Breakout 2007: Tele

06/24/09 11:07am

by Jen Zoratti (CHARTattack)

Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Official site: www.myspace/tele

Sound:
An epic fusion of ethereal keyboards and yearning vocals, Tele are a band best heard loud. Echoing British acts such as Radiohead, the electro-rock quartet makes despondency oh-so-listenable. Note to the kids in white belts: this is what emotional music is supposed to sound like.

Why?
The eardrum-shattering quartet from the ‘Peg have racked up quite a rep as being one of the city's most killer live acts. But when you have such a powerhouse live show, you can expect that people will want to take a slice of it home with them — and will be on your ass about it.

That's precisely why Matt Worobec, Zack Antel, Brendan Berg and Derek Allard will be spending the next few months in the studio working on the quartet's debut record. After getting some attention from Muse producer David Bottrill with an early demo, the band have solicited the Grammy-winning music maven to work with them on the forthcoming record.

"We're excited to release a piece, a cohesive unit that we can show to people and say, ‘Here. This is Tele,'" Worobec says.

So far, the Tele that scenesters know is the stage incarnation. But for a virtually live-only band, the four-piece have done quite well scoring a secure following. Demo versions of "Choose" and "Lullaby" have become playlist regulars on 92.9 Kick FM and Hot 103 in Winnipeg, the Edge 102.1 in Toronto and XM Satellite Radio. They've been showcase favourites and had their praises inked in music mags all over the nation. Hell, labels have even flown people out to Winnipeg to catch Tele shows.

Needless to say, this brand of hyper-exposure has created some high expectations for the record, which is slated to come out in the spring.

"We like pressure," Worobec insists. "It gives you something to strive towards. Even the pressure from the press is good because they care enough to talk about you. It just keeps us working harder."

If Tele's work ethic is any indication, this album will be hotter than hell.

This feature is from the February 2007 issue of Chart Magazine. To purchase the issue, go to the Chart Shop.