Foreseeable Futures
The future is unpredictable, especially in the music world, but the recent collaboration between vocalist Anna Sachs and guitarist/vocalist Phil Potter, Foreseeable Futures, seems tailored for success. Sharing an affinity for “quieter, acoustic music with a folky twang,” Potter and Sachs strip down some of their favorite songs. Weaving in their own special blend of soothing and unique harmonies, the duo creates sweet and mellow music for everyday listening. Fans of The Lumineers and Kina Grannis won’t be disappointed by the effortless mixture of Sachs’s and Potter’s honey-smooth vocals and acoustic guitar stylings. Although the pair believes “it’s not wise to plan too far ahead these days, because life is dynamic and changes so quickly,” with more new songs on the way and a performance at Art & Flea, the road ahead looks bright for the Foreseeable Futures.
What/who are your musical and non-musical inspirations?
[Phil] Recently I've been inspired by bands like The Head and the Heart, Lumineers, and a great duo out of Texas called The Oh Hellos. Their song 'Cold Is The Night' has been stuck in my head for at least a week!
[Anna] Phil and I share a lot of the same musical taste, but some classics of mine are Ingrid Michaelson, Kina Grannis, Sia, and Ed Sheeran. Besides those, I love to listen to a wide range of music - from classical to hip-hop to Latin! Each genre of music speaks to a different facet of my life. Ultimately, that's what music is - a reflection and expression of self.
How did you come up with your name Foreseeable Futures?
We were talking one day about how it's not wise to plan too far ahead these days, because life is dynamic and changes so quickly. One of us used the phrase 'foreseeable future' and we thought back to that conversation when we were looking for a band name.
What is your creative process like?
We spend a lot of time just relaxing and swapping music amongst ourselves, then trying out songs we think might work with our voices. We're constantly shifting the key of the songs we're working on to find a range that fits both our voices, as Phil sings in the low range and Anna covers the high octaves. We spend a lot of time coming up with interesting interweaving harmonies for our two voices.
What is your favorite song to perform and what is it about?
[Phil] My favorite song to perform is 'Down In The Valley' by The Head and the Heart. Anna's harmonies when she sings 'over and over again' are so creative and unique!
[Anna] I love ‘Hallelujah’ because it is a classic, and for good reason. Every time I sing those lyrics, I feel the power and the raw emotion behind them. Right now, we've got some exciting songs we're working on that I can't wait to perform!
How do you feel about performing at Art & Flea?
Actually it's our first time performing at Art & Flea, and we're very excited! It's one of our favorite local events to attend, so we're looking forward to contributing to the inspiring & creative vibe of Art & Flea with our music!
(Text by Joana Yasui)