Future Islands
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Future Islands is an American synth-pop band that formed in Greenville, North Carolina in 2006, later relocating to Baltimore, Maryland in 2008. The band consists of Samuel T. Herring (vocals), Gerrit Welmers (keyboards, programming), William Cashion (bass, guitars), and Michael Lowry (drums). Known for their emotionally intense performances and Herring's distinctive vocal delivery and energetic stage presence, Future Islands has become one of the most compelling live acts in contemporary indie music.
The band was formed by Herring, Welmers, and Cashion—the remaining members of the performance art college band Art Lord & the Self-Portraits—and drummer Erick Murillo. The band played their first show on February 12, 2006, at an anti-Valentine's Day party in a venue called the Turducken house, opening for about a dozen bands. Murillo departed from the band after recording their debut album "Wave Like Home" (2008). Continuing as a three-piece, the remaining trio released two further studio albums—"In Evening Air" (2010) and "On the Water" (2011)—to a growing cult fanbase built through extensive touring.
Future Islands came to prominence in 2014 with their fourth album "Singles," released by 4AD. Their performance on Late Show with David Letterman became particularly notable and helped propel them to wider recognition, with Herring's passionate, physical performance style capturing widespread attention. The band has played nearly 1,500 shows throughout their career, establishing themselves as road warriors dedicated to connecting with audiences through their powerful, cathartic live performances.