Jul 20, 2021 By Mark Redfern

Mac McCaughan of Superchunk (and also co-founder of Merge Records) has announced a new solo album, The Sound of Yourself, and shared its first single, “Dawn Bends,” which features Yo La Tengo, as well as his Superchunk bandmate Jon Wurster (on drums). In a press release McCaughan says the single is “a cautionary tale about getting a little too into the isolation.” More

Jan 02, 2020 By Stephen Axeman

Benjamin Gibbard (of Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service fame), and Telekinesis have shared their versions of two of James Mendenhall’s tracks off of the forthcoming commemorative compilation album, I’ll Send You The Stars, due out January 3 via Barsuk Records, and we are pleased to premiere it. More

Apr 08, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

Telekinesis (the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter/drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner) released a new album, Effluxion, back in February via Merge. Now he has shared a video for the album’s title track, “Effluxion.” More

Mar 01, 2019 By Mark Redfern

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our new print issue, Issue 65, which is out now nationwide (on newsstands, in such stores as Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, and elsewhere) and available to buy directly from us here. The issue features Mitski on the front cover and boygenius (Julien Baker + Phoebe Bridgers + Lucy Dacus) on the back cover. More

Feb 22, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

Telekinesis (the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter/drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner) has released a new album, Effluxion, today via Merge. Now that the album is out, you can stream the whole thing here. More

Feb 15, 2019 By Mark Redfern

It was pretty rough week to be a Ryan Adams fan. We won’t regurgitate the details, but if you haven’t already done so then you should read The New York Times article detailing the sexual misconduct allegations made against him by Mandy Moore, Phoebe Bridgers, and several other women. More

Feb 15, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

Telekinesis (the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter/drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner) is releasing a new album, Effluxion, on February 22 via Merge. Earlier this week he shared another new song, “A Place in the Sun,” via a video for the song. More

Jan 18, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

Welcome to the second Songs of the Week of 2019. This week’s list includes tracks from freshly announced albums (Strand of Oaks, The Drums, Tamaryn, C Duncan, Glen Hansard), as well as by artists who have already made this list with previous songs from their upcoming albums (Telekinesis, Piroshka, Cass McCombs). More

Jan 15, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

Telekinesis (the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter/drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner) is releasing a new album, Effluxion, on February 22 via Merge. Previously he shared a lyric video for its first single, “Set a Course” (which was one of our Songs of the Week). More

Nov 30, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

We didn’t do a Songs of the Week last week due to the Thanksgiving holiday and long weekend. Beyond the fact that we were taking a break from work, there simply weren’t enough songs released last week to justify a Songs of the Week wrap up. More

Nov 28, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

Telekinesis (the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter/drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner) has announced a new album, Effluxion, and shared a lyric video for its first single, “Set a Course.” He’s also announced some tour dates. More

Sep 10, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar favorite Telekinesis (the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter/drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner) is releasing his fourth album, Ad Infinitum, next Friday (September 18) via longtime label Merge. Now you can stream the whole thing below, via NPR First Listen. More

Aug 26, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar favorite Telekinesis (the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter/drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner) previously announced his fourth album, Ad Infinitum, which is due out on September 18 via longtime label Merge. More

Aug 07, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of the August/September 2015 issue, which is available digitally now (via Under the Radar‘s app and the magazine apps Zinio, Readly, and Readbug), has shipped out to subscribers and stores and will be on all newsstands soon. It features CHVRCHES on the cover. Garbage’s Shirley Manson discusses the 20th anniversary of the band’s self-titled debut album. We talk to the creators and various cast members of Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. Star Cliff Curtis and producer Gale Anne Hurd talk about The Walking Dead companion series Fear the Walking Dead. The issue also includes interviews with Beach House, New Order, Foals, Beirut, Jesse Eisenberg, Low, FFS, Destroyer, Wolf Alice, Tamaryn, Telekinesis, Ducktails, DRINKS, Briana Marela, LA Priest, Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Chelsea Wolfe, and more. More

Jun 17, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar favorites Telekinesis (the project of Seattle-based singer/songwriter/drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner) are back with a new full-length album and have shared its first single and an album trailer. More

Nov 21, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Currently working on the follow-up to his 2013 album Dormarion, Michael Benjamin Lerner, a.k.a. Telekinesis, has premiered a new track called “Can’t See Stars” for Polyvinyl’s ongoing 4-Track Singles Series. More

Jan 03, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

While the days of watching music videos on television are long gone, over the past several years the visual art form has certainly found second life (like so many other things) as an excellent online commodity. More

Oct 28, 2013 By Mark Redfern

We sent out the same set of Halloween-related questions to a bunch of different musicians. All Halloween week we are posting their responses. Here are some spooky answers from Michael Lerner of Telekinesis.

