#future feats

Go home, I'm not leaving 'Cause I just can't stop believing I made a life out here and I'm not going back Oh, not until I found that I've lost it I paid the price and it's costing me everything I know.

--Future Feats, "Cities in Wonder"

The bright lights are beaming The buildings are leaning And all through the streets I can hear the people screaming.

–Future Feats, “Cities in Wonder”

Supported by Barns Courtney and Future Feats

by Daniel Wright

The Kooks

Barns Courtney

Supported by Barns Courtney and Future Feats

by Dan Wright

Barns Courtney

Barns Courtney

[INTERVIEW]

FUTURE FEATS @ Fox Theater Oakland - 2.11.19

     -interviewed by Nicholas Shutes

I had the incredible honor of interviewing the LA act known as Future Feats and see them on a very trying first night of a huge tour with The Kooks. From the back of a packed crowd, the leader singer Josh looked like a mix of Bono and Bradley Cooper, and completely owned the stage with his band and their choreographed dance moves and excellent transitions. Here’s what Josh and I got to talk about after the show. 

You opened the show telling us you had a fever and were struggling with your voice all day. One hell of a show still. What’s been the worst thing to happen day of show?

It’s absolutely true! I completely lost my voice, and I was very much struggling to get any form of it back before the show started. I honestly believe that show in particular was the roughest start for us as a band up until now. I was sick, Ben cut his index finger open right before we went on and Zach was playing with a fractured hand. However, this was also the very first show of one of the biggest tours we’ve ever been on…and we weren’t going to let any of this get to us. The show must always go on, and we’ll always be a band to dig down deep, find something within, rise to the occasion and kick as much ass as humanly possible if a stage is ever presented to us. Also, thank you so much…so happy you enjoyed the show!

Future Feats is the result of a process starting in 2012. I want to commend you on your patience and congratulate you on after such a long time finally having the right fit of people. Was there ever a time you wanted to give up on the project and what motivated you to keep pushing forward?

Patience is practice. Practice doesn’t always make perfect, but I am happy to report that I’ve definitely found some proper footing for the time being. I’ve almost quit, given up, thrown in the towel, etc. etc. so many times that I’ve completely lost count. But you’re right, surrounding yourself with the right fit of people is honestly one of the biggest keys to unlocking any perceived sense of success.

My motivation has finally slowed to a steady breathing, and I feel completely free to create and be the artist and/or the person I’ve actually been this whole time. I’m obviously still very much motivated moving forward, but I suppose what I mean is that I’m just much more relaxed or in tune with the process now. 

I write songs, I play live, repeat. I’m in the groove, and it feels really amazing.

Future Feats’ debut single was Cities in Wonder and for about two years the only video for it was a lyric video. You mentioned you guys have a music video for it coming soon. How fun and surreal was that? Did you have a lot of say in the concept of the music video?

Yes, we released “Cities In Wonder” some time ago. It was the right track to lead with back then, and believe it or not, it’s still the right track to lead with in 2019. It still has legs. It’s still finding fresh ears and new faces every night we play it. The video was so much fun to shoot. We worked with mega-talented collaborators, Mr. Orie McGinness and Mr. Dana Willax. We essentially just took some cameras and ran around the streets of DTLA right after sunset. I stood dangerously on the tops of buildings and ran through some oncoming traffic, Pat climbed up in a tree, Z was hanging from the awning of a parking garage at one point. We had a blast, and I can’t wait for it to premiere sometime soon. 

Something I’ve noticed on artwork and merch is a unique 6 digit code. Is that simply a date-coded reference or something else? 

Great eye! Yes, those are secret codes that unlock specific parts of my brain. I refer to them as presets, and they’re essentially bracketed dates that correspond to events from my past. And seeing as how every song on the album is inspired by an event from my real life...these dates must hold some sort of special significance. I wonder what that could possibly mean though? Hmm. 

