Martin Tielli
Encyclopedia
Martin Tielli is a Canadian
singer-songwriter
. He was a member of the Rheostatics
, and has also released material as a solo artist and with the side project Nick Buzz
. As well, he has appeared as a guest musician on albums by Barenaked Ladies
, Kevin Hearn
, The Waltons
, Jane Siberry, Ashley MacIsaac
, Meryn Cadell
and Mia Sheard
. He is also a painter, and created most of the album covers for the Rheostatics. In 2005 he shot a movie entitled Black Widow with Mary Margaret O'Hara
and Sarah Slean
for CBC Television
.
Tielli's guitar style is textured and flamboyant, and his vocal style is acrobatic, frequently employing the falsetto
register. He is something of an eccentric, often enigmatic in interviews, and he experiences anxiety
when performing solo.
Martin Tielli plays a Steinberger
headless electric guitar, nicknamed "Steiny". Martin's other famous guitar is his Ibanez
double necked 6/12-string electric, which he painted himself with a "never quite presented idea" for the new Canadian flag, designed by A.Y. Jackson. This design is often mistaken for one originally championed by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
to be the Canadian flag (nicknamed "the Pearson Pennant").
Tielli's younger brothers are Doug Tielli
and John Tielli
. They were members of the band People From Earth. Martin co-produced People From Earth's 1997 album, Luvskull, with the band and Don Kerr
.
Effects
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. He was a member of the Rheostatics
Rheostatics
Rheostatics was a Genie Award-winning Canadian indie rock band, active from 1980 to 2007.Although they had only one Top 40 hit, "Claire" in 1995, they were simultaneously one of Canada's most influential and unconventional rock bands, a band whose eclectic take on pop and rock music has been...
, and has also released material as a solo artist and with the side project Nick Buzz
Nick Buzz
-External links:*...
. As well, he has appeared as a guest musician on albums by Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
, Kevin Hearn
Kevin Hearn
Kevin Neil Hearn is a Canadian musician who is currently the keyboardist of Barenaked Ladies and his own group, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle. He is also a former member of Rheostatics.-Early life:...
, The Waltons
The Waltons (Canadian band)
The Waltons were a Canadian alternative rock band in the 1990s. Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, the band was formed in 1987 by vocalist/guitarist Jason Plumb, Bass guitarist Keith Nakonechny and drummer David Cooney.-History:...
, Jane Siberry, Ashley MacIsaac
Ashley MacIsaac
Ashley Dwayne MacIsaac is a Canadian professional fiddler from Cape Breton Island.His album Hi™ How Are You Today?, featuring the hit single "Sleepy Maggie", with vocals in Scottish Gaelic by Mary Jane Lamond was released in 1995...
, Meryn Cadell
Meryn Cadell
Meryn Cadell is a Canadian writer and performance artist. He is an assistant professor of song lyrics and libretto writing in the Creative Writing Program at University of British Columbia.Cadell is a transsexual man who transitioned in 2003...
and Mia Sheard
Mia Sheard
Mia Sheard is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter.Sheard was classically trained at the Royal Conservatory of MusicShe is the sister of novelist Sarah Sheard and pianist John Sheard, and the great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Sheard, a former Mayor of Toronto....
. He is also a painter, and created most of the album covers for the Rheostatics. In 2005 he shot a movie entitled Black Widow with Mary Margaret O'Hara
Mary Margaret O'Hara
Mary Margaret O'Hara is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress, who has been hailed as one of the greatest cult heroines in rock music despite having released very few of her own recordings. She is best known for the critically acclaimed album Miss America, released in 1988.-Early stages:O'Hara...
and Sarah Slean
Sarah Slean
Sarah Hope Slean is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet, and occasional actress from Pickering, Ontario. She has released eleven albums to date .-Major recordings:...
for CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
.
Tielli's guitar style is textured and flamboyant, and his vocal style is acrobatic, frequently employing the falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
register. He is something of an eccentric, often enigmatic in interviews, and he experiences anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
when performing solo.
