The first time I heard Kaaktaal live, hundreds of people crowded my former school’s auditorium under the bright lights. The second occasion was far more intimate, with a small-scale audience sitting on the floor of an indoor venue as the band mesmerised everyone with their art. Despite the sheer disparity in settings, there was something quietly magical about two men with their guitar, flute, and unparalleled storytelling.

Such has been the defining nature of Kaaktaal, a collaborative musical effort — primarily made up of Asif “AiA Lemonsky” Iqbal and Nazm Anwr — that is as spontaneous and unassuming as its name suggests. However, like their art and growth in the scene, the band announced an indefinite hiatus and a step back from music out of the blue on May 17. The announcement was concise and honest, stating that “the journey needs to stop here, because it’s losing its peace.”

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In a way, this decision was cathartic for both the group and their fans. Kaaktaal was never one to chase fame. In the past year alone, they published about 20 new songs, but there were hardly any major marketing campaigns or advertisements that followed any of their releases. Instead, it felt as though they were meant to be savoured at the moment, like fleeting conversations. They simply existed, and in doing so, found their way into people’s hearts when they needed it the most.

Take their single “Shohosha” from their latest album, KaaktaalRaw Volume 06, for example. With a soothing backdrop of a simple guitar riff, AiA explores a deeply introspective trip of feeling lost in an abruptly changing world — a feeling that hits close to home for many. In “Ghorchara”, one of their earliest singles, the group reminisces the scattered memories of their childhood and the place they grew up in. It also talks about the painful trial of stepping out of a place for good and leaving behind a displaced part of yourself.The first time I heard Kaaktaal live, hundreds of people crowded my former school’s auditorium under the bright lights. The second occasion was far more intimate, with a small-scale audience sitting on the floor of an indoor venue as the band mesmerised everyone with their art. Despite the sheer disparity in settings, there was something quietly magical about two men with their guitar, flute, and unparalleled storytelling.

Such has been the defining nature of Kaaktaal, a collaborative musical effort — primarily made up of Asif “AiA Lemonsky” Iqbal and Nazm Anwr — that is as spontaneous and unassuming as its name suggests. However, like their art and growth in the scene, the band announced an indefinite hiatus and a step back from music out of the blue on May 17. The announcement was concise and honest, stating that “the journey needs to stop here, because it’s losing its peace.”

In a way, this decision was cathartic for both the group and their fans. Kaaktaal was never one to chase fame. In the past year alone, they published about 20 new songs, but there were hardly any major marketing campaigns or advertisements that followed any of their releases. Instead, it felt as though they were meant to be savoured at the moment, like fleeting conversations. They simply existed, and in doing so, found their way into people’s hearts when they needed it the most.

Take their single “Shohosha” from their latest album, KaaktaalRaw Volume 06, for example. With a soothing backdrop of a simple guitar riff, AiA explores a deeply introspective trip of feeling lost in an abruptly changing world — a feeling that hits close to home for many. In “Ghorchara”, one of their earliest singles, the group reminisces the scattered memories of their childhood and the place they grew up in. It also talks about the painful trial of stepping out of a place for good and leaving behind a displaced part of yourself.