Vancouver’s Phuture Memoriez deliver synthpunk fury with Play Cobra – their concept album pays homage to John Zorn’s musical improv game Cobra, infusing each of its 10 chapters into song titles like ‘Mouth Yellow’ and ‘Ear Blue’. The album has an “intoxicating cobra’s bite” with 138 BPM songs that are short, fast, visceral explosions, blending elements of dance and industrial music while maintaining a pop-like structure. Phuture Memoriez’ sound transitions constantly – not surprising because of their desire to test new sounds, tools, and techniques, which range in quality from lo-fi to hi-fi. They use tools like the Akai MPC Live, Roland SP404, a cohort of digital/analog synths, pedals, noisemakers, electric bass guitar, electric guitar, and vocals affected by other-worldly tones and textures. Their sound has been described by some to encompass “twisted tones and haunting synth vocals, pulling the listener down into a shadowy soundscape”. Others have said Phuture Memoriez is “grungy with a metallic edge” where each track is an expression of internal turmoil and angst against discordant hooks and symphonic feedback.
Phuture Memoriez evolved from their past project Jerk in the Can. They have released three full length concept albums, with a fourth to be released in fall 2025. Their debut album was inspired by Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, the second album highlighted the concept of death and dying, and the third is inspired by John Zorn’s musical improvisation system Cobra. Phuture Memoriez consider their projects to be full multimedia experiences. Their music comes first and foremost, but their visual elements are just as integral, using lights, video, and projections to tie the experience and mood to the music, as well as costume and theater-style performance. Phuture Memoriez’ music videos have been featured in numerous film festivals, including a gauntlet round with Spike and Mike at San Diego Comic Con. They are known for shooting guerilla style music videos and immersing themselves with crowds and the public. Phuture Memoriez are playful with videos and produce them with as much diligence as their audio recordings. They use techniques that range from lo-fi webcams run through coded programs like Max/MSP and Touch Designer, to guerrilla shot videos, to advanced stop-motion animations. Known for immersive multimedia experiences, they’ve cemented their reputation as boundary-pushing artists.
Links to connect to Phuture Memoriez: Facebook, YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram.