Telehope, an indie-pop quartet from Cincinnati, Ohio, consists of Mark Brad (vocals), Adolph Goetz (guitar), Ben Malson (keys), and Nate Trammel (drums). The band has created a dedicated fanbase through their interaction with listeners both in person and online. Their sophomore record,Hello to the Now, was released in July of 2018, and they are currently releasing an EP of re-imagined tracks from the album. Amy had the opportunity to chat with Ben Malson about music, shows, and their memories of 2018.
How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard of Telehope?
B: When someone asks what genre of music Telehope is, I usually begin with, “acoustic death metal” just to see their reaction. It’s like giving someone a nice birthday present, but when they open it, the outer box has a picture of hubcaps for your car on it or something. I don’t leave people hanging for too long and tell them I’d describe Telehope as indie pop that sounds like some sort of a mix between Imagine Dragons, Walk the Moon, and The 1975, while also sounding like none of them. We write each of our songs with a purpose and each one has a specific story to go along with it.
Any specific influences you’d like to give a shout-out to?
B: Lyrically, our fans and our close friends inspire us to write about the daily struggles they (and we) go through. Whether it be the anxious thoughts of feeling unworthy or falling back into an addiction, or the feeling of complete hopelessness, we believe those are struggles we can all battle with music.
How do you guys work on writing new music? Does it start with lyrics, or instrumentals, or a combination of both?
B: Usually one of us will have an idea for a chorus or some other part of a song that they’re working on and show it to the guys and see what they think. When I write new songs or listen to other ideas I always run it through the “Campfire Test.” Imagine you and your friends sitting around a campfire and someone starts playing an acoustic guitar and singing. If the song is powerful and catchy just by strumming the chords and singing, chances are it’ll be a great song when it’s recorded in the studio.
Last summer, you released your sophomore album, Hello to the Now, and you’ve recently announced an EP of reimagined songs from the record. What’s it been like to get in the studio again and record the same tracks a whole new way?
B: To me, Hello to the Nowreally defined the “beginning” of Telehope. It was the first body of work that the whole band had a hand in, and we truly believe in the depth and meaning behind these songs. I’ve found that in “produced-up” songs there’s often a layer of beauty that doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves. When you strip back the instrumentation, slow down the tempo, or even totally change the feel and remix something, a song can reveal things in a new way. That’s what we’re excited for with the upcoming reimagined EP.
Will we be hearing any of these different versions live in the upcoming year?
B: We rarely share what the Telehope live experience will include, so there’s an element of surprise. I hate accidentally seeing a video of a concert on social media that I have tickets for; it’s like seeing a trailer for a movie when you’re really pumped for the surprise of the movie!
I actually saw your two-year anniversary show in Mason, Ohio. Do hometown shows like that have a special vibe?
B: Hometown shows are some of our favorites to play. It’s like a big party with all our friends and fans who’ve supported us from the beginning, but also seeing the growth of new fans and seeing how far we’ve come! Hometown shows also allow us to make something way more intricate and special than those on the road. It’s so important to us that the visual experience is powerful, so we let our crew be as artful as they can with LED walls, lights, and many other things!
What bands would you love to tour with?
B: We’d love to tour with COIN, Walk the Moon, The Aces, and of course huge bands like Twenty One Pilots!
What’s your favorite memory from Telehope in 2018?
B: The moment before we walked on stage at our album release show in Cincinnati in August was an insane feeling. Opening for COIN in Cincinnati in May was also an incredible experience. We also love traveling to colleges around the region and meeting many people from many different places in life.
Anything you’re looking forward to in 2019? Any goals for the year?
B: The reimagined EP is something we’re super excited to start the year off with. We learned a lot by releasing singles, an album, and a cover in 2018. We have a lot of plans but don’t want to give too much away. Again, the surprise thing!
Do you have any advice for bands and artists smaller than you that are trying to build a community like yours?
B: Don’t let anyone else tell you who you are, and who you’re not. Make sure your vision is what you push, not anyone else’s vision for who you’re supposed to be. Follow your intuition, and if something doesn’t work, swallow your pride, change it, and learn from it for next time. Give people a reason to care about your music. There’s so much music being released and so many bands out there; figure out why you stand out. Music is part of that, but make sure you’re paying attention to social media, marketing, and your interaction with fans. If you hear nothing else, ADAPT. The ones who adapt to the changes in the industry are the winners, not the ones who complain that things are changing, whether it be Instagram adding a new feature or the rise of streaming music. Use that new Insta feature; embrace and learn Spotify/streaming platforms.
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and be sure to check out Telehope on Spotify
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