About —

FUTURIST is the acclaimed alt-psych band broadcasting from the high desert of Flagstaff, Arizona, best known for blending genre-defying soundscapes through mythic storytelling and modern mysticism. By virtue of experimentation, a multimedia vision, & an energetic delivery, the project’s unique take on modern rock & earnest songwriting achieves a sound best described as "future-classic" - as grounded as it is visionary.

From the raw optimism of their debut (2011) to the layered introspection of Omens (2019), and the prophetic weight of Year of the Ox (2022), FUTURIST has evolved into a fully immersive experience. Praised for their genre-blurring catalogue and explosive live shows, FUTURIST speaks to the cerebral, the heartfelt, and those unafraid to look towards the unknown.

Members —

Curtis Peel
Guitar / Piano / Lead Vocals

Britton Frost
Drums

Joe Furber
Guitar

Ceta Singley
Guitar / Keyboards / Lap Steel

Jonny Escalante
Bass

Press —

"To simply describe it as psychedelic doesn’t do Futurist justice, as they expertly mix genres and layer track upon track of intricate melodies to create a lush soundscape that engulfs the listener. There aren’t too many bands or artists creating in such a free manner these days, free from concern or time limits, unaffected by the outside. When you combine that level of purity with impressive musicianship and a shared desire to escape or create escapism for an audience, the results can be superb. Enter Futurist, a band truly intent on building that kind of sound and experience for their listeners."
- BuzzMusic

“Futurist’s lyrics wouldn’t be out of place in a tarot deck, but they’re not entirely detached from reality; at the core of the music is a clear yearning for closure, likely of a romantic nature. As such, the band’s ability to bridge the gap between the tangible and the transcendental endows their music with a unique magical realism, and promises more esoteric imagery on their forthcoming sophomore effort, Omens.”
- The Deli Magazine

“Futurist have embraced their modern tools to create a hybrid sound that is both traditional and forward-looking.”
- The Big Takeover

Origins —

Formed in 2008, FUTURIST has undergone many evolutions, with vocalist, guitarist, and composer Curtis Peel as the project’s constant force. Originally rooted in Brooklyn, NY, the band featured a rotating cast of collaborators and producers over more than a decade in the city’s indie scene—including Joey Campanella (Mister Rebound), David Brandwein (Turkuaz, New Originals), Emily Holden (soft talon), and Joshua Curry (Super Capsule). During this time, FUTURIST became known for its dynamic shows and immersive, community-driven events—such as the multidisciplinary album release for War Is Yesterday in 2011.

The debut record was tracked at Galaxy Smith Studios in Brooklyn in the fall of 2010, built around connections Peel made performing throughout Williamsburg. This early period laid the foundation for the band’s signature multimedia aesthetic. As the years progressed, FUTURIST cycled through new sonic territories, rehearsal spaces, and lineups—culminating in the more introspective and sonically ambitious Omens, recorded in 2018–2019 between Galaxy Smith Studios and Capture.Studio in Syracuse, NY.

Their third studio album, Year of the Ox, was a project over five years in the making—written through the chaos of the late 2010s and completed during the height of 2020’s global upheaval. As time, geography, and life rearranged the pieces, Peel eventually relocated to Flagstaff, Arizona, where FUTURIST found new roots, a new lineup, and a renewed creative vision. Today, the band has fully emerged from the pines—evolving beyond its New York origins while honoring the wild path that shaped it.