Lo-Tel

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Lo-Tel is a Sydney-based band. Initially a trio consisting of Luke Hannigan (singer and guitarist), Dave Lumsdaine (bass) and Darren Brollo (drums), Lo-Tel were signed to Murmur Records in 1999 on the strength of a demo that reached the label through an industry veteran who saw potential in the band. Their first single "Genre Casting" was released in early 2000 only on vinyl, subsequently leading to their first commercial single "Teenager Of The Year". The latter became a Top 40 hit on the back of its appearance in the popular Australian film Looking For Alibrandi. They also sang the Telsta advertisement remix of I Am Australian. Lo-tel's debut album Planet of the Stereos dropped in November 2000 and achieved moderate commercial success. Two further singles from the album, "A Pop Song Saved My Life" and "Crucifix", enjoyed a similar amount of airplay and publicity but were less successful. In March 2001, Luke Hannigan married his long time partner, Australian actor Pia Miranda, in Las Vegas.

After a two-year break, Lo-Tel regrouped in 2002 (with Paul Wheeler replacing Brollo), and put out their elaborate second album The Lost Thing, with artwork by Shaun Tan. Although the album track "Angel" received some commercial airplay, The Lost Thing failed to make the Top 50 upon release, and Lo-Tel slipped from view soon after. The current activities of its members are unknown.