Brite Futures (formerly Natalie Portman's Shaved Head) had bad news for fans this week. The group announced via Facebook that they have decided to disband.The group will play a farewell show for hometown fans on June 16th at The Vera Project in Seattle. Here is the message the band had for fans on Facebook:
It is with many bittersweet feelings that we announce that as of next month Brite Futures will cease to be an active band, and we will no longer be creating or playing music together. After almost seven years as a band (more than a quarter of our lives) we've unanimously reached the decision that it's time to move on to other adventures-the irony of which, for a band with our name, is not lost on us. This separation is not due to a falling out or any ill feelings between us personally, but with the band's momentum dying down and other aspirations beckoning, we've begun to look toward the next stage in our lives. And that's exciting at the same time as it's sad to leave behind a pursuit that saw us grow up together, from awkward high school spazzes singing about our first beards to more confident young adults.
For a project that started on a whim as an "acapella electronic band" at a high school lunch table that was never meant to leave our parents' basements or a few friends' iPods, we've experienced more in our time together than we could have ever dreamt. Of the band posters lining our bedroom walls that we gazed at daily while growing up, we've had the privilege of touring or performing alongside six of those pictured (Lily Allen, Weezer, CSS, The Go-Team, The Ting Tings, and The Faint). We've also been signed to a major record label, had music and a video in a major motion picture, and played shows across the country and internationally. Our high-school-sophomore-selves probably wouldn't believe it if we told them now. Just the fact that people all around the world have listened to the music we created almost entirely out of a small bedroom in Seattle is mind-blowing, and we'll be forever grateful. I think we can be proud too.
There are countless moments this band has afforded us that we'll remember fondly for the rest of our lives: the "talking testicles" skit from our first show at 826 Seattle, placing second in the Sound Off! battle of the bands, sleeping on people's floors across the country on our first tour ever (with CSS!), late nights and early mornings spent making music videos with That Go and team, Shaun slicing his head open on a stage light and us staying up all night with him in a hospital in Brooklyn, Lily Allen dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi attacking us onstage with a plastic lightsaber as we performed on the last night of tour in Toronto, living out of a hotel in Hollywood while we recorded with John King, traveling to London for the first time for four shows and one amazing four-hour dinner, opening for one of our favorite bands ever (Weezer) while Luke was near death with swine flu, sipping champagne out of tiny plastic cups after signing with WB records, receiving a package containing the Dark Past masters emblazoned with the Abbey Road Studios logo, playing in Key Arena (an arena!?) for the Bumbershoot festival, and so, so many more.
But our most cherished memories come from being around the people we grew to love, even if it was only for one night. That means everyone we'd see singing and dancing like crazy at our shows whether in a tiny basement or large theater, everyone who dressed in bright colors or wore a side ponytail, every sweaty kid who talked to us at the merch booth after the show, everyone from every corner of the globe who we got to know online, and all the extremely talented and generous people who became part of the NPSH/BF team, helping us make some of our wildest dreams a reality. It really wouldn't mean much without you guys.
So to you-everyone who's taken time to listen to our music, watch our videos, write about us, perform with us, or work with us-thank you for letting us be a part of your lives in some small way. It's been such an amazing privilege and a pleasure, and it means so much to us. We love you forever.
xo,
Luke, Shaun, Claire, David & Conor (and Liam)
P.S. Our last show ever will be held at The Vera Project in Seattle on June 16th, 2012. We hope you can make it. To everyone else writing us over the past few years begging for us to come play in your city, I'm sorry we never made it. Be inspired by four kids who could barely play instruments and never wrote a proper song and start a band of your own.
P.P.S. You might see a NPSH early demos/unreleased tracks collection soon.
