Telly Interview
Meet Shlee and Mix, the dynamic duo behind the electronic pop sensation "telly." Hailing from Vermont and LA, they crossed paths in Burlington during their college years, igniting their musical partnership. The name "telly" perfectly encapsulates their love for electronic media and a nod to the English nickname for television. Their journey began six years ago, crystallizing with the creation of their hit song "Rearview." Influenced by artists like Frou Frou and Little Dragon, they craft a unique blend of electronic pop, synth pop, and dream pop. Their creative process thrives on instrumentals, vocal exploration, and collaboration. Dive into their latest music video for "BLINK," designed to evoke the thrill of a late-night drive. Stay in tune with @yourewatchingtelly on all platforms, and don't forget to check out their music. Read the full interview below!
Photo Credit: Jenny Alice Watts
Arena Gates Single OUT NOW
Electronic synth-pop band telly has today shared their latest track, “Arena Gates.” The track is built around a glitching angular rhythm, searing guitars, massive synths, and live strings to bring the dramatic track to a heavier level. Fans can stream “Arena Gates” now HERE.
On the new single the band shares, “It’s the Anthem of Avoidance—a song to ward off the nightmares. When you’re overwhelmed by chaos, Arena Gates implores you to pour yourself into someone or something else. A balance between lightness, love, and the big ugly feelings that hide just beneath the surface.”
telly will be releasing their debut EP EPISODE 1 on October 11, 2023. The EP will feature previous single “BLINK” - as well as newly released single “Arena Gates.” In the duo’s own words, “EPISODE 1 is an escapist reflection of the relentless digital landscape.” More details on EPISODE 1 coming soon.
Ashley Claude (she/her) – vocals, production
Max Solomon (he/him) – guitar, synths, sfx, production
-Introduce yourself and where you are from?
Shlee: Hi, I sing, write and produce for telly. I’m from Vermont.
Mix: Hi, I play synths, guitar, and also write and produce for telly. I grew up outside of LA but we both currently reside in Brooklyn.
-How did you guys meet?
We met in Burlington, VT where we both went to college. We met at a battle of the bands where we were both playing in different bands. We then kept running into each other at shows and eventually started making music together.
-How did you choose your band name?
We really like the elements of electronic media and also have a soft spot for the English nickname for television.
-How long have you been working on this digital project?
It feels like it was conceived as soon as we met 6 years ago, but it didn’t really become “telly” until we made our first song Rearview. We had been writing a lot of music that didn’t feel very genuine or exciting and then once we made the initial demo for Rearview, we felt like we really hit on something that resonated and excited us.
-What/who are some of your influences?
We definitely love Frou Frou, Jam City, Little Dragon, Planet 1999, and a ton of other artists. We are also definitely influenced by films and even just individual sounds like the effect that happens when your Bluetooth headphones glitch out and disconnect briefly when you’re in a high-traffic area.
-How would you describe your musical style?
Somewhere in the realm of electronic pop, synth pop, and dream pop.
-How does the creative process work with the two of you?
It typically starts with an instrumental (either one element or a full song) and then we’ll build it out vocally from there. We also do a lot of revisions, alternate versions, and gather some feedback from some trusted collaborators and incorporate that in too.
-What was your creative direction for your new single “BLINK” music video?
The initial goal was to make it feel like getting in the car after being out all night. We knew we wanted it to feel like the viewer was in the car with us and that we were being tossed around a bit. We had a lot of fun with it.
-Where can our readers stay up to date?
@yourewatchingtelly on all platforms :)
-Any additional information you would like to give our readers?
Thanks for checking us out!