Future Islands

Biography

Future Islands is a new wave and post-punk band that formed in 2006 in Greenville, North Carolina, when founding members Samuel T. Herring (vocals and lyrics), William Cashion (bass and guitars), and Gerrit Welmers (keyboards and programming) disbanded their previous project, Art Lord & The Self-Portraits, a Kraftwerk-inspired experimental group. The trio relocated to Baltimore, Maryland in late 2007 and early 2008, establishing themselves as a distinctive force in the city's fertile music scene. They released their debut album Wave Like Home in 2008 on Upset the Rhythm, followed by In Evening Air (2010) and On the Water (2011), all recorded in DIY settings that gave their early work a distinctive, intimate character. Herring's theatrical performance style—characterized by chest-beating and intense emotional delivery—became a signature element of their live shows, helping the band build a devoted cult following through relentless touring of small venues.

Future Islands achieved mainstream breakthrough in 2014 with their album Singles, which featured the viral hit "Seasons (Waiting on You)." The song's performance on the Late Show with David Letterman garnered critical acclaim from publications like Pitchfork and NME, transforming the band from underground favorites to widely recognized artists. Drummer Michael Lowry joined the band in 2020, completing the current four-piece lineup. The band has continued releasing albums including The Far Field (2017) and As Long As You Are (2020), with their seventh album People Who Aren't There Anymore representing what critics consider their most emotionally powerful work. Despite being spread across the country when not touring or recording, Future Islands has maintained creative intimacy and longevity that defies their original understanding that the project would be temporary.

Musically, Future Islands combines the romanticism of new wave with the power and drive of post-punk, though the band has consistently rejected the synthpop classification. Their sound is characterized by melodic, romantic synthesizers paired with post-punk bass tones and Herring's distinctive vocal growl. As of 2024, the band marked 18 years of active existence, a milestone that surprised even the members given their initial lack of expectations for longevity. The band's journey from art school friends to legacy act reflects their commitment to artistic integrity and emotional authenticity across nearly two decades of music-making.

Fun Facts

• The band's name 'Future Islands' was chosen with the understanding that the members would eventually be spread out doing their own things, reflecting an initial expectation that the project would be temporary—an understanding that 'thankfully never solidified' according to Samuel Herring.
• Samuel Herring and William Cashion perform together as The Snails, a live ska band where they dress as snails on stage, representing a playful side project distinct from Future Islands' serious artistic output.
• Future Islands' breakthrough hit 'Seasons (Waiting on You)' went viral following their performance on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2014, transforming the band from a cult favorite with a strong critical following to mainstream recognition.
• The band's early albums were recorded in unconventional spaces including their living room in Baltimore's historic Marble Hill neighborhood, a skate park in Greenville, North Carolina, and a historic waterfront house in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, giving their recordings a distinctive 'ghosts' quality from the spaces themselves.

Members

• William Cashion - guitar (from 2006)
• William Cashion - bass guitar (from 2006)
• Samuel T. Herring - lead vocals (from 2006)
• Moss of Aura - keyboard (from 2006)
• Moss of Aura - guitar (from 2011)
• Michael Lowry - task (from 2014)
• Michael Lowry - drums (drum set) (from 2020)

Original Members

• William Cashion - guitar
• William Cashion - bass guitar
• Samuel T. Herring - lead vocals
• Moss of Aura - keyboard
• Moss of Aura - guitar
• Michael Lowry - task
• Michael Lowry - drums (drum set)

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Chester Endersby Gwazda - Producer and recording engineer for Future Islands' early albums, recorded their debut at Backdoor Skateshop using minimal equipment (Wave Like Home (2008)) [2007-2008]

Key Collaborators

• Samuel T. Herring - Lead vocalist, lyricist, and founding member; also released music as Hemlock Ernst (hip-hop project) and The Snails (ska band with William Cashion) (All Future Islands albums; Trouble Knows Me EP with Madlib (2015)) [2006-present]
• William Cashion - Bassist, guitarist, and founding member; also collaborates in experimental project Peals with Bruce Willen of Double Dagger and The Snails with Samuel Herring (All Future Islands albums; Peals project) [2006-present]
• Gerrit Welmers - Keyboardist, programmer, and founding member; maintains solo project Moss of Aura (All Future Islands albums; Moss of Aura solo project) [2006-present]
• Michael Lowry - Drummer and percussionist; joined the band to complete the current four-piece lineup (As Long As You Are (2020), The Far Field (2017), People Who Aren't There Anymore) [2020-present]
• Madlib - Respected hip-hop producer who collaborated with Samuel Herring on his Hemlock Ernst project (Trouble Knows Me EP) [2015]
• Bruce Willen - Collaborator with William Cashion in the experimental project Peals; formerly of Baltimore post-punk band Double Dagger (Peals project) [Post-Singles era]

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #new-wave, #post-punk-revival, #synth-pop