Martin Tielli

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Martin Tielli
Martin Tielli performing with the Rheostatics at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario, 2007
Background information
Born	1967 Italy
Origin	Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Genre(s)	Indie rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, artist
Instrument(s)	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1980–present
Associated acts	Rheostatics Nick Buzz Art of Time Ensemble
Website	www.martintielli.net
Notable instrument(s)
Steinberger

Martin Tielli (born 1967 in Italy) is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He was a member of the Rheostatics, and has also released material as a solo artist and with the side project Nick Buzz. As well, he has appeared as a guest musician on albums by Barenaked Ladies, Kevin Hearn, The Waltons, Jane Siberry, Ashley MacIsaac, Meryn Cadell and Mia Sheard. He is also a painter, and created most of the album covers for the Rheostatics. In 2005 he shot a movie entitled Black Widow with Mary Margaret O'Hara and Sarah Slean for CBC Television.

Tielli's guitar style is textured and flamboyant, and his vocal style is acrobatic (he has an extremely developed falsetto range). He is something of an eccentric, often enigmatic in interviews, and he suffers from anxiety when performing solo.

Martin Tielli plays a Steinberger headless electric guitar, nicknamed "Steiny". Martin's other famous guitar is his Ibanez double neck 6/12 string electric guitar, which he painted himself with the design originally championed by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson to be the Canadian flag (nick-named "the Pearson pennant").

Tielli's younger brother John formed the band Clark in 1999. His youngest brother Doug was a member of People from Earth with John, and went on to play with artists such as Tamara Williamson and Snailhouse.