Future Islands

Thanks to the shapeshifting antics of frontman Samuel T. Herring, Baltimore-based synth-pop luminaries Future Islands are a band who once seen are never forgotten. At times, Samuel T. Herring's mesmerizing contortions and random side-stepping have threatened to upstage the music, but nobody can deny he sings from the heart. The band had a couple of lucky breaks when they appeared on the David Letterman Show in the US and on Later... With Jools Holland in the UK performing the song "Seasons (Waiting on You)" in 2014. Prior to these life-changing appearances, some critics had been guilty of dismissing Future Islands as a lightweight synth-pop band. However, the band's powerful rendition of "Seasons" proved there was real depth to their music. Formed at art school in North Carolina, the band were originally known as Art Lord and the Self Portraits before changing their name and releasing their debut album Wave Like Home in 2008. For the next few years, the band toured solidly and built up a following. By the release of their fourth album Singles in 2014, Future Islands reached critical mass in terms of audience awareness and became an established international act appearing at top-line festivals such as Glastonbury. In 2017, fifth album The Far Field burned once again with the kind of raw emotional intensity the band had become synonymous with, while sixth album As Long As You Are took a glossier turn towards 1980s-primed synthpop anthems. The band's seventh album, People Who Aren’t There Anymore, emerged in January 2024 and was co-produced by Future Islands and Steve Wright. Future Islands continued touring internationally in 2024, with dates across Latin America, Europe, the United States, and Canada, and promoted the album with the video for “The Thief.” In 2025, the band remained active on the festival circuit, including appearances at Mad Cool in Madrid and Osheaga in Montreal. In 2026, Future Islands marked their 20th anniversary with From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youth, a 20-track collection of rarities, alternate versions, and fan favorites. Previewed by “Sail” and “Find Love,” the release was paired with the Fountain of Youth Tour, focused on North Carolina and Baltimore.