(photo: Myspace)

One of my favourite stories from 2008 as been the success of an artist whose made his name by playing around with other people’s music.  Telemitry is the remix master who made Bloc Party’s “Mercury” cool, and gave Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida” an extension on its expiration date.  As much as Vampire Weekend’s success can be directly linked to being a blog band, so too can Telemirtry’s.  As a direct result of his remixes being shared by blogs in 2008, he’s scored some legitimate work as a remixer, and is getting ready to make 2009 his coming out year.  Telemitry agreed to answer a few questions for us, Q & A style, about this past year’s highlights and what’s coming next.

QBiM: Who/what is Telemitry?  How did this project start?
Telemitry:  I work in the music industry, so I have always used a pseudonym to avoid conflicts of interest.   Telemitry is pronounced tul-em-i-tree.  I have always been a songwriter and I moved into production while in college.  I just really got into remixing and re-imagining songs I loved from many genres.

QBiM:  What was the first record you ever bought?
Telemitry:  First record I wore out was “Thriller”, but it was my dad’s. I had a red leather jacket by age 4 though.  The first record I bought was “Appetite For Destruction”.

QBiM: What’s your musical background?
Telemitry:  I play guitar and enough piano to get by.  I am part of a duo called Speaker Spell and usually don’t spin on my own.  I just love the team aspect of it, probably because it brings me back to my band days in high school.  I also think your able to really project the energy from stage with two people more so then if you were by yourself.

QBiM: Have you had any positive or negative feedback from the artists you’ve remixed?
Telemitry:  To be honest, I have never received a word from any acts I have remixed.  I make sure to get copies to artist management every time.  I guess they would let me know if they truly hated it.  I will keep you posted though!

QBiM: Do you work on any original material?  If so, which do you prefer: original songs or remixing others work?
Telemitry:  I love remixing, it’s just a great challenge.  However, I am going to start working on an EP this year because of all of the great support  blogs like this have provided.

QBiM: How do you go about choosing songs to remix?
Telemitry:  When you spin at a club or party, you learn about what works and what doesn’t work.
I always have been a pop junky, so I like the challenge of making a arena pop band like Journey work in a hipster crowd.

QBiM: When you’re at home, what album/artists would you put on to chill out to?
Telemitry:  I love soul music.  Artists like Al Green, Otis Redding, and Smokey Robinson.  I love Depeche Mode.  I love Pink Floyd for the music and the mystery.  Mystique died in rock music but has been kept alive in electronic music.

QBiM: What’s coming up for Telemitry in 2009?
Telemitry:  Hopefully, the official remix work I’ve been offered will be used.  I am currently working on a
a remix for a hip-hop duo on Capitol.  I will keep you posted.

QBiM: Do you have any musical heros?
Telemitry::  MJ, Prince, Neil Diamond, Jay-Z, Clive Davis.

QBiM: What has been the craziest story about Telemitry in 2008?
Telemitry:  Blogs!  Sometimes it feels more like Spinal Tap then reality, but the support has been amazing.  The passion for music and spreading the word has truly blown my mind.  I can’t thank you all enough!

No, thank you for the music.

MP3: Coldplay “Viva La Vida (Telemitry Remix)
MP3: Bloc Party “Mercury (Telemitry Mercury-mix)
MP3: Journey “Any Way You Want It (Telemitry vs. Journey Remix)
Myspace: Telemitry

And the full Telemitry remixography for those who’re looking to be completists:

Never Gonna Give You Up- Rick Astley- Telemitry Remix
Caribbean Queen- Billy Ocean- Telemitry Remix
Viva La Vida- Coldplay- Telemitry Remix
Mercury- Bloc Party- Telemitry Remix
Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson- Telemitry Remix
Any Way You Want It- Journey -Telemitry vs. Journey Remix