Telemakus

Biography

Telemakus is a 23-year-old Indian-American musician, self-taught pianist, producer, and composer from the Bay Area, specifically raised in Sunnyvale, California, by an Indian mother and Mauritian father. Growing up with his older brother, he developed a passion for jazz early on, attending the Monterey Jazz Festival and borrowing jazz CDs from the library. Initially taking piano lessons, he grew frustrated with classical training and switched to soccer, listening to artists like Herbie Hancock. A severe injury at age 14—his spleen bursting during a game—left him bedridden and homeschooled for six months, during which he discovered J Dilla and A Tribe Called Quest, sparking his production journey on an iPad. Family challenges, including his brother's chronic fatigue syndrome and his parents' separation, deepened his reliance on music as a solace.[1][2]

Telemakus draws his stage name from the Greek mythological figure Telemachus, protector of his mother during Odysseus's absence, reflecting his personal story. He released his debut album 'The New Heritage' in 2021 via Radio Juicy, blending jazz, funk, and hip-hop influences, which amassed over 5 million streams and praise from The New York Times and NPR. His 'Calantha' series, inspired by Blade Runner's off-world colony and sci-fi like Philip K. Dick novels and 2001: A Space Odyssey, features celestial, layered soundscapes with improvisational jazz elements, evolving from GarageBand to professional setups like Logic and a Roland Juno-DS88. After graduating from UC Davis in 2023 with a B.A. in Cognitive Science—exploring music and the mind—he planned studies in electrical engineering while continuing releases like a new album in 2024.[1][2]

His style fuses nu jazz, jazz funk, fusion, and experimental jazz with hip-hop production techniques, emulating J Dilla's drum manipulation and drawing from astronomy's vastness for thematic depth. Telemakus pushes boundaries in jazz and hip-hop scenes through self-composed melodies post-Skype lessons, compilations like Inner Ocean's 'Bless Vol. 2', and singles like 'Mars Blues' with collaborators.[1][2][3]

Fun Facts

• Named after Telemachus from Greek mythology, who protected his mother like Telemakus during family hardships.
• Composed the 'Calantha' series inspired by Blade Runner's off-world colony, evoking space travel with shimmering synths and asteroid-like percussion.
• Bedridden for six months at 14 after his spleen burst in a soccer game, he began beat-making on an iPad, turning injury into his musical origin.
• Deep sci-fi and astronomy fan; loves Philip K. Dick novels and feeling 'small in the universe,' influencing his cosmic-themed music.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Kiefer - Took Skype lessons from this LA jazz/hip-hop artist, shifting from samples to original melodies (Influenced overall style resembling Kiefer's hybrid sound) [Pre-2021]

Key Collaborators

• Chino Corvalán - Trio member contributing to expressive sci-fi sound palette ('Mars Blues' single from 'The New Heritage') [2021]
• Ted Taforo - Trio member contributing to expressive sci-fi sound palette ('Mars Blues' single from 'The New Heritage') [2021]
• Corydrums - Trio member contributing to expressive sci-fi sound palette ('Mars Blues' single from 'The New Heritage') [2021]
• Inner Ocean Records - Label collaboration after track placement, leading to full series commission ('Bless Vol. 2' compilation, 'Calantha' volumes) [Pre-2021 onwards]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz