| Martin Tielli | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Place: | Italy |
| Origin: | Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada |
| Instrument: | Vocals, guitar, tenor guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, banjo, mandolin, accordion, percussion |
| Genre: | Indie rock, classical |
| Occupation: | Musician, songwriter, producer, visual artist, actor |
| Years Active: | 1981present |
| Label: | Six Shooter |
| Associated Acts: | Rheostatics, Nick Buzz, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle, Instant Klazzix, Art of Time Ensemble, The Five Hole Band, Water Tower |
Martin Tielli is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He was a member of the Rheostatics, and has also released material as a solo artist and with the side project Nick Buzz. As well, he has appeared as a guest musician on albums by Barenaked Ladies, Kevin Hearn, The Waltons, Jane Siberry, Ashley MacIsaac, Meryn Cadell and Mia Sheard. He is also a painter, and created most of the album covers for the Rheostatics.
Tielli's siblings include brothers Doug Tielli and John Tielli and sister Sara Tielli. The brothers were members of the band People From Earth. Martin co-produced People From Earth's 1997 album, Luvskull, with the band and Don Kerr.
In 1992, Tielli, along with Jonathan Goldsmith, Hugh Marsh and Rob Piltch, provided backup for a track on the album Back to the Garden; these four later formed the band Nick Buzz and produced two albums and an EP.[1] [2] [3]
In 2001 Tielli released his first solo album, We Didn't Even Suspect That He Was The Poppy Salesman.[4]
See main article: Rheostatics.
Tielli appears in the 2005 film, Black Widow, with Mary Margaret O'Hara and Sarah Slean, which was produced by CBC Television. Tielli took part in a 2009 interactive documentary series entitled City Sonic.[5] The episode in which he appeared, directed by Peter Lynch, featured fellow Toronto artist, Laura Barrett, speaking of her first concert experience, which was seeing the Rheostatics perform Music Inspired by the Group of Seven at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Tielli and Barrett perform the song "Northern Wish" together. Tielli also wrote and performed a sizable portion of the soundtrack for Payback, a 2012 documentary film based on the book, , by Margaret Atwood.[6]
Tielli painted his Ibanez guitar with a "never quite presented idea" for the new Canadian flag, designed by A.Y. Jackson.[9] This design is often mistaken for one originally championed by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson to be the Canadian flag (nicknamed "the Pearson Pennant"). This guitar appears on the cover for the Rheostatics album, Double Live. Tielli's Steinberger guitar is nicknamed "Steiny".