TIKHET shakes up Britpop, hip-hop, and krautrock with vibes inspired by Madlib, Beck, and Chemical Brothers. Born from instant creative chemistry, they poke fun at “master plans” in our chaotic world. Tracks like Bury My Brain in El Segundo promise a playful ride—perfect for dancing, dreaming, or cosmic escapes.

From Blumentopf to Aloa Input, you’ve both had such cool musical journey. But now, as TIKHET, you’re mixing it all up! How did this duo come to be, and what was the “Aha!” moment when you thought, “Yes, this is the one!”?

We have a fast pace when writing, we've known that since the first session for ‘Hard Rain’. There are also few overlaps in the process, and we often choose paths that we both intuitively like. In sessions for the last Sepalot record, as always, everything happened very quickly and we had more ideas together than there was realistically room for on Sebastian's solo album. Writing songs can be a relatively tough process, with us it's somehow easy and relaxed. This led to the idea of simply trying it out as a studio/band project.

‘So Unique’ has this awesome blend of Britpop, hip-hop, and krautrock vibes, like a musical smoothie. How do you two decide which flavors (or genres) to throw in the mix? Is it a scientific formula or just pure magic?

This actually happens very little according to the formula. We try not to analyse and evaluate for as long as possible while writing. Ideally, the song is finished and then we think for the first time ‘oh, what's that become’. From the outside, however, there is a relatively clear path between 90s beat programming, sloppy vocals and guitars and bass riffs that come more from the 60s/70s. 

The lyrics of ‘So Unique’ poke fun at the chaos of trying to control everything with “master plans.” Were you both inspired by your own messy mornings, or do you just have a knack for seeing the humor in life’s unpredictability?

Everyone knows this: you make a plan and two days later the world is a different place and you have to make a new plan. To put it mildly, the world situation is very varied at the moment and being able to constantly adapt to new situations will certainly be an important skill in the coming years. The classic master plans are perhaps more of a discontinued model. However, many politicians react to this phenomenon with ever simpler answers or act as if all they have to do is use a few business tricks and everything will be fine again. This is what is meant by the song in particular. 

You’ve said ‘So Unique’ is all about letting go of rigid structure and embracing spontaneity. So, was this track planned out, or did it just kinda take on a life of its own? Were there any surprise twists in the making of it?

There was this lofi drum pattern that was a bit clubby. The bassline then made it a bit indie club. I think there are three bass tracks on top of each other, which in itself is rather rubbish or at least unusual. The vocals went in a different direction and that's how it usually is: a creative zigzag course that surprises us with every new ingredient. Then we sit in the studio laughing and someone has the next idea. 

You’ve described your music as a "ticket through the universe"—where are we headed with TIKHET’s sounds? Do we get to visit some far-off imaginary worlds, or are we taking a trip inside your minds (and maybe having a laugh along the way)?

First of all, we'll be tripping through our record crates for a while yet. But there are still plenty of landing spots in the music universe. There are plans for a more conceptual record, that would definitely be exciting. Time will tell us. 

Now, onto the mixtape suite! What should we expect from the album? Will it continue the wild genre-hopping journey of ‘So Unique,’ or are there some unexpected stops along the way?

It's a nice collection of little musical trips with references to many artists and productions we like e.g. Madlib, Beck, Quantic, Danger Mouse, Boards of Canada, Hint, Daedalus, Chemical Brothers etc. 

From DJing to film soundtracks, you both wear a lot of creative hats. How does that influence your music-making for TIKHET? Are there any fun, unexpected things you’ve brought into your songs that fans might not expect?

When you compose for films or produce others, you get even more distance from your own taste and also greater freedom in terms of genres and styles. We are always open in terms of sounds and arrangements, if something is too clear, it is usually ruled out for us. There are definitely a lot of references to records that we like, also lyrically. If you listen carefully, you can discover a lot. 

You’ve called your sound “unplanned and anarchic” with a “raw core.” But how does that work when you’re crafting an album? Do you ever get lost in the chaos, or do you both have a secret way of keeping it all together?

As dads, we are used to more complex forms of chaos than you would find in a studio. You could also call the approach playful or intuitive. There is so much pop music that is planned on the drawing board and where many business parameters play into the music. We have no desire to do that. 

How did you two meet and decide to team up as TIKHET? Was there a moment when one of you said, “Let’s make music that’ll blow everyone’s minds,” or was it more of a slow-burn collaboration?

It was a moment when we once again had two or three good sketches in a session. Angela Aux had been planning to propose a duo for some time and had even thought of a name for it. But in the end it was the knowledge that we complement each other well and tick in a similar way, or rather that we have a common musical corridor in which we don't have to bend. So both are true: slow-burn with a little explosion. 

You’ve both been globetrotters in the music scene for a while. How has all that traveling and performing shaped what TIKHET sounds like now? Do you think it gives you an extra edge or perspective that sets you apart?

When it comes to music, we have a childlike curiosity and a great urge to play. We are both involved in many productions, listen to a lot of new and old music, are constantly being sent music from friends and both have a label. When we meet up, we usually talk about new music, tools and producers that we've discovered. But we're not just lovers, we're also constantly writing and producing, so we always find a way to get together. But it's often exciting where we don't find each other or don't see an aesthetic connection. What is certainly good for our writing are the many live shows we have already played. It's different to be in front of people with your own tracks, it gives you a much deeper understanding of the physical and emotional components of music. 

The mixtape suite album is coming up—what’s the one thing you’re most excited for people to experience when they press play? Is there a track that makes you both go, “This is the one that will really surprise them”?

‘Burry my Brain in El Segundo’ is a bit of a signature track that ties everything together, it's definitely fun to listen to for the first time and check out some of the references. ‘Almost Up in Space’ is a positive upbeat track, which is relatively unusual for Angela Aux. But even the smaller, more skit-like tracks are certainly surprising if you're open to them. 

Finally, TIKHET’s whole vibe is about breaking free from the rules and celebrating the unexpected. What’s the one thing you hope listeners will take away from your music? Any key emotions or thoughts you want them to have when the music ends? 

We hope the music can be a little refuge for listeners, like a parallel universe they can drift off to when they feel the need to get away or take a break. And it's also a good first-aid kit: a little something to dance to, a little daydreaming and a little music for travelling by train or hiking.