Sep 13, 2024 By Mark Redfern (with Andy Von Pip)

Welcome to the 29th Songs of the Week of 2024. This week Andy Von Pip, Caleb Campbell, Jim Scott, and Scotty Dransfield helped me decide what should make the list. We considered over 50 songs and narrowed it down to a Top 16.  More

Sep 04, 2024 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands released a new album, People Who Aren’t There Anymore, in January via 4AD. Now they have returned with a one-off single, “Glimpse,” shared via a music video. More

Jan 30, 2024 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands released a new album, People Who Aren’t There Anymore, last Friday via 4AD. Now they have announced some new North American tour dates and shared a video for the album’s “The Thief.” Plus last week they performed the album’s “The Tower” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the same studio where their 2014 Late Show with David Letterman performance of “Seasons (Waiting On You)” launched them to bigger success after going viral. You can also stream the new album and read our review of it from last week. More

Jan 09, 2024 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands are releasing a new album, People Who Aren’t There Anymore, on January 26 via 4AD. Now they have shared another song from it, “Say Goodbye,” via an animated music video. A press release describes the song as being “an examination of a long distance relationship unraveling.” More

Dec 01, 2023 By Mark Redfern (and Andy Von Pip)

Welcome to the 39th Songs of the Week of 2023. This week’s list includes songs from the last two weeks, as we didn’t do a Songs of the Week last week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Although the majority of the songs were culled from this week’s releases. More

Nov 29, 2023 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands are releasing a new album, People Who Aren’t There Anymore, on January 26, 2024 via 4AD. Now they have shared another song from it, “The Fight,” via an animated music video. More

Oct 27, 2023 By Mark Redfern (with Caleb Campbell)

Welcome to the 35th Songs of the Week of 2023. This week Andy Von Pip, Caleb Campbell, and Scott Dransfield, all helped me decide what should make the list. We settled on a Top 10 this week. More

Oct 24, 2023 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands have announced a new album, People Who Aren’t There Anymore, and shared a new song from it, “The Tower,” via a music video. More

Aug 18, 2023 By Mark Redfern

Welcome to the 25th Songs of the Week of 2023. Songs of the Week was on hiatus for the last month because Wendy and I were on a much needed vacation to England and Iceland. I received several reader emails worried we had killed Songs of the Week, but have no worries, it’s back. As well as a regular Songs of the Week, we have put together an additional Spotify playlist featuring all the songs we also liked while Songs of the Week was taking a break. More

Aug 15, 2023 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands have shared a new song, “Deep in the Night,” via a music video. Right now it’s a standalone single on 4AD. More

Feb 14, 2023 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands have announced some new spring U.S. tour dates. They go down this May. More

Nov 02, 2022 By Joey Arnone

Future Islands have shared a cover of the 1984 Wham! holiday classic “Last Christmas.” It is out now via 4AD. More

Feb 16, 2022 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands have shared a brand new song, “King of Sweden.” The band also performed the new single last night on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, debuting the song there. More

Aug 19, 2021 By Mark Redfern

British rock band James released their 16th studio album, All the Colours of You, back in June via Virgin Music Label & Artist Services. Now they have shared a new remix of one of the album’s singles, “Beautiful Beaches,” by Future Islands, who slow down the song a bit and add more atmosphere. More

Aug 18, 2021 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands have shared a brand new song, “Peach,” which is being described as a one-off single. It follows their 2020-released album As Long As You Are. The band also recently shared some new As Long As You Are remixes, including a Carl Cox remix of “City’s Face,” a Controller 7 remix of “Waking,” and a Sudan Archives remix of “Born in a War.” More

Jul 13, 2021 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands have released ALAYA Remixes 2, the second of three remix EPs featuring reworks of songs from their 2020-released album As Long As You Are. It includes a remix of “For Sure” by Washed Out, as well remixes of “Thrill” by COMPUTER DATA and “Hit The Coast” by Smallboy. More

May 24, 2021 By Mark Redfern

Future Islands must’ve really missed playing live shows during the pandemic, because they have announced a huge 59-date tour that stretches from September to next April and includes shows in America, Europe, and the UK. More

Apr 21, 2021 By Mark Redfern

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our new print issue, which is out now nationwide (on newsstands, in such stores as Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, and elsewhere) and available to buy directly from us here. The issue features Japanese Breakfast and HAIM on the two covers and is another edition of The Protest Issue, which examines the intersection of music and politics and features musicians photographed with protest signs of their own making. More

