FUTURIST is an alt-rock, psychedelic pop band formed in Brooklyn and developed in Austin and Los Angeles. Through experimentation, a multimedia vision, and energetic delivery, FUTURIST creates a wall of sound that ignites audiences with their style and modern mythology. With appeal for both lovers of space-age and vintage, FUTURIST has been likened to the visions of Flaming Lips, Pink Floyd, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, My Morning Jacket, and Spoon. The band is known for its associations with folklore and psychedelia, with elements of this culture permeating the group's instrumentation, effects, and composition.
FUTURIST release their latest track “Bad Air, Still Water” and set the mood beautifully for a first-time listener. Slowly but surely crafting a mildly psychedelic, expressive rock soundscape around you, FUTURIST pave the way for a notably poetic and thoughtful song. “Bad Air, Still Water” plays for an impressive 6+ minutes! What you notice during this time, is that rather than focusing on the individual elements and layers you tend to lose concentration somewhere along the way. The mind begins to wander off into the ether of this space the artist has created around you. FUTURIST has composed this with care and intention. What begins as a slightly classic sound, soon evolves into something more in line with Pink Floyd or some of the alternative creatives from a few decades ago. This is the ambiance, along with the considerate, metaphorical lyrics. A great song, really well built and proof of FUTURIST’s natural connection to songwriting and music as an art form.
Check out “Bad Air, Still Water” here and read more with FUTURIST below!
Hey FUTURIST! Welcome to BuzzMusic. We love the new song!! What does the “Bad Air, Still Water” represent for you?
'Bad Air, Still Water’ was inspired by the weight of it all. “Don’t pay any mind to the cynical. They don’t know any better.” What do we do in those moments where we’ve fallen short of our higher self and are dealing with the disparity between how we thought it would be and what actually happened…and not succumbing completely to nihilism in the process. I think the tune is best summarized through the questions posed in the end of the song. “Is there no escape? Am I enslaved to this feeling? I mean am I even helping? Could you just in case, hold me responsible?” We can’t really escape caring about who we are and the consequences of our actions, so we might as well embrace our autonomy as we move through so much that is out of our control.
What prompted you to first start making music, and what drives you to continue?
I’ve been making music sense I was a kid. I grew up playing piano, singing in church choirs, and later concert bands/marching bands in middle school and high school. I starting playing in rock bands with my friends in high school and eventually went to school in Colorado for music composition. I keep doing it because I love it and, well, I’m so deep in there’s no coming back haha. Honestly, it’s my outlet and the most genuine way for me to express myself.
Can you dive into the meaning of some of your favorite lyrics within “Bad Air, Still Water”?
It’s a song about falling short and doing my best not to lose the faith. The chorus is:
“Don’t pay any mind to the cynical. They don’t know any better. What was signed on the dotted line was conceptualized in a devilled egg and swallowed whole and now you choke on the word given to a higher self.” It’s my own sort of reckoning with God, my actions, and that light that keeps you from losing hope completely. I talked a bit more about it before, but it’s about getting back up. The air is bad so you clear it. The water is still, so you move it.
What are your thoughts on the current mainstream music industry and the future of rock?
There’s so much going on. We have this new freedom in that everyone can take their shot without having to reckon with any gatekeepers, so to speak. You can record and publish your own music using the internet alone and build your audience that way. It’s also kind of a problem in that way because everything is so oversaturated. There are so many bands all trying to compete for the same space and resources, which can be really daunting some times. We’re going to keep building our little tribe and hopefully we can grow that exponentially. As for the future of rock, I’m really aching for the comeback. All of the testosterone is pumping through rap these days and I’d really love to be a part of something revitalized so we’re doing our part there too.
What’s next for FUTURIST?
Our album, 'OMENS', is out on September 27. Check it out and come out to some shows. You can find our tour dates and social media stuff at www.futuristnow.net