May 09, 2013 By Mike Hilleary

Currently on the road supporting his newest album Dormarion, Telekinesis’ Michael Benjamin Lerner has premiered a brand new video for his single “Empathetic People.” More

Apr 07, 2013 By Iman Mannie Saqr

Mar 25, 2013 By Mike Hilleary

On April 2 Seattle songwriter Michael Benjamin Lerner, a.k.a. Telekinesis, will release his third studio effort Dormarion. More

Mar 19, 2013 By Mike Hilleary

Next month Michael Benjamin Lerner, a.k.a. Telekinesis, will release his newest LP Dormarion. More

Mar 17, 2013 By Marie Noble

On March 14, 2013, Telekinesis performed at Merge Records’ SXSW showcase in Austin, Texas. More

Jan 08, 2013 By Mike Hilleary

On April 2 Telekinesis, a.k.a. musical artist Michael Benjamin Lerner, returns with his third full-length album Dormarion. More

Oct 25, 2012 By Laura Studarus

It’s not a new album (yet), but Telekinesis has offered up a new song. More

Nov 10, 2011 By Mi Tran

Seattle band Telekinesis have released a video for “Country Lane,” a song taken from their latest album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines. More

Oct 13, 2011 By Wendy Lynch Redfern

On Monday, October 10, 2011, Death Cab for Cutie performed at the Verizon Wireless Theatre in Houston, TX with support from Telekinesis. Photographer, Iman Mannie Saqr, was there to capture the action. Check out the full gallery. More

Sep 23, 2011 By Laura Studarus

Last night, our favorite singing drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner (who plays as Telekinesis) made his late-night debut on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. More

Sep 20, 2011 By Wendy Lynch Redfern

Check out photos from Day Two of ACL Music Festival 2011 in Austin, TX including Stevie Wonder, Alexander, Chromeo, Cut Copy, Iron and Wine, My Morning Jacket, Telekinesis, Twin Shadow, and more. More

Aug 24, 2011 By John Everhart

Telekinesis have announced Fall U.S. tour dates. We have the details. More

Aug 01, 2011 By Margot Cooper Gruen

Death Cab for Cutie have announced their fall tour, which is kicking off September 30 in Cincinnati and commencing October 22 in Seattle. More

May 12, 2011 By Mark Redfern

Under the Radar magazine’s online charity auction for the Japan relief effort ends today, Thursday, May 12, at 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST. It’s your last chance to get bids in to win an Under the Radar SXSW poster signed by all the artists who played our party, either a guitar autographed by Hooray for Earth or top-of-the-line headphones from Shure, plus 11 pieces of vinyl, 3 CDs, 1 cassette, 2 bags, and an Under the Radar subscription!

More

May 05, 2011 By Mark Redfern

Under the Radar magazine is hosting an online charity auction for the Japan relief effort that starts today and features Okkervil River, Menomena, Owen Pallett, Telekinesis, Surfer Blood, Hooray for Earth, and Porcelain Raft. More

Apr 26, 2011 By Mike Hilleary

Telekinesis’ Michael Benjamin Lerner stopped by the AV Club headquarters in Chicago not too long ago to take part in the site’s Undercover series, a video/music segment where visiting artists are asked to play a single song from a list of 25 compiled tracks. More

Apr 04, 2011 By Lauren Barbato

Telekinesis asks for help—in watching their latest video. We have the vid, plus a new batch of tour dates. More

Mar 21, 2011 By Laura Studarus

During the two days of Under the Radar’s SXSW parties we recorded exclusive greetings from some of the artists playing. In case you missed them on our Twitter and Facebook feeds, we’ve collected them here. More

Mar 21, 2011 By Mike Hilleary

The morning of day three began a bit like day two: a bit begrudgingly. While both sides of the snooze/sleep debate had very compelling arguments, it was ultimately decided that checking out cool, new music trumped physical recovery.

