Future Islands Biography
Biography
While enrolled in the art program at East Carolina University, the band first began collaborating to create electro-pop music in 2003. Along with Herring, the group’s founding members included keyboardist Adam Beeby, bassist William Cashion, keyboardist Gerrit Welmers, and percussionist Kymia Nawabi. Under the name Art Lord & the Self-Portraits, they performed at events on campus.
Following the breakup of their band in 2006, Herring, Cashion, and Welmers reformed as Future Islands and added Kickass bassist Erick Murillo to round out their sound on an electronic drum kit. The howls, yells, and croons of charismatic vocalist Samuel T. Herring are perfectly complemented by Future Islands’ smooth, guitar-free synth pop.
Career & Projects
The group put out a few CD-Rs, split albums, and cassettes before starting to record their debut album with Chester Endersby Gwazda. The band moved to Baltimore, with the exception of Murillo, after the album was finished recording but before it was released. The Upset the Rhythm label’s 2008 Wave Like Home release. Future Islands consistently toured, amassed a following, and continued to develop their sound.
They joined Thrill Jockey and put out two records in 2010: the In Evening Air album and the In the Fall EP. The band departed Thrill Jockey and went underground following some disagreements over their 2011 album, On the Water. The band quietly started working on a new record as Herring focused on his solo hip-hop project, Hemlock Ernst. In 2012, they released a single in support of their longtime friends Upset the Rhythm.
In 2013, they signed with 4AD. Singles, their debut record for the label, was a Chris Coady-produced synth pop album that was simplified and incredibly approachable. They made a big impression on the indie rock scene when they stunned the host on Late Night with David Letterman with a rendition of one of the album’s highlights, “Seasons (Waiting on You).”
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