Future Islands' musical tribute to Baltimore

While Future Islands have been around since 2008, the Baltimore act reached a whole new level of fame after they released the single, "Seasons (Waiting on You)" in 2014. 

Now, following up on the success of that album, Singles, the band is back with a new album titled The Far Field (out April 7). 

When the band stopped by the q studios, we got lead singer Sam T. Herring to give us a block party playlist for his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. 

Below are his picks. 

Mike Ladd, 'Feb. 4th, 1999 (For All Those Killed By the Cops)'
"Mike Ladd was one of the first voices that spoke to me and is one of the first artists who I kind of held to my heart. Like, this is my artist. Anything they do, I will support." 

John Coltrane, 'I'm Old Fashioned'
"Blue Train was the first jazz record I ever bought and it sparked a love of jazz. Something about his sound just enlivened something in me and made me want to create."

Tortoise, 'Seneca' 
"I think Tortoise was a link for me, to break into other music. Like breaking into post-rock, it took me onto all other things like Silver Mt. Zion, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Do Make Say Think, but that was the first link."  

— Produced by Daemon Fairless