Don’t wait until you’re good to go out and play.
William Cashion and Michael Lowry they talk about From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youthabout the new album they are already recording, about two decades of going from a van to an entire team, and the advice they would give to someone who is putting together their first band.
Future Islands They are turning 20 and decided to celebrate without a greatest hits. From a Hole in the Floor to a Fountain of Youthpublished in May via 4ADbrings together rarities, singles that only existed on 7 inches, bonus tracks from Japanese editions and fan favorites: 20 songs for 20 years that chart the evolution of the band from their early days in North Carolina. As the anniversary ticks by, the quartet is already in the studio working on their next album. Before that, they return to Mexico City as headliners of the festival Hypnosison November 7 in Quarry Studioswith the accumulated desire of a band that has not been on stage since May.
Indie Rocks!: It is a pleasure and an honor to speak with you again. It’s my second time interviewing them. The last time they were releasing their previous album, People Who Aren’t There Anymoreand they played at Vive Latino; Now they have a new album that came out in May and they are going to play at the festival Hypnosis. Lots of new things. I want to start with this album. I thought it was a beautiful work, and as a big fan of the band I want to know the context, the production and how it became a reality.
Future Islands: Thank you. This album is a collection of songs that have existed in different forms for years: some were only available on 7 inches, others were bonus tracks from the Japanese edition of some album. And we’ve talked about how, over time, you can really hear the evolution of the band from 2007, 2008, to this year. I think it’s really cool, because I think all the songs still work together, even though stylistically they’re all over the place.
GO!: And how did you organize the album? Was it in release order, or did you listen to all the songs and figure out what order they should go in?
IF: It was more or less chronological, but we actually gave the songs to our label and asked them what order they thought they should go in. And that ended up being the final version. I think we could have easily changed the order like crazy, but it seemed to make more sense to keep it more or less chronological.
GO!: Speaking of the band’s history, now that they’re 20 years old, I’m very interested in hearing these stories of huge bands with successful careers. How are you living this anniversary? Do you see it in retrospect? Do you have plans, besides the album, to celebrate it?
IF: We did a short tour of North Carolina and Baltimore, the places where we really started as a band, in May, around the release of the album. But to a large extent we are focused, we have our sights set on the future and what’s next. We’ve been really into writing, basically for the last year; We’ve written a lot of new material and right now we’re in the studio working on the next album. Fingers crossed, we hope it comes out sometime next year. We still don’t know.
GO!: That’s going to be very exciting, I think it’s great news for the public and the fans. Can you tell us something? What is the album going to sound like, where are you in the process, or is it still too early to talk about it?
IF: I think it’s still a little early. But it’s going to be good. Yes, rest assured it will be good. We feel very good with him. We are recording a lot of songs, more than we need for the album. That’s why we still don’t know exactly what the album is. We know the songs, but we don’t know which ones are going to be on the final album, if that makes sense. And depending on which ones are left, I guess that’s going to push the vibe one way or the other. I think it’s a little early, but every day it becomes a little more focused. With each stage of the process everything becomes a little clearer, like the direction of the disk.
GO!: I think it’s going to be very interesting. I’m very excited to hear it, and the public is going to be happy to know it. Hopefully it will come out next year. Going back to these 20 years: I know you are focused on the future, but what has changed in the band in this time? If you started over, what would you change?
IF: A lot of things have changed in that time. When we started we were just the band in a van on the road. And now we have a great team around us. Everything has changed, but in many ways we continue to work and play in the same way as always, from the beginning. So I don’t know what we would do differently if we started over. We had a series of lucky breaks along the way, I think. And we are very grateful to have been able to sustain this race. It was definitely a dream to be able to do this, and we are very lucky that it is our job. So I guess I wouldn’t change anything.
GO!: Michael, do you agree or would you add anything?
IF: Yes. When you start a band at 18 or 19, it’s going to be different when you’re 40. And in my case, 50. Life, maybe not your priorities, but people have gotten married, had children, all those things. You have this whole other life to deal with and draw on. That’s getting older, maturing. But it definitely affects music in a different way than when you’re 18, have no strings attached, sleep on other people’s floors and can play like 200 shows a year.
It’s something interesting, it’s like a lifelong art project. Rather than thinking about what I would do differently, I like to look back and see what has happened. Everything we’ve done has brought us to where we are now, and that’s great. And it’s very interesting to look back, see where you started from and hear the evolution of your thing: how, as your life changes, that affects your music.
GO!: In Indie Rocks! Magazine We have many readers who are starting new bands or projects and want to get into the industry. With all the experience you have, what would you recommend to someone who is just starting out?