Mar 25, 2021 By Joey Arnone

4AD just shared the third set of songs to be featured on their upcoming compilation album Bills & Aches & Blues, which celebrates the label’s 20th anniversary and will be out on April 2. The new song set features Future Islands covering “The Moon Is Blue” by Colourbox, Jenny Hval covering “Sunbathing” by Lush, Dry Cleaning covering “Oblivion” by Grimes, and Bradford Cox covering “Mountain Battles” by The Breeders. More

Mar 02, 2021 By Joey Arnone

Future Islands have shared a video for “Glada,” a song from their newest album As Long As You Are. The video, filmed on the Swedish countryside, was directed by actress Julia Ragnarsson, and edited by visual artist Ponyhans. More

Jan 25, 2021 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands released a new album, As Long As You Are, last fall via 4AD (it was one of our Top 100 Albums of 2020). Now they have done a Tiny Desk (Home) Concert for NPR Music, performing four songs remotely at Carroll Baldwin Memorial Hall, which is outside of their home base of Baltimore. More

Jan 12, 2021 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands released a new album, As Long As You Are, last fall via 4AD. Last night they were the musical guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers, in which they performed the album’s “Plastic Beach.” They have also shared a nine-minute remix of “For Sure” by Dan Deacon (who is also based in Baltimore). More

Nov 24, 2020 By Joey Arnone

The National are putting out remastered reissues of their earliest material, which includes their self-titled debut album from 2001, their sophomore album Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers from 2003, and 2004’s Cherry Tree EP. All three releases have been remastered at Abbey Road Studios and will be out February 26, 2021 via 4AD. More

Nov 20, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Matt Berninger of The National released his debut solo album, Serpentine Prison, last month via Book, Berninger’s new imprint with Concord. Now he has shared a remix of the album’s “One More Second” by Baltimore four-piece Future Islands. More

Oct 09, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Welcome to the 39th Songs of the Week of 2020. We skipped Songs of the Week last week because we had other plans last Friday, so this week’s list covers two weeks worth of songs. More

Oct 08, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands are releasing a new album, As Long As You Are, tomorrow via 4AD. Last night they were the musical guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, in which they did a captivating performance of the album’s “For Sure.” More

Oct 07, 2020 By Laura Studarus

Welcome to Why Not Both Wednesdays. Every week, in partnership with the Why Not Both podcast, we’ll be presenting new podcast episodes that explore how multiple passions inform the inspiring lives of musicians, writers, actors, and creatives. This week, William Cashion of Future Islands tells us about leading both ambient and pop lives. More

Oct 06, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands are releasing a new album, As Long As You Are, on Friday via 4AD. Now they have shared another new song from it, “Born in a War,” via an animated video for it. The song takes on capitalism and the military industrial complex. More

Sep 18, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Welcome to the 37th Songs of the Week of 2020. Just as we were finishing up this week’s list we got word that beloved Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died. As if 2020 couldn’t get any worse. R.I.P. a true legend, the Notorious RBG. More

Sep 15, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands are releasing a new album, As Long As You Are, on October 9 via 4AD. Now they have shared another new song from it, “Moonlight,” via a video for it. More

Aug 14, 2020 By Christopher Roberts (with Jennifer Irving)

Welcome to the 32nd Songs of the Week of 2020. This week’s big political news was Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden announcing his highly capable running mate, Senator Kamala Harris. More

Aug 12, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands have announced a new album, As Long As You Are, and shared a new song from it, “Thrill,” via a video for it. More

Jul 10, 2020 By Christopher Roberts (with Samantha Small and Julian Roberts-Grmela)

Welcome to the 27th Songs of the Week of 2020. There was a brief time when maybe one could have felt cautiously optimistic about the coronavirus, when it felt like it was okay to at least leave the house and interact with people outdoors in a socially distant way, but now it’s all feeling dire again, with COVID-19 cases soaring across the land. And we know who to blame. More

Jul 08, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands are back with a new song, “For Sure,” shared via a video. The song features backing vocals from Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak and Flock of Dimes. More

Feb 21, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Welcome to the seventh Songs of the Week of 2020. Since Monday was President’s Day here in America, it should’ve been a less busy week for new tracks, but there was still plenty to choose from and this week we’ve got 12 songs that we consider the week’s best. More

