Future Islands
| Future Islands | |
|---|---|
 Future Islands performing in Cleveland, Ohio, February 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Greenville, North Carolina, United States |
| Genres | Synthpop, alternative rock, indie pop |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | 4AD |
| Associated acts | Art Lord & the Self Portraits, Ear PWR, Moss of Aura, The Snails, Peals, Ruin Yer Stereo |
| 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 Greenville, North Carolina.
History
The band met and formed while studying art at East Carolina University in Greenville. 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 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] 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 would release their new album, Singles, in March 2014. The band made their network television debut 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]
Discography
Albums
- Wave Like Home (Upset the Rhythm - August 25, 2008)
- In Evening Air (Thrill Jockey - May 4, 2010)[9]
- On the Water (Thrill Jockey - October 11, 2011)[10]
- Singles (4AD - March 25, 2014)[11] US #40, UK #42
EPs and singles
- Little Advances (self-released - April 28, 2006)
- Split CD-R with Moss of Aura (self-released - January 6, 2007)
- Split 7" with Dan Deacon (307 Knox Records - August 5, 2008 - purple vinyl, limited to 1000)
- Feathers & Hallways 7" EP (Upset the Rhythm - April 15, 2009 - white virgin vinyl)
- Post Office Wave Chapel 12" remix EP (Free Danger - February 2010, limited to 500)
- In The Fall 12" EP (Thrill Jockey - April 2010 - Blue Vinyl, limited to 1000)
- Undressed 12" EP (Thrill Jockey - September 2010, limited to 1000)
- Split 7" with Lonnie Walker (Friends Records - November 2010, limited to 1000)
- Before the Bridge 7" single (Thrill Jockey - July 19, 2011, limited to 750)
- Split 7" with Ed Schrader's Music Beat (Famous Class - July 17, 2012)
- Tomorrow 7" single (Upset the Rhythm - September 3, 2012, limited to 1000)
- Seasons (Waiting on You) 7" single (4AD - February 4, 2014) #37 Billboard Alternative Songs
- The Chase 7" single (4AD - April 29, 2015)
As Art Lord & the Self-Portraits:
- Searching for a Complement (self-released - August 2003)
- In Your Boombox (self-released - October 2003)
- Ideas for Housecrafts (self-released - February 2004)
- Snail (self-released - 2005)
- "Sad Apples, Dance!" featured on Compulation Vol. 2: Songs from North Carolina (Poxworld Empire)
- In Your Idea Box digital-only "best-of" release (307 Knox Records - September 2008)
References
- ↑ "Future Islands-Thrill Jockey Records". Retrieved 2010-06-15.
- ↑ Christopher Hooton, "Future Islands deliver jaw-dropping performance of Seasons on David Letterman," The Independent, March 6, 2014.
- ↑ http://www.undertheradarmag.com/interviews/future_islands_-_the_under_the_radar_cover_story/
- ↑ http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9555-the-100-best-tracks-of-2014/10/
- ↑ http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/singles/
- ↑ http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/12/songs-of-the-year-2014/full-post/
- ↑ Payne, Chris. "Future Islands Show New Dance Moves on 'Jimmy Kimmel': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ↑ "Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You) - Later... with Jools Holland - BBC Two". YouTube. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ↑ "New Release: Future Islands: In Evening Air". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ↑ Breihan, Tom. "Future Islands Announce New Album". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ↑ "4AD - Singles by Future Islands". 4AD. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
External links
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