IF: I would say: don’t wait until you’re good to go out and play your music in front of people. A lot of what we do needs a community around it, you need to go out and meet people. And I think it’s important to have the experience of making mistakes and playing songs that maybe aren’t as polished in front of people, because the audience gives you immediate feedback, in the moment, of whether something works or not. That’s what we did at the beginning. We started organizing parties at houses, we took out the furniture from the room and played. That’s super important. And I would also recommend that you do not sign a contract without having a lawyer review it.
GO!: Very important. I think it is one of the most important pieces of advice.
IF: And if someone in the music industry told you “this is how it’s done,” I would be wary of that, because there are so many ways to do things in the world. It is never just one. As it says Devoit is never direct from top to bottom.
I would say: try to find your people. Community is a huge part of this: find your people and build a community with them. That’s very important. And go out and try it. I don’t know what the touring situation is like today for young bands. we did not have instagram and those things; I feel like a lot of people use it now. But for bands like us back then it was going out, like he said williamand play shows. If you can’t get shows, do your own shows, and then find people who have a similar mindset to you and build a community with them. If you can’t find someone to tour with, build your community and tour with them. I feel that it is a very important element.
And I would add: don’t think that because the club you want to play in your city won’t let you play, because the label of your dreams hasn’t signed you, or because you’ve been rejected by music agents. booking, managers and everyone, you can’t do it. Still you can. We were rejected by many labels and agents at the beginning, the clubs didn’t schedule us. We played shows in parks: you’d find an outlet in a park, we’d set up and tell your friends we were going to play. Like I said before, we also play house parties all over the country, really, houses all over the United States. There are many ways to do it that are not the traditional way, and I think eventually those things come: eventually the club is going to want you to play there and you are going to find a label. But you can make the dream happen immediately, on your own, thinking a little outside the box, approaching this in a non-traditional way, DIYi guess.
GO!: I love the advice they are giving us. I hope people who read this interview identify and take something from this, because you are a great inspiration. And here in Mexico the public goes crazy with their music: when Hipnosis was announced, many people were excited about Future Islands. I want to talk about your relationship with Mexico. What do you expect and what are you preparing for this weekend’s festival? What can we expect as an audience?
IF: We don’t want to give too much away, but we are very excited to return to Mexico. We love, love, love playing in Mexico City. And in Mexico in general we feel a true affinity with the people, with all of you there. We couldn’t be more excited. and the poster Hypnosis It looks amazing, we’re happy to see a lot of bands. We haven’t played a show since May, so we’re excited to get back to playing. We have been wanting to return to Mexico for a long time, and we are very happy that it is for this reason and that we do not have to wait for the album to come out.
We had been looking for a reason to return for a long time, looking for a way to return. We always have the best time when we play there. The last time, in Live Latinoit was incredible. Was it Crown Capital the last time? Live Latino. Yes, one hundred percent. We love Mexico, very much. We’re really excited to get there and play. The public in Mexico has always been incredible, we have always felt a very warm reception. The energy of the audience gives us energy at shows, and it has always been a very special relationship over the years.
GO!: For someone who is going to see Future Islands for the first time in their life, with what mindset would you recommend going to the show?
IF: Come as you are. Yes. However you get there, I don’t think it’s our place to say. But I would say: come with an open mind and an open heart.
GO!: I love it. Open mind and open heart. The last questions, because time is running out. If you were wrestlers entering a ring, what song would you enter with? It can be any song in the world, yours or other artists.
IF: Any song in the world? What a good question. It would be like: what kind of fighter would I be? I feel like it would come in with something from a soundtrack, maybe the theme of Cape Fear. The music of Bernard Herrmann for Cape Fear. Yeah, that would be pretty scary, I think.
GO!: And you, William?
IF: There is a song by… what are they called? Let me look for it. A metal band from the 80s. They have a song called “Brain Dead“That’s it. Let me find it.”
GO!: Don’t worry. If you want, I’ll ask the last question and Michael answers me, and when you find it, tell us.
IF: Exodus It’s the band. Yeah. “Brain Dead”believe. That would be it.
GO!: I love it. And the last question of the night: if you could describe Future Islands in just three words, what would they be?
IF: Three words. Danceable, sad and noisy.
GO!: I love it. Michael, would you change any words or do you agree?
IF: No, I was going to say something like: up, down and heavy.
GO!: I like both. Thank you very much for your time, it is a great pleasure. I hope to see you this week in Mexico, I hope we can meet in person.
IF: Thank you so much. How nice to see you again.
