TIKHET - mixtape suite (Album) + 10 Questions
Picture Credit: A. van Zanten & Otto Chr.
German DJ and producer Sepalot and songwriter and poet Angela Aux join forces on the new music project TIKHET. Hot off the release of their debut single ‘Smoke Rings’, previous ‘right now i can see’ and current single, the brit-pop infused ‘So Unique’, the duo are gearing up for the release of their debut album ‘mixtape suite’, out on 24 January 2025.
Acclaimed musicians in their own right - Sepalot was part of the Blumentopf collective that shaped the German hip-hop landscape and Angela Aux is a renowned singer, bassist, poet, composer and all round creative machine - their combined influences seemingly slot perfectly together, drifting somewhere through genres and decades: Nu jazz, folk, krautrock and as expected with a great sense of atmosphere and collage.
The duo say, “A good song is like a ticket through the universe. Destinations being actual real locations, some from of utopia, even imaginary planets or a dusty chamber of your brain, it can be a different era or anything in between.” TIKHET have a whole album's worth of such travel tickets at the ready. Or, even better: TIKHET is music-turned-ticket to an imaginary dream world: near, far, with a surreal twist, colourful, vintage-esque and futuristic.
The duo's debut album "mixtape suite" creates this utopia using an array of varying pieces from a wide range of musical eras. "mixtape suite" is the (symbiosis) musical child of two music obsessives and their artistic influences, weaving a tapestry of contrasts: drifting, floating, braking, crawling and fluttering. This album builds bridges while maintaining a sort of never losing its composure. It’s a charming ode to frankness/openness and music nerdism.
TIKHETs travel experience begins with the spherical opener "smoke rings". This song may easily stand for the entire project DNA, a wide range of carefully arranged cross-references. Sluggish, eccentric hip-hop drums reminiscent of Cypress Hill cross Angela Aux's restrained, clear folk vocals: "I spent a long time coming that I must be kind of late".
Current single “So unique” comes across just as inhibited, but still shows off the other end of the spectrum this band is capable of. Instead of dirty downtown patterns, now there is driving bass and TIKHET invite you to dance. "so unique" reflects light, playfulness and the courage to be weird. The song is fifty percent spacy and fifty percent analogue, sounding as if Sepalot and Angela Aux spent a bunch of studio time with Fatboy Slim and The Hives in the same room.
Each of the ten tracks on "mixtape suite" is likely to evoke such absurd associations in music lovers. The album authentically and unpredictably creates a feeling of total boundlessness with a global approach. Effortlessly uniting an entire record shop within itself. One time you think of Madlib or the Bee Gees, then of Joan Baez or Amon Düül, other times of Moby or Kruder & Dorfmeister. Between boom bap or funk passages, disco styles, big beat references and trip-hop elements, Krautrock, folk or Britpop vibes spread out organically – all the while fueled by Angela Aux’s delicate vocal party.
Sepalot from Tikhet sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
Sepalot: I fell in love with making music when I realised that nobody could tell me anything was ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
Sepalot: The range of influences for our album is huge. It goes from Madlib to Beck to Daft Punk. We certainly wouldn't say no to a collaboration.
3. Can you tell us about your latest project ‘mixtape suite’?
Sepalot: “mixtape suite” is the musical child of two music obsessives and their artistic influences, weaving a tapestry of contrasts: drifting, floating, braking, crawling and fluttering. It’s a charming ode to frankness/openness and music nerdism.
One time you think of Madlib or the Bee Gees, then of Joan Baez or Amon Düül, other times of Moby or Kruder & Dorfmeister.
4. How would you describe your sound?
Sepalot: TIKHET sounds unplanned and anarchic, with a raw core and some well rounded patina on the outside. Or as if the Gorillaz were giving Beck a lift on their way to the Côte d'Azur.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
Sepalot: I can feed my family as a musician with a job that really fulfils me. Yes, it's the simple things!
Picture Credit: A. van Zanten & Otto Chr.
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
Sepalot: Only play this game for yourself. Success is when you do what fulfils you.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
Sepalot: saveHXPE
8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?
Sepalot: Something old: Digable Planets “blowout comp”
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
Sepalot: My other great passion is surfing. Fortunately, I live a few thousand kilometres from the sea. That leaves more time for music.
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
Sepalot: Records, good coffee and water.