Future Island’s fancy footwork

Directed by Riff Raff Film’s Ivana Bobic, this scintillating film for Future Island's The Thief mirrors the intensity of frontman Sam T Herring's compelling stage moves. 

Though Herring doesn’t appear in the promo, the medium is perfect for a singer whose curious repertoire of physical jerks and facials so brilliantly expresses his music. 

With bewitching choreography by Ted Rogers – also lead dancer in the piece – the film was shot in London’s prestigious Sadler’s Wells Studio. 

“This was an amazing opportunity to make a dance dance video and lean into my love of movement and performance,” says Bobic, “the band’s references were a total dream: avant-garde choreographer Martha Graham and the modernist sets of Isamu Noguchi.”

In March 2014, moderately successful Baltimore band Future Island was catapulted into the limelight when an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman (below) introduced the world to Herring’s entrancing jig. 

Reflecting on the viral clip he commented: “Lots of people said: ‘This guy dances like nobody’s watching.’ But no. I was dancing like I knew everyone was watching.”