Feb 18, 2020 By Christopher Roberts

Wilma Archer (aka Will Archer, who used to release music as Slime) is putting out a new album, A Western Circular, on April 3 via Domino imprint Weird World. Now he has shared another song from it, “Decades,” which features guest vocals from Laura Groves and Future Islands’ Samuel T. Herring. More

May 18, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

We skipped Songs of the Week last week for various reasons, but now we’re back with two week’s worth of songs. For that reason, this week it’s a Top 15, instead of our usual Top 10. More

May 10, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

Swedish singer/songwriter Nina Kinert (who for awhile was just known as Nina K, but is now back to her full name) is releasing a new album, Romantic, tomorrow (May 11) via V2. Now she has shared the album’s second single, “Chapped Lips,” via a video for the song. More

May 04, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

Last week’s Songs of the Week encompassed two week’s worth of songs. This week we’re back to normal. This week’s list features lots of Songs of the Week alumni, with three of the top four being former #1s. More

May 03, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands released a new album, The Far Field, a little over a year ago via 4AD. Now they have shared a brand new song, “Calliope.” More

Apr 09, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

The National have announced a two-day live event at Forest Hills Stadium on September 29 and 30 that will features performances from the band as well as from Cat Power, Future Islands, U.S. Girls, Phoebe Bridges, Bully, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Cigarettes After Sex, and Adia Victoria. More

Jan 08, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

The National released their excellent new album, Sleep Well Beast, last September via 4AD. It was our Album of the Week and #7 on our Top 100 Albums of 2017 list. More

Dec 30, 2017 By Mark Redfern

2016 was regarded as a fairly rough year by many, but 2017 was no walk in the park either. 2016 was mired by the deaths of several beloved musical icons (David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, and Sharon Jones among them) and the disappointing and divisive Presidential election, but in 2017 we had to deal with the ramifications of said election (we’d say that roughly 95% of the musicians we interview likely don’t support many, if any, of President Trump’s policies). More

Dec 14, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands released a new album, The Far Field, back in April via 4AD. Now they have shared a video for “Beauty of the Road.” Directed by Jay Buim, it fittingly features the band on the road, performing live at various concerts. Watch it below. More

Jun 16, 2017 By Stephen Mayne

The problem with politics, like too many other things, is that it moves so fast. This is exacerbated by a presidency that seems to go through crises like the average person goes through socks. More

Apr 25, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands released a new album, The Far Field, earlier this month via 4AD. Previously the band shared its first single “Ran” (which they also shared a video for and performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon) and a lyric video for “Cave” that featured the album’s lyrics in sign language. More

Apr 20, 2017 By Julia Underwood

Last night Future Islands played The Glass House in Pomona, CA. More

Apr 13, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands released a new album, The Far Field, last week via 4AD. Previously the band shared its first single “Ran” (which they also shared a video for and performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon) and a lyric video for “Cave” that featured the album’s lyrics in sign language. More

Mar 24, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands are releasing a new album, The Far Field, on April 7 via 4AD. Previously the band shared its first single “Ran,” and then they performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. More

Mar 01, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands are releasing a new album, The Far Field, on April 7 via 4AD. Previously the band shared its first single “Ran” and performed the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Now the band has shared a video for “Ran.” More

Feb 10, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands are releasing a new album, The Far Field, on April 7 via 4AD. Previously the band shared its first single “Ran.” Last night the Baltimore-based trio stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform “Ran.” More

Feb 01, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands have announced a new album, The Far Field, and shared its first single “Ran.” The Far Field is due out April 7 via 4AD. The band has also announced some tour dates. More

Jan 11, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Bonnaroo have announced their 2017 lineup. The festival goes down in Manchester, Tennessee from June 8-11 and this year, their 16th year, the lineup includes U2 performing The Joshua Tree (which was announced on Monday), More

Jan 04, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Coachella has announced the line-up for their 2017 festival, which goes down in Indio, California over two weekends in April (with the same bill each weekend). Friday April 14 and 21 is headlined by Radiohead, Saturday April 15 and 22 is headlined by Beyoncé, and Sunday April 16 and 23 is headlined by Kendrick Lamar. More

Jul 07, 2016 By Christopher Roberts

Producer Clams Casino is releasing his debut full-length album, 32 Levels, on July 15 via Columbia. The album features A Rocky, Lil B, alt-J’s Joe Newman, Sam Dew, Wet’s Kelly Zutrau, Mikky Ekko, and others. More

