Jonny Telafone has a new EP out. The Rainbow Genesis is a mix of kraut instrumentals with quasi Prince sex joints. I’m so lazy these days so I decided to ask some questions to the man/myth/legend Jonathan Black.

Where did the name Jonny Telafone come from?
The name comes from my first band The Telafones.

How young were you when you first started playing music?
Got a bass when I was 12. Started recording Telafones songs when I was like 15.

A lot of your lyrics are about satan, hell and the occult, does this come from your religious background?
Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge cause they wanted to be like god and I’m really glad they did.

What is a lonely masturbator? How do you join?
A lonely masturbator is basically someone who didn’t lose their virginity till after their teenage years. It’s anyone who looked in the mirror, squeezed some pimples and said to their reflection, “today’s the day I’m gonna get with that girl.” But of course you never did cause she picked you correctly as a sexual pervert.

You used to play in Golden Buoy and Archeopteryx, what ever happened to them? What did play in them?
My role was writing dumb bass lines and not turning up to band practice. Those bands totally ruled hard though and if we still played I have no doubt we’d be so super rich by now.

Do you prefer playing a band or doing the solo thing?
I like playing in a band but playing solo you’re not letting anyone down but yourself.

How do you approach playing live as oppose to bedroom recording?
Playing live is unforgiving although it does provide a useful platform for some hate speech.

Your last live show ended in bit of a melt down, what happened and why have you decided to abandon the live set?
I was out of my mind for various reasons. My parents were there and I was on a bad trip and I totally lost my shit…thankfully I can’t remember most of it. But no I haven’t abandoned playing live at all. Actually got a show in Sydney coming up soon.

You came to Canberra for uni from Newcastle, how was that?
Terrible

Why did you move to Melbourne? How are you finding it there?
Not sure why I came here but it was an interesting mistake. There’s a very strict consumer fascist culture in Melbourne. Maybe it’s the same in any big city these days. Great buskers though. Yesterday I saw a tap-dance beatbox combo performed by some of the ugliest Asians I have ever seen. I think they were Thai.

You have a tape coming out soon, can you tell us a bit about Wherever the Wind Blows?
It’s a collection of heartbroken acoustic ballads about un-requited love, mental illness and werewolves.

The Rainbow Genesis is now available for download along with a brand new video for Stardate 2012.1221. Wherever the Wind Blows will be out this month when I get some money.

Jonny Telafone – Rainbow Genesis EP

• Release Date: 2010
• Label: Self Released
• Genre: Synth Drone, Alternative, Pop

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