FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Music

Telefon Tel Aviv On Why He's Back as a Solo Act, Six Years After His Bandmate's Death

Joshua Eustis has announced his project's first show following his longtime collaborator's passing in 2009.
Photo by Ashley Klich

When Charlie Cooper, half of the New Orleans-bred duo Telefon Tel Aviv, passed away in 2009, his surviving musical partner Joshua Eustis declared the future of the project was unknown. Six years later, after moving to Los Angeles, working as an occasional member of Nine Inch Nails and Maynard James Keenan's Puscifer—as well as on his Sons of Magdalene solo endeavor—Eustis has begun taking the first baby steps towards returning to TTA, announcing via Twitter that he'll "be playing the first Telefon Tel Aviv live show in over six years" on April 2 at Los Angeles' Regent Theater.

Advertisement

I'll be playing the first Telefon Tel Aviv live show in over six years. Mostly new material. Yes I'm nervous. https://t.co/056ztT63a6
— Telefon Tel Aviv (@telefontelaviv) January 4, 2016

Shortly after the announcement, Eustis explained to THUMP that the decision to return to Telefon Tel Aviv wasn't made lightly. "Giving it up without trying felt like an early spiritual death," he said. "I haven't run out of ideas yet, and while some of them don't fit with TTA, many still do, apparently." He went on to credit Turk Dietrich from New Orleans experimental duo Belong with helping him go through the emotional process of reviving Telefon Tel Aviv as a solo endeavor while the pair were working together on an album under the name Second Woman. "Turk gently walked me through the thought process that lead to me working on new TTA material."

Like before, Eustis left the possibility of further activity as Telefon Tel Aviv open, but for now he isn't committing to anything more than one show opening for Emmy Award-winning producer Deru. TTA fans from around the world might want to consider a trip to the Los Angeles this spring. Tickets to the show will go on sale here on January 13 at 12PM PST.