Teletextile
New York City, New York, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Electric violinist and innovative songwriter Pamela Martinez has a style all her own. Her blend of haunting vocals and expressive string arrangements create a theatrical yet intimate atmosphere for one of the best live performances in town. - Erica Bowman, CNC Productions
This record brings the listener through an aural tunnel of intrigue... - --
"Pamela Martinez offers up a sweet and sultry diet of good tunes on her debut disc." - WBCN Radio Boston / Middle East Booking Agent
Curiosity and introspection suit this restless multi-instrumentalist, who ...now fronts an eponymous rock band that's heavy on strings (violins, violas, cellos, and the like) and evokes comparisons to Bjork, Portishead, and sometimes Stereolab. "Clicks, dots, and trip-hop" is how Martinez describes her music on a recent promotional flier.
Martinez's self-titled EP is full of the ambient, staccato blips and burbs reminiscent of Bjork, but there are vocal parallels to Tori Amos. Martinez shares Amos's wavering tone that slides in and out of the accompaniment.
And Martinez draws a line between being a classical musician and a rock one. "Classical music is not centered around a groove like rock music is. It's about melody and the different, infinite number of ways you can play it. I feel like I have the best of both worlds, but I'd say I'm definitely a rock musician because that's what I'm listening to most of the time, but also because groove is a god to me."
- Boston Globe, James Reed
The American Bjork
- --
Teletextile surrounds the clear, girlish voice of Pamela Martinez with dense, stormy guitar, piano and electronics. - New York
Teletextile’s music is riveting from note one - Pamela is a true original. - --
Teletextile, a perfectly lovely chamber-bliss band from New York, soundtracks your finer daydreams. - --
...hauntingly cheerful and lush sound - capturing your ear before you realize you’ve been trapped. - --
"Brilliant. Like watching two people have sex on stage"
(see link for full article) - SPINearth.com
Fronted by vocalist, harpist and songwriter Pamela Martinez, the Brooklyn trio known as Teletextile play layered indie pop tinged with rock vim and vigor. The three-piece is currently in the studio finishing up their new album Reflector, the follow up to their 2007 full-length debut. On this track - a Music Hub exclusive - Martinez leads the charge on a complex pop tune full of twists and turns and colored by subtle soul. - WNYC culture hub
Teletextile ... glistens across the tiny white ear hairs of my waxy listeners - --
Discography
teletextile - glass (2011)
teletextile - reflector EP (2010)
teletextile - care package (2007) self release
Pamela Martinez - self-titled (2004) self release
Heavy Rotation- Dorm Sessions II (compilation) distr. Rounder Records
PM guest on Justin Tranter's solo album (The Semi-Precious Weapons)
Photos
Bio
“The meaning of the name Teletextile is not first date information,” says Pamela Martinez. She holds its explanation close as an opportunity to entice all the visionaries, escapists, fantasizers, romantics and haters. ”Teletextile’s definition is packed in suitcases with things words can’t describe.”
As you can tell, Martinez’s musical adventures started at a young age, picking up instrument after instrument, audible in the lush songs of Teletextile’s layered arrangements of harps, guitars, strings, electronics, choirs and the like.
Long commutes on Texas highways had the radio alternating between her mother and grandmother’s love of Etta James, and her father’s affection for George Harrison. My sweet lord, my sweet lord, I just want to make love to you while my guitar gently weeps. But Martinez is no lone ranger, she vanguards a gold rush of musical pioneers.
And in case you’re not interested in Teletextile. Martinez recommends listening to Pj Harvey, Brian Eno, Björk or Radiohead. “It’s basically the same thing.”
Links