Are all the songs performed ones we can expect on an album? 

Yes. 

You closed with “27”. Its a birthday song but it made me think of the 27 Club where a lot of artists have died when they were 27. Have you heard of that and if so could we say this song is a celebration of reaching that milestone and surviving? 

It’s not a birthday song. It’s also not a nod to the 27 Club. Or is it? It’s also not at all a celebratory number. I’m pleading to a significant other about the fact that “I’m just trying to catch a break..” and “I swear I’ll make it up to you..”

It’s a song that means everything and nothing at all to me at this point. Because I’ve finally moved past that period of my life.

Back then, I was feeling desperate and was attempting to make it up to the people in my life that I felt I might’ve let down in the past by simply writing a song. But that was only the beginning of a much larger story. By not giving up on the one thing that gives my life great vibrations of purpose, I’m speaking of music, I feel that I’m now making things right for myself. And hopefully people will find something in the messaging of the song that they can ultimately connect to, even if it just serves the purpose of being considered a “birthday song” served with a slice of cake...I’m completely okay with that too.

What pre show rituals do you guys have?  

 We don’t really have any rituals. We’re all in our own headspace for the most part. Then we let all that energy loose onstage. Perhaps we should start some sort of chant or voltron-like high-five that connects the 5 of us into one giant mega super future feat. Let me get back to you on this. 

You guys have toured with various acts last year. Was there any pranks or running jokes that you guys played on each other or other bands that added more fun to the tour? 

I don’t believe there were any pranks per se…not yet anyway. There are two funny stories that come to mind though.  

It was the last day of tour with The Wombats. We were in Seattle, and we were all a bit lit backstage. Zach brought 2 bottles of champagne into the green room, and then had the brilliant idea of letting a couple of Wombats pop some bottles on our bare asses. Dan got Z, and Murph got me. I’m pretty sure there’s video footage of it archived somewhere.  

The other one comes from the first show with Matt & Kim in Chicago. We were playing a game of “Odds” w// Matt backstage. What are the odds you’ll eat this giant cookie? And he said 1 in 100. 1, 2, 3..76 !!! At the same time...it was pretty crazy, and I’m pretty sure he wasn’t that hungry...but he was a great sport about it. Matt & Kim are the absolute best.  

There are plenty of historic venues across the states. a lot of people consider The Fox Theater historic. You guys have also played at Rickshaw and Fillmore in SF which I consider historic. Can you speak to what it means to play at venues like that? Does it motive you even more to be the headliner at places like this or are you just basking in the moment?

I can’t really speak to what it honestly means. The only sentence that would keep coming out of my mouth would be that it has been an absolute dream come true, and I’ll never ever forget or take any of these experiences for granted. It absolutely motivates me to bring my own personal A game at all times. There’s no time available to bask. You bask onstage, then it’s time to move to the next city. But I feel if we keep pushing, we’ll absolutely be headlining places like this. It’s just going to take a lot more time. But I want this to last, and I’m not going anywhere any time soon. 

What’s a venue you’d love to play at? The Red Rocks in Colorado look absolutely gorgeous. 

It would be an honor to play Madison Square Garden one day.

Finally, I know you get asked this a lot so maybe I can be the one to finally break the news: when can we expect that LP? 

I don’t get asked this question nearly enough, and that’s honestly a damn shame. However, what I can tell you...is absolutely nothing. No album title or release dates to premiere at this time. It is a full-length LP, and it is on the way. You previously mentioned patience, so please just wait a few more minutes. Thank you so much for these questions, and for covering my band. We truly appreciate it. I am feeling better. We’re currently in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Yes, it’s a real place. And yes, I’m horrible about turning these interviews in on time because I really enjoy writing lengthy responses. I was told I’m getting paid a dollar a word for this, so I expect a check relatively soon.

Catch Future Feats on their remaining tour dates with The Kooks and Barns Courtney!  Connect with Future Feats: 

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