Mar 25, 2016 By Joshua M. Miller

Listen to a new demo from Trouble Knows Me, a colloboration between Future Islands’ Samuel T. Herring and Madlib. More

Dec 31, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

We here at Under the Radar are taking most of Christmas and New Year’s off. Still, over the holiday a few notable artists have posted some Christmas songs (some covers, some originals) that we didn’t have a chance to post and they are collected here. Included are Future Islands, Mac DeMarco, Lauryn Hill, Miley Cyrus (with a little help from The Flaming Lips), Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz, LCD Soundsystem, and Will Butler. More

Sep 29, 2015 By Julia Underwood

On Sunday, Future Islands and Grace Jones performed at the Hollywood Bowl. More

Aug 19, 2015 By Julia Underwood

Last weekend Helsinki hosted Flow Festival. More

Jul 22, 2015 By Laura Studarus

Last weekend, Chicago hosted the annual Pitchfork Festival. Check out Annie Lesser’s shots from day two, featuring Jimmy Whispers, Protomartyr, Bully, Future Brown, Mr. Twin Sister, Ariel Pink, Shamir, ASAP Ferg, The New Pornographers, Future Islands, and Sleater-Kinney. More

Jul 17, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands’ Samuel T. Herring is no stranger to the hip-hop game and has performed before under his rapper name Hemlock Ernst. But now he’s taken it a step further and teamed up with Madlib as Trouble Knows Me. More

Jun 24, 2015 By Julia Underwood

From June 19-21, Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands hosted the third edition of Best Kept Secret. More

Jun 19, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands have shared a video for “A Song For Your Grandfathers,” another song from their acclaimed 2014 album Singles. The video was shared in honor of Father’s Day this Sunday and was shot at a family reunion in North Carolina. More

Jun 08, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

As we previously reported last week, Future Islands have special plans for their 1,000th show. It’ll take place July 26 in Carrboro, NC at Carrboro Town Commons (301 W Main Street, Carrboro, NC 27510). More

Jun 03, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands may have caught the nation’s attention thanks to their amazing David Letterman performance last year and racked up critical raves for 2014’s Singles, but before all that they were (and still are) a hard working band who toured a whole bunch. Apparently they’ve been keeping track of just how many shows they’ve played and next month they will be hitting four digits. Future Islands have special plans for their 1,000th show. It’ll take place July 26 in Carrboro, NC at Carrboro Town Commons (301 W Main Street, Carrboro, NC 27510). More

May 07, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

Future Islands may not be from Baltimore, but they’ve long made the city their home and been part of its thriving music scene (along with Dan Deacon, Beach House, and others). No doubt they were dismayed by the recent riots in Baltimore and have now launched an eBay auction, with proceeds going to The Baltimore Community Foundation. More

Apr 29, 2015 By Mike Hilleary

Returning to the place that finally granted them their long, sought-after breakthrough moment, Baltimore’s Future Islands were welcomed as the musical guest on David Letterman’s Late Show last night where they performed their brand new single, “The Chase.” More

Apr 16, 2015 By Mike Hilleary

Future Islands have announced that they will release a brand new single titled “The Chase” on Record Store Day. More

Mar 30, 2015 By Mike Hilleary

Still enjoying the fruits of success from their critically acclaimed album Singles, Future Islands have announced a number of new dates behind the LP. More

Jan 15, 2015 By Laura Studarus

Last year, Future Islands put out our third favorite album, toured the globe, and basically forced the world to fall in love with the thing they’ve been doing for the last ten years. Now they’re taking on Austin City Limits. More

Dec 17, 2014 By Laura Studarus

There’s no use arguing that Future Islands haven’t had a banner year. From their Letterman performance, to releasing Singles, to traveling the world, to being featured on the cover ofUnder the Radar, the emotive trio have pretty much been everywhere and done everything. More

Dec 12, 2014 By Laura Studarus

More lineup news from Way Out West. More

Nov 26, 2014 By Cody Ray Shafer

“Seasons (Waiting On You)” has certainly made an impact in 2014. Now, Toronto duo BADBADNOTGOOD have taken the Singles cut and completely reinterpreted it. More

Nov 11, 2014 By Laura Studarus

Last night Future Islands stopped by IFC sketch show Comedy Bang! Bang! More

Oct 22, 2014 By Laura Studarus

So 2014 has basically been the year of Future Islands. More

Oct 14, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Continuing support of their standout record Singles Baltimore trio Future Islands have announced that they have added additional tour dates to their existing calendar of shows. More

