Future Islands - FUV Live - 2014

Future Islands has spent a decade releasing albums that mix eclectic genres, from synth-splashed pop to harder-edged rock with a hip-hop heart. Yet after three albums, tireless touring and relocating from their native North Carolina to Baltimore, the trio erupted into mainstream consciousness this year with their fourth release, Singles, and via a galvanizing appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman." The video of that performance quickly went viral, propelled by the mighty vocals and endearingly earnest dance moves of front man Samuel T. Herring, and it changed Future Islands' fortunes. After years of hard work, Future Islands—Herring, bassist William Cashion and keyboadist Gerrit Welmers—are finally receiving the attention they deserve.

Singles is steeped in catchy, New Wave-leaning pop songs, but the band never abandons the soulful, hard rocking and slightly offbeat sound that they've nurtured. Future Islands recently travelled to the Bronx for an FUV Live session and conversation—well, mostly the chatty and effusive Herring spoke—about their early years in North Carolina, the group's place in Baltimore's Wham City art collective and their dazzling year.

[recorded: 8/6/14]

More from Future Islands:

• FUV's New Dig album spotlight: Future Islands