punk, and heavier subgenres like metalcore. Unity for the Outcasts strives to give voices to the unheard with vivid, metaphorical imagery. The group creates music that speaks to a larger message of individuality and acceptance. As a band with members of South Asian heritage, Unity for the Outcasts makes successful strides in increasing diversity and representation in the rock scene. The band started out as a fun idea in a college dorm sparked by Rohit (singer and rhythm guitarist) and Samrat (lead guitarist) in Fall 2019, but grew out to become something much more. Despite the pandemic derailing their plans in 2020, UFTO persisted and released original music before recruiting Sid (bassist), Claire (singer), and Dean (drummer) to join the band’s present lineup. “The Land of Make Believe” is a concept EP that narrates the journey of 2 characters who set out to find themselves and encounter hope, fear, betrayal, anguish, and acceptance along the way.
From start to finish, this almost 20 minute EP is perfect to listen to on a walk around campus for students like me, a lunch break, or just a time to take a break from screens, close your eyes, and go on a little musical journey to The Land of Make Believe.
The song that has been on repeat the most this week is “Give In.” From the ticking noises to the hypnotizing vocals and instrumentals, I felt surrounded by the sound with all the whispers and interactive feel of the song (especially those haunting vocals by Claire). It was like I was in an action movie where everybody sings this song before challenging another group to a competition or something…sort of like how a lot of children’s movies have dance battle scenes, but more mature.
On a personal note, it has been great to watch this band grow in the short time I have been a fan. I attended a concert at the 9:30 club in D.C and overheard the people behind me mentioning UFTO and I just had to let them know I was also a fan of them!
The Land of Make Believe is available on major streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, and is available below as well as on the Alchemical Records Multigenre Mixture playlist on Spotify.
Maura Marcellino is studying business and environmental sustainability at George Mason University. When she is not studying, Maura enjoys listening to music and spending time with friends and family.
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