Future Islands

Future Islands

Future Islands performing at Death By Audio in Brooklyn, February 2011
Background information
Origin Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Genres Alternative rock, indie pop
Years active 2006–present
Labels 4AD
Associated acts Art Lord & the Self-Portraits, The Snails, Moss of Aura, Peals, Hemlock Ernst, Double Dagger, Lake Trout
Website future-islands.com
Members Gerrit Welmers
William Cashion
Samuel Herring
Michael Lowry (Touring Drummer)
Past members Erick Murillo

Future Islands is an American synthpop band based in Baltimore, Maryland, and signed to 4AD. The band is composed of Gerrit Welmers (keyboards and programming), William Cashion (bass, acoustic and electric guitars), and Samuel T. Herring (lyrics and vocals). Future Islands formed in January 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland.

History

The band met and formed while studying art at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Their first band was Art Lord & the Self-Portraits, which included Samuel T. Herring, William Cashion, Gerrit Welmers, Adam Beeby, and Kymia Nawabi. That band lasted from February 2003 until fall of 2005. In 2006, Cashion, Herring, and Welmers formed Future Islands with Erick Murillo, who played an electronic drum kit.

Future Islands released Little Advances in April 2006 and a self-released split CD with Welmers' solo project Moss of Aura in January 2007. They recorded their debut album "Wave Like Home" with Chester Endersby Gwazda at Backdoor Skateshop in Greenville, NC later that year. London-based label Upset the Rhythm released Wave Like Home in the Summer of 2008. The cover art was designed by Kymia Nawabi, a former member of Art Lord & the Self-Portraits.

In late 2007/early 2008, the band relocated to Baltimore. The "Feathers and Hallways" 7" was recorded in Oakland, California, during their first U.S. tour and was their first release as a focused three-piece. Their second album, In Evening Air, was recorded in the band's living room in the historic Marble Hill neighborhood in Baltimore.

In 2009, the band signed to Chicago independent record company Thrill Jockey.[1] In 2011, two songs off their sophomore album, Vireo's Eye and Inch of Dust were used in episodes 3 and 7 respectively, of the first season of TV series Shameless. Following a year of solid touring, they recorded their third album On the Water in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and released it in the autumn of 2011.

In early 2014, the band announced they had signed to 4AD, who released their new album, Singles, in March 2014. The band made their network television début on March 3, 2014, on The Late Show with David Letterman, performing the lead single "Seasons (Waiting on You)".[2] Their performance on the show, particularly Herring's onstage antics, became an internet success, and garnered millions of views on YouTube.[3] "Seasons (Waiting on You)" was eventually named the best song of 2014 by Pitchfork Media,[4] the Pazz & Jop critics' poll,[5] and Consequence of Sound.[6]

The band performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live in May 2014.[7]

They made an appearance on Later... with Jools Holland on September 30, 2014.[8]

The band performed at the Glastonbury Festival on Sunday, June 28, 2015, on 'The Other Stage'.

On New Years Eve 2015 they appeared once again with Jools Holland on his annual Hootenanny where they performed 'Back In The Tall Grass' and Seasons (Waiting on You)[9]

In 2008, Sam Herring and William Cashion started a parallel project called The Snails with members of other Baltimore bands.[10] Their debut EP Worth the Wait came out in April 2013.[11] In February 2016, they released their debut album Songs from The Shoebox.[12]

Band members

Current members
  • Gerrit Welmers – keyboards and programming (2006–present)
  • William Cashion – bass, acoustic and electric guitars (2006–present)
  • Samuel T. Herring – lyrics and vocals (2006–present)
Current touring musicians
  • Michael Lowry – drums (2014–present)
Former members
  • Erick Murillo – drums (2006–2007)
  • Samuel N. Ortiz-Payero – drums (2008)
Former touring musicians
  • Denny Bowen – drums (2013–2014)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

References

  1. ↑ "Future Islands". Thrill Jockey Records. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  2. ↑ Hooton, Christopher (March 6, 2014). "Future Islands deliver jaw-dropping performance of Seasons on David Letterman". The Independent. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  3. ↑ Studarus, Laura (September 23, 2014). "Future Islands". Under the Radar. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  4. ↑ "The 100 Best Tracks of 2014". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ "PAZZ+JOP 2014". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Top 50 Songs of 2014". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ Payne, Chris. "Future Islands Show New Dance Moves on 'Jimmy Kimmel'". Billboard. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You) - Later... with Jools Holland - BBC Two". YouTube. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Jools' Annual Hootenanny - BBC Two". Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ Petersen, Kyle (March 16, 2016). "Future Islands members goof off with friends in the Snails". www.charlestoncitypaper.com. Charleston City Paper. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  11. ↑ Evans, Diana (April 25, 2013). "The Snails set to release EP, will play short East Coast tour". www.imposemagazine.com. Impose Magazine. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  12. ↑ Minsker, Evan (February 16, 2016). "Future Islands Side Project the Snails Drop New Album Songs From the Shoebox". pitchfork.com. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved March 20, 2016.

External links

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