Telefon Tel Aviv is a New Orleans–derived, Chicago-based American electronic music act, formerly comprising Charles Cooper and Joshua Eustis. Since Cooper's accidental death in 2009, Telefon Tel Aviv has continued with Eustis as the sole official member. Eustis is also known for being a member of the most recent lineup of Puscifer and Nine Inch Nails' live performances.
History
Telefon Tel Aviv was formed in 1999 by Charles Cooper and Joshua Eustis, with their first album Fahrenheit Fair Enough, released in the fall of 2001 to positive reviews. In 2002, the group released an EP on the Hefty RecordsImmediate Action label. In 2004, the duo released their second full-length album, and a compilation album of remixes titled Remixes Compiled in 2007. The group released its third full-length album in January 2009 on the BPitch Control label. Immolate Yourself peaked at #17 on the BillboardTop Electronic Albums chart. In 2016, their debut was re-released with eight bonus tracks. Since 2011, Eustis has been working on new music. In March 2012, Eustis mentioned on his Twitter account that he was "trying" to work on new Telefon Tel Aviv material. In February 2013, Eustis was announced as a member of the touring lineup of Nine Inch Nails. He was originally slated to tour with band throughout 2013 and 2014. However, on December 5, 2013, it was revealed by Trent Reznor that Eustis was no longer part of the Nine Inch Nails touring line-up, citing only Alessandro Cortini, Ilan Rubin, Robin Finck, and himself as band members during an IAmA on Reddit. Eustis also confirmed this on the official Telefon Tel Aviv website.
Death of Charles Cooper
On January 22, 2009, Eustis announced on the group's MySpace blog that Charles Cooper had died. The information also appeared on the band's website: "Charles Wesley Cooper III / April 12, 1977 - January 22, 2009". Two CBS2 Chicago articles about Cooper's death specify that he went missing on January 21 before being found dead. On January 30, 2009, Eustis posted on the group's MySpace blog that all tour plans have been cancelled and the future of the band is uncertain. On March 22, 2009, Eustis posted on the group's MySpace blog that he will perform on stage with a close friend of the group, Fredo Nogueira. On July 22, 2009, Eustis posted on the group's MySpace in order to clarify some rumours about Cooper's death, stating that three autopsy reports ruled it was not a suicide but possibly an accidental mix of sleeping pills and alcohol.
Sons Of Magdalene and Future
On December 9, 2013, Josh Eustis posted on the official Telefon Tel Aviv website that he was going back into the studio full-time, as he was no longer a touring member of Nine Inch Nails and presumably Puscifer as well. In the same post, Eustis stated that he has been sitting on a 95% finished full-length album under the moniker of Sons Of Magdalene, a name previously used for an EP released in 2008. Additionally, the post confirmed that after the record was finished, he would be working on Telefon Tel Aviv full-time. The debut album from the Sons of Magdelene moniker, Move to Pain, was released June 24 2014.
Production
In interviews, Cooper and Eustis have stated that they use the following software: DigidesignPro Tools, Native Instruments Reaktor/Electronic Instruments 2 XT, Ableton Live and Max/MSP Additionally, the band has contributed samples to the Native Instruments Synthetic Drums 2 sample library. For the albumImmolate Yourself the band drastically changed their production style, reverting to analog tape and analog synthesizers, claiming this method to "sound more real".
