Aren’t

The best way to win the battle against Covid is to vaccinate the whole world, but in poorer countries not enough people are getting the jab. Bronagh Munro investigates why.

There are bands that come and go, and then there are those that carve their own unique path, leaving an indelible mark on the heart of listeners. Future Islands are unquestionably of the latter. They are a band that has defied convention, embraced vulnerability, and crafted a distinctive sound that resonates deeply with audiences around the globe. Now on their seventh release, People Who Aren’t There Anymore heralds a new chapter for Future Islands. For Future Islands, albums aren’t a static reflection of a moment in time, they are a fluid chapter in their lives that can change and mutate. People change and pull away. The band is no different, coming up against their future while staring at their past. They’re not the same people they were when Future Islands began nearly two decades ago. They are now spread about, some settled down and some still moving. “We’re like waves, we’re all changing,” says William. People Who Aren’t There Anymore reflects the transience of a band’s existence; the rare privilege of travelling all over the world contrasting with the sadness of fleeting moments in and out people’s lives. Being everywhere but also nowhere. Remembering the lives lost and the living they’ll never see again, cherishing the present and being grateful for the past.