Telekinesis (band)

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Telekinesis
Michael Lerner, 2011.jpg
Lerner performing in 2011
Background information
Origin Seattle
Genres Indie rock, shoegaze, power pop
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitars, bass, keyboard, drums
Years active2008–present
Labels Merge Records
MembersMichael Benjamin Lerner
Website telekinesismusic.com

Telekinesis is an American indie rock project based in Seattle. Its moniker is a pseudonym for sole member Michael Benjamin Lerner, who single-handedly writes and performs the majority of the outfit's material. Telekinesis is signed to Merge Records.

Contents

History

Michael Benjamin Lerner (born September 1, 1986) grew up in Kenmore, Washington, [1] a suburb of Seattle. He left home at 18 to attend Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, where he studied audio recording. [2] He is the son of the Seattle Radio presenter, Mike West [3] (real name: Vince Lerner), now heard on Sunday mornings at Seattle's 102.5 KZOK-FM as host of Breakfast with the Beatles.

Telekinesis was signed to Merge Records in early 2009, and shortly afterward released the debut album Telekinesis! on April 7, 2009. [4] Recorded in September 2008, the album was produced, mixed, and engineered with the help of Chris Walla (guitarist for Death Cab For Cutie), who also played on most tracks. Lerner and Walla recorded one song per day on analog tape. [5]

Lerner cites the 1983 album Dazzle Ships , by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), as a major influence on his work. [6] [7] Telekinesis covered ELO's "Can't Get It Out of My Head" for the American Laundromat Records charity album Sing Me To Sleep–Indie Lullabies, released May 2010. [8] The outfit also covered Nirvana's "On A Plain" in 2011 for Spin magazine's exclusive tribute album, Newermind: A Tribute to Nirvana .

"Power Lines" from third album Dormarion (2013), was the title song for the Amazon show Betas (2013).

Personnel

Touring members

Former touring members

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles

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References

  1. Nystrom, Andy (16 March 2011). "Telekinesis man Lerner power pops into the spotlight". Bothell Reporter. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  2. Seidenwurm, Amy (18 November 2011). "Telekinesis: Please Ask for Help". Boing Boing. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  3. "Star Fox Elite Mike West interview". Fusion News. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  4. Lavinia Jones Wright, "Telekinesis", Billboard Magazine, April 18, 2009.
  5. Kate Thuma, "SXSW '09 Pick: Telekinesis", Spin Magazine, March 6, 2009.
  6. Jennings, Harriet (March 23, 2011). "A to Z: Telekinesis". DIY . Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. Berman, Taylor (March 18, 2013). "Telekinesis Reveals Which Rock Stars Are Aliens, Performs 'Dormarion' Beauties". Spin . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  8. "Sing Me To Sleep - Indie Lullabies". CT Indie. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2011.

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