While attending East Carolina University in 2003, J Gerrit Welmers (synthesizer, drums), William Cashion (bass) and Samuel T Herring (vocals) began making music together as Art Lord & The Self-Portraits (ultimately self-releasing four albums).
They relocated to Baltimore in 2006 and as their music became faster and more powerful, they evolved into the post-wave, synthpop Future Islands. During that time they became friends with Dan Deacon, an early supporter who later invited them to tour with him.
This article appears in May 5-11, 2010.