Oct 01, 2014 By Cody Ray Shafer

Baltimore’s energetic synthpop band Future Islands continue their tour in support of their excellent album Singles, which came out earlier this year on 4AD. Last night, Samuel T. Herring showcased his signature moves and otherworldly voice onLater With Jools Holland in the U.K. More

Sep 10, 2014 By Laura Studarus

Current and previous Under the Radar cover artists Future Islands, The National, and The Flaming Lips are all slated to appear on the new season of IFC show Comedy Bang! Bang. More

Sep 03, 2014 By Michael Wojtas

Future Islands, who are currently in the midst of a lengthy tour, stopped by Montreal last night and received an assist from the city’s own Win Butler. More

Aug 04, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Releasing their highly successful new album Singles not too long ago, Future Islands have premiered a brand new remix of the featured track “Doves.” More

Jun 17, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Still enjoying the success of their breakthrough album Singles, current Under the Radar cover artists Future Islands have released a brand new EP today. More

May 23, 2014 By Laura Studarus and Mark Redfern

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of the June/July issue, which is on newsstands now. It features Future Islands on the cover as well as interviews with Slow Club, Lykke Li, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Horrors, Slowdive, The War on Drugs vs. Sharon Van Etten, First Aid Kit, James McAvoy, John Slattery, tUnE-yArDs, and more. More

May 06, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Last night Future Islands were welcomed as the musical on Jimmy Kimmel Live, performing the tracks “Doves” and “Spirit” off their breakthrough LP Singles. More

Apr 01, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Recently releasing their much-loved new album Singles, Future Islands have become the latest subject of a short documentary filmed by Yours Truly. More

Mar 26, 2014 By Laura Studarus

You know how when you combine two things that you love, like chocolate and peanut butter, you get a third amazing thing—like a peanut butter cup? That’s exactly how we feel about Slow Club’s cover of Future Islands single, “Seasons (Waiting on You).” More

Mar 17, 2014 By Christopher Roberts

This week NPR’s First Listen series is streaming the new albums from Future Islands (Singles) and Liars (Mess), both due out next Tuesday, March 25th. More

Mar 12, 2014 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar’s SXSW 2014 parties kick off today at the Flamingo Cantina (515 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701, on 6th Street and Red River). EMA headlines today’s party and the lineup also includes The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Future Islands, Connan Mockasin, Lost in the Trees, Casual Sex, and Saintseneca. More

Mar 04, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Poised to release their forthcoming album Singles on March 25, Future Islands appeared as the musical on Dave Letterman’s Late Show last night where they performed the record’s lead single “Seasons (Waiting for You).” More

Feb 28, 2014 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar magazine is excited to reveal the full lineups, poster, and set times for our three SXSW 2014 day parties, taking place on Wednesday, March 12, Thursday, March 13, and Friday, March 14. Lineups include Charli XCX, EMA, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Future Islands, Connan Mockasin, We Were Promised Jetpacks, The Mary Onettes, Small Black, Thumpers, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Arthur Beatrice, Gruff Rhys, Woman’s Hour, and many others. More

Jan 21, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Earlier this month Baltimore synth-pop ensemble Future Islands announced the upcoming release of their new album Singles. More

Jan 08, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Future Islands have announced the release of their fourth full-length album, Singles. More

Aug 19, 2013 By Mike Hilleary

Back in 2010 Baltimore synthpop trio Future Islands released their sophomore album In Evening Air. More

Sep 06, 2012 By Laura Studarus

Check out “Grease,” the new video from Future Islands. More

Mar 10, 2012 By Mark Redfern and Laura Studarus

Just a reminder that the not-to-be-missed digital version of Under the Radar’s “Best of 2011” issue (available for Mac, PC, iPad, and Android via Zinio here) includes the same articles that appear in the printed version—plus 100 extra pages of editorial content not found in the print edition. Included are extra photos of Beirut, Bon Iver, The Horrors, M83, Slow Club, Summer Camp, and tUnE-yArDs. The digital version features exclusive bonus interviews with Big Black Delta, Future Islands, Hooray for Earth, Lanterns on the Lake, Metronomy, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Real Estate, The War on Drugs, Wild Flag, and Zola Jesus. More