Martin Tielli plays a Steinberger
Steinberger
Steinberger refers to a series of distinctive electric guitars and bass guitars, designed and originally manufactured by Ned Steinberger. The word Steinberger can be used to refer to either the instruments themselves or the company that produced them...
headless electric guitar, nicknamed "Steiny". Martin's other famous guitar is his Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
double necked 6/12-string electric, which he painted himself with a "never quite presented idea" for the new Canadian flag, designed by A.Y. Jackson. This design is often mistaken for one originally championed by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
to be the Canadian flag (nicknamed "the Pearson Pennant").
Tielli's younger brothers are Doug Tielli
Doug Tielli
Doug Tielli is a Canadian musician based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is currently a member of The Silt.He has been involved in a number of other musical projects such as People from Earth, Rock Plaza Central, Snailhouse, Tamara Williamson, CLARK the band, Everybody Get Sick, Lenin I Shumov, The...
and John Tielli
John Tielli
John Tielli is a Canadian musician based in Toronto. He is a current member of Metal Kites and formerly of CLARK the band.He was a member of People from Earth and Rock Plaza Central, as was his brother Doug Tielli....
. They were members of the band People From Earth. Martin co-produced People From Earth's 1997 album, Luvskull, with the band and Don Kerr
Don Kerr
Don Kerr is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and record producer.He was a member of Rheostatics from 1995 to May 2001. He plays in Ron Sexsmith's band, and sometimes with The Kelele Brothers. He and Sexsmith released an album together, Destination Unknown, in 2005...
.
Solo discography
- We Didn't Even Suspect That He Was the Poppy SalesmanWe Didn't Even Suspect That He Was the Poppy SalesmanWe Didn't Even Suspect That He Was the Poppy Salesman is the debut solo album by Martin Tielli of the band Rheostatics, released in 2001 on Six Shooter Records.-Track listing:# I'll Never Tear You Apart# My Sweet Relief# Double X...
(2001) - Operation Infinite JoyOperation Infinite JoyOperation Infinite Joy is the second solo album by Martin Tielli of the band Rheostatics, released in 2003 on Six Shooter Records. This was the first album to be released as part of the 2003 Martin Tielli Subscription Series.-Track listing:# Beauty On...
(2003) - The Ghost of Danny GrossThe Ghost of Danny GrossThe Ghost Of Danny Gross is the third solo album by Martin Tielli, released in 2009 on Six Shooter Records. It is the final album to be released in the 2003 Martin Tielli Subscription Series.-Track listing:Disc One# Beautiful# The Underbrush...
(2009)
Compilation inclusions
- Kick at the DarknessKick at the DarknessKick at the Darkness is a tribute album to Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, released in 1991. The title comes from a line in the song "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", gotta kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight....
(1991), "A Long Time Love Song" (with Jane Siberry) - More Large Than Earth (We Will Warn the Stars) (2005), "Our Keepers"
Equipment
Instruments- Encore arch-top electric guitar
- Fender 8-string pedal steel guitar
- SteinbergerSteinbergerSteinberger refers to a series of distinctive electric guitars and bass guitars, designed and originally manufactured by Ned Steinberger. The word Steinberger can be used to refer to either the instruments themselves or the company that produced them...
electric guitar - TakamineTakamine Guitarsis a Japanese guitar manufacturer based in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, Japan. Takamine is known for its steel-string guitars.The company was founded in May 1962; in 1978 they were one of the first companies to introduce acoustic-electric models, where they pioneered the design of the preamp-equalizer...
CP-132S classical guitar
Effects
- AlesisAlesisAlesis is a company based in Cumberland, Rhode Island, that designs and markets electronic musical instruments, digital audio processors, audio mixers, digital audio interfaces, recording equipment, drum machines, professional audio and electronic percussion products...
Quadraverb - BossBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
CH-1 chorus with EQ - Boss CS-2 Compressor
- Boss GE-7 Equalizer
- Boss OC-2 Octaver
- DODDOD ElectronicsDOD Electronics or simply DOD is a Harman International company specializing in making guitar effects pedals, most of which are now discontinued. Additionally, the company has made active crossover gear....
FX25 envelope filter - Ernie BallErnie BallErnie Ball was an American entrepreneur, musician, and innovator, widely acclaimed as a revolutionary in the development of guitar-related products. He began as a club and local television musician and small business entrepreneur, building an international business in guitars and accessories that...
volume pedal - PSK DD 2000 digital delay
- Rat Pro Co distortion
- RolandRoland Corporationis a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
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