Other music Justas Istanbul isthe only city in the world to straddle two continents, the synthpop duo Kim Ki O come together from opposing ends of the sprawling metropolis. “Ilive on the European side and Ekin is on the Asian side,” saysBerna Gal, bassist and singer. “Most people from the Asian side go toFuropeevery day because the majority of landmarks and activities are there, but the Europeans complain so much when they have tocross the Bosphorus.’ ‘The 26-year-old best friends first started hanging out and listening te punk reck aged 12, but lost touch after high school fall-out. It wasn't until 2006, when fate steered their paths to cross in the street, that they re: how much they had missed one another. Backed bya catalogue of monotonous drum machine beats, the band’s ominous synths, minimal basslines and low-key vocals convey asense of unease that has attracted a loyal crew of black metal followers. “They say they find the darkness within our music inspiring,” says curly-haired keyboardist Elin Sanag, taking her turn on the phon. Unusually, the pair lay down electrontemusie without Kim ki O's d and voes the aid of a single laptop, preferring torecord the songs on, toold cassettes. “It’s like recycling Despite having played with Au Revoir Simone at Phonem. Jens Lekman, Kim Ki O have trouble finding venues to play in, so underdeveloped is Istanbul's music scene. As female musicians who sing in their mother tongue rather than English, they feeleven. more like outsiders: Second album Digerleri Nerde (“Where Are the Others") was named after a typical incident, when confused promoters “thought that guys made the music and we just sang on top. Itcan get annoying,” says Sanag- Still they don't let this, or their city’s record label deficiency, stop them from getting heard. Both albums can hedownloaded for free from their website, and the band’ DIY CD mail-outs have been requested as far away as South Africa and Taiwan. “It's so crazy for us,” says Gal, “because here we don't get an incredibleamount of attention. We just play.” Toxt Sarah Fakray festivaland toured Photography Avlin Gungor dark Nearts Gnd Tecycled Cassettes