Dec 23, 2011 By Mark Redfern and Laura Studarus

Under the Radar‘s Best of 2011 Issue has shipped out to subscribers and will be hitting newsstands soon. The issue features three unique covers, each featuring an artist behind one of our Top 5 albums of the year: M83, The Horrors, and Bon Iver. The issue also takes a look back at other artists who have made a splash in 2011, including Beirut, Anna Calvi, EMA, Florence and the Machine, Gang Gang Dance, Neon Indian, PJ Harvey, R.E.M., SBTRKT, Slow Club, St. Vincent, Summer Camp, tUnE-yArDs, and Yuck. More

Nov 15, 2011 By Laura Studarus

Future Islands recently stopped by Daytrotter—the one-take, anything goes, web series. More

Oct 18, 2011 By Laura Studarus

Future Islands dropped a video on us today for On the Water cut, “Give us the Wind.” We have the clip. More

Sep 05, 2011 By Christopher Roberts

On Saturday September 3, the eight annual FYF Fest went down at Los Angeles’ State Historic Park in Downtown L.A. We sent writer/photographer Laura Studarus down to cover the action. More

Aug 30, 2011 By John Everhart

Baltimore’s Future Islands have released the video for “Balance,” a track from their forthcoming full-length On the Water, due October 11 on Thrill Jockey. We have the clip and the details of their forthcoming U.S. tour. More

Sep 24, 2014 By Laura Studarus

Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring is in a good mood. He punctuates his sentences with laughter, and even across an occasionally static phone connection (Herring is driving a rented tour van from Florida to Maryland before the band embarks on the next leg of shows) you can almost hear his wide grin. More

Sep 23, 2014 By Laura Studarus

It’s the night after Future Islands’ network television debut on The Late Show, and David Letterman is trying not to laugh. “Let’s dance!” he declares, after a joke about a candy store falls flat. The shot cuts to footage from the band’s performance, featuring frontman Samuel T. Herring’s theatrical, sidestepping dance moves. More

Aug 26, 2014 By Austin Trunick

Arthur Beatrice, Casual Sex, Connan Mockasin, Future Islands, Glass Animals, Saintseneca, San Fermin, Vaadat Charigim, Woman’s Hour, and Yamantaka // Sonic Titan all discuss playing SXSW for the first ever time this year. More

Jan 26, 2024 By Scott Dransfield

For what is essentially a synth-pop band, Future Islands sure deal in some wild and cathartic emotions, thanks to uber-expressive frontman Samuel T. Herring. More

May 14, 2023 By Julia Eliott

Last weekend, Just Like Heaven Festival went down Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena CA. We sent photographer Laura Studarus in to cover the action. She brought back postcards from The Hives, Strfkr, Peaches, Fever Ray, Future Islands, MGMT, Empire of the Sun, and Yeah Yeah Yeah. Check out her shots below. More

Apr 07, 2017 By Ed McMenamin

No one in recent memory has crushed a late-night TV performance the way Future Islands did with “Seasons (Waiting on You)” on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2014, in support that year’s album, Singles. More

Aug 25, 2014 By Stephen Humphries

Los Angelenos are accustomed to traffic, but not the foot kind. All the bread lines in communist Russia can’t compare to the queue clogging up the sidewalk perimeter of Exposition Park at the start of the 11th annual FYF Festival. (Keen observation by Real Estate bassist Alex Bleeker: “‘FYF festival’ is a little redundant isn’t it, like ‘ATM machine.’”) More

Mar 25, 2014 By Cody Ray Shafer

It’s been a pretty great month for Future Islands. It started with a now-viral performance on Letterman, followed by a buzz-worthy string of shows at SXSW (including our own showcase), and now they’re kicking off their cross-country tour to support their latest album, Singles, which dropped this week. More

Mar 21, 2014 By Cody Ray Shafer

Singles is the kind of step forward a psychedelic indie band could take to bring itself into a bigger spotlight. Future Islands deserves that kind of attention, and though it’s understandable that Samuel Herring’s dramatic growl might not be for everyone, the first line of this album might just change minds. More

Mar 18, 2014 By Austin Trunick

Staff writer Austin Trunick spent six days in Austin, Texas, taking in this year’s South By Southwest. More

Oct 11, 2011 By John Everhart

Future Islands’ second album In Evening Air neatly sidesteps the clichéd sophomore slump via a quantum leap in sheer songwriting erudition and heightened band cohesiveness. More