More

Feb 11, 2011 By Mark Redfern and Laura Studarus

Under the Radar’s Winter 2011 issue is about to hit stands. The cover features Death Cab for Cutie, who gave writer Matt Fink insight into the band’s forthcoming album, Codes and Keys (due out in May). The issue also includes interviews with Bright Eyes, British Sea Power, The Dears, The Decemberists, Destroyer, The Dodos, Duran Duran,Elbow, Iron and Wine, Lykke Li, R.E.M., Telekinesis, Toro Y Moi, The Antlers, The Big Pink, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Jens Lekman, Okkervil River, Panda Bear, Vivian Girls, Anna Calvi, Porcelain Raft, Smith Westerns, Yuck, and more.

More

Jan 31, 2011 By Laura Studarus

Today, you can officially get a first listen to Telekinesis’ second album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines. More

Nov 10, 2010 By Laura Studarus

Inspired by a broken heart, wrecked van, and Berlin, Telekinesis’ Michael Benjamin Lerner recorded the follow-up to debut album Telekinesis! under duress. The result, 12 Desperate Straight Lines (out February 15th via Merge) is a bass-driven ode to what the press release calls, “heartache, anger, and even a little hopefulness.” More

Sep 03, 2010 By Laura Studarus

So much media so little time. Below is a roundup of all the videos that have been circulating around our office in the last week including: Telekinesis, Vampire Weekend, Dead Man’s Bones and more. More

Aug 09, 2010 By Michael Benjamin Lerner

Under the Radar‘s Summer 2010 Issue is a special issue named the Wasted on the Youth Issue that features musicians and actors talking about their childhood memories and things they loved when they were kids. We’re also posting web-exclusive essays that were not printed in the issue, including this one by Telekinesis’ Michael Benjamin Lerner. More

Jun 23, 2010 By Laura Studarus

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yetlsin, and it appears that “someone” is none other than Telekinesis. The indie folk poppers have plotted a series of co-headlining dates together. We have the dates. More

May 27, 2010 By Wendy Lynch Redfern

Last night (May 26th), Nada Surf, supported by Telekinesis, played to a sold-out audience at The Troubadour in West Hollywood. We sent Under the Radar photographer Wendy Lynch Redfern down to cover the action. Check out a full gallery of her photos here. More

Mar 31, 2010 By Hong Le

In celebration of Record Store Day, a yearly celebration in which independently owned record stores collaborate with artists to commemorate the art of music, Merge will release three exclusive 7-inches. There will be one each from Telekinesis and Superchunk, along with a split 7” with The Love Language and Let’s Wrestle. All will be released on April 17. We have the details. More

Apr 11, 2009 By Mark Redfern

Under the Radar‘s Spring Issue will be hitting stands soon. Bat For Lashes’ Natasha Khan graces the cover and the issue features an in-depth nine-page interview with Khan that traces the long road to her amazing new album Two Suns. More

Feb 23, 2016 By Mark Redfern

For Under the Radar’s 13th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2015. We asked them about their favorite albums of the year and their thoughts on various notable 2015 news stories involving either the music industry or world events, as well as some quirkier personal questions. Here are some answers from Michael Benjamin Lerner, who records as Telekinesis. Telekinesis’ most recent album, Ad Infinitum, was released last year via Merge. More

Dec 02, 2015 By John Everhart

“It’s sort of like Desmond in Lost pushing the button in the hatch,” says Michael Benjamin Lerner with a laugh, of the isolation he often experienced during the creation of the latest Telekinesis album, the synth-heavy Ad Infinitum. “You start feeling like him if you don’t have anyone around all day while you’re pushing buttons, and just a little crazy.” More

Dec 16, 2014 By Mark Redfern

For Under the Radar’s 12th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2014. We asked them about their favorite albums of the year and their thoughts on various notable 2014 news stories involving either the music industry or world events, as well as some quirkier personal questions. More

Oct 28, 2013 By Mark Redfern

We sent out the same set of Halloween-related questions to a bunch of different musicians. All Halloween week we are posting their responses. Here are some spooky answers from Michael Lerner of Telekinesis.

