Telekinesis is the project of Seattle singer and drummer Michael Lerner, who has collaborated with members of Death Cab for Cutie among others. His fourth album, “Ad Infinitum,” is a shift from the catchy power pop of his previous records toward 1980s-inspired electronica.
Before a show at Denver's Hi-Dive, Telekinesis stopped into the CPR Performance Studio and performed three songs from "Ad Infinitum." Lerner also spoke with OpenAir about ditching guitars for synthesizers, the advantages of working in a home studio and how his drumming and singing mesh with one another.
Stream the full session above. Interview highlights:
On working in his new home studio
"Every other time I've made a record it has been within a two week period, just because of a time situation with the studio and also not having enough money to be in there for a Fleetwood Mac amount of time.
"Being able to have an infinite amount of hours in my own space was pretty great because I was trying to learn how to work a lot of the stuff I had bought. ... If I was trying to do that while having to pay $800 a day for a recording studio, it would have been kind of a bummer."
On blending drumming and singing for live performances
"When I first started the hardest part was just moving around while playing. I was so hyper-focused on playing the drum part and singing that I forgot to be a 'frontman.'"
Songs performed:
- "Sylvia"
- "Courtesy Phone"
- "Ad Infinitum Pt. 2"
