“It’s kind of a wild story,” says Thilesen when I ask them about the genesis of “Unfinished Kite.” Flashback to 2013, and Thilesen and Henning—their online friend from Berlin—would spend days searching the corners of the internet to uncover experimental and DIY musicians making techno, footwork, pop or ambient field recordings from their bedrooms. Bonded by their shared affection for micro labels, cassette tapes and DIY house shows, the duo would write about their findings on their music blog, “No Fear of Pop,” building online friendships with musicians and producers worldwide.
In 2013, Thilesen came across a record by Asfandyar Khan, a Karachi-based ambient musician, on Bandcamp, and immediately loved it. “I wrote to him straight away,” recalls Thilesen about the exchange. “Are you part of a larger group of people that make music? What’s the story?” Over time, they became internet friends. Asfandyar recommended a list of bands based in and around Karachi, ranging from shoegaze to electronic music, which Thilesen would then write about on their blog. Two years later, they finally met in person.