Apr 10, 2013 By By Michael Lerner (as told to Laura Studarus)

My Favorite Thing is our recurring series when an artist tells us about one of their favorite things (favorite album, movie, book, TV show, comic book, food, etc.). Here Michael Lerner of Telekinesis talks about one of his favorite albums, Flin Flon’s A-Ok. More

Feb 15, 2013 By Under the Radar Staff

For Under the Radar‘s 10th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2012. Pick up the Best of 2012 issue to read many of the responses. We are also posting additional web-exclusive bonus answers to the website. These are from artists whose surveys are in the print magazine, but are extra answers that didn’t fit in the issue. Here are bonus answers from Michael Benjamin Lerner of Telekinesis. More

Jul 30, 2010 By Hays Davis

Musicians reflect on their first concerts. Includes stories from Tegan & Sara, Camera Obscura, Girl Talk, Owen Pallett, Art Brut, The Hold Steady, MGMT, Broken Social Scene, Ariel Pink, !!!, Mew, Real Estate, The Dears, Vivian Girls, Mayer Hawthorne, The Drums, Telekinesis, Fuck Buttons, El Guincho, and more. More

Sep 09, 2009 By Frank Valish

One might say that Telekinesis’ Michael Benjamin Lerner was born to play music. Growing up the son of a classic rock radio disc jockey with a Beatles obsession, Lerner’s house was filled with music from the time he was an infant. As Lerner tells it, he was singing “Drive My Car” when he was still in diapers. But the Seattle native’s own musical pathway may have been set even before that. More

Mar 29, 2013 By Frank Valish

Telekinesis has always had pure pop swing in its music, a certain melodic sensibility that harkened back to the ‘60s, no matter how presentation varied in terms of instrumentation or fidelity. More

Mar 25, 2013 By Mark Redfern

Having survived the first two nights of SXSW and Under the Radar‘s first two days parties, despite a crying newborn back in our hotel room, I ventured out into the Austin night yet again. Here is a recap of what I saw Thursday and Friday night of SXSW 2013, including sets by TOY, Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Telekinesis, Akron/Family’s Cy Dune with 30 drummers, Savages, Youth Lagoon, and more. More

Mar 23, 2013 By Laura Studarus

Few things come as more of a surprise than the third day of SXSW. Regardless of superficial whine-inducing aches, the night was filled with heavy hitters: TOY, Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones, and Telekinesis. More

Mar 29, 2011 By Mark Redfern

We were pretty sure that people would show up to our Thursday SXSW party because of our exclusive set by Atlas Sound, and while we were confident that we had an equally strong lineup for our Friday party (which was presented by Shure), we still weren’t certain how many fans would show up. But our immediate concern at the start of the party was whether our first artist would make it in time (if at all). Porcelain Raft (aka Italian born, London-based, Mauro Remiddi) had underestimated how far his hotel was from our venue (The Flamingo Cantina), was running late, and had a dead cell-phone and thus no way to let us know that he was indeed on his way. Thankfully the charming Remiddi arrived with a thousand apologies 10 minutes before he was scheduled to perform and because he’s a one-man band, was pretty much ready to go on time. The crowd, by the way, was as healthy in numbers as the day before, with a to-capacity venue and a line down the block most of the day. More

Mar 21, 2011 By Mike Hilleary

Feb 15, 2011 By Mike Hilleary

For someone whose biggest musical aspiration was once nothing more than to play drums in someone else’s rock band, Michael Benjamin Lerner is making a heck of a go as a multi-talented source of propulsive hooks and power pop craftsmanship More

Sep 02, 2010 By Aaron Passman

You’re strolling through your local independent record store when you stumble upon the latest Telekinesis release. “Oh, cool,” you say to yourself, “a new EP.” The latest Telekinesis EP is a lot of things, but “new” isn’t one of them. More

Apr 29, 2009 By Aaron Passman

The exclamation point at the end of Telekinesis’ self-titled debut may be a bit over the top, but if any band has earned itself an exclamation point, Telekinesis certainly has. Seattleite Michael Benjamin Lerner (the power behind Telekinesis’ power pop) makes music that’s straightforward and familiar—if not especially challenging—and with its hooks, perfect chord progressions, harmonies and hand clap-ready rhythms, Telekinesis! is one of the strongest power-pop debuts in years. More