In the first two decades of the 21st century, few have controlled the cultural weather quite like Stephen and David Dewaele. The Dewaeles are familiar to millions as 2manydjs, a project which undoubtedly moved the needle for modern DJing. In 2002, after a string of creative broadcasts on radio while still known primarily as a rock band, they released As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 2. Now reissued featuring Richard Young’s iconic original photography.
This was a mix so giddy, creative, genre-blurring and downright fun that it could only be considered equal to a full-length album – which is exactly what happened, tallying Album of the Year and Album of the Decade accolades from the likes of The New York Times, Spin, The Face, Pitchfork and more, and shifting over half a million copies globally.
The Belgian brothers-in-arms are also known to many as electronic/indie rock band Soulwax, the adored group whose combination of rock, rave and gleaming white suits has proved irresistible to record buyers and festival-goers from the 1990s to the present day.
Through their Ghent-based studio and record label Deewee, the Dewaeles continue to push cutting-edge electronic music, including Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul’s infectious Topical Dancer, one of 2022’s most celebrated electronic pop albums. They have also kept up a hot streak as remixers, applying their signature jagged-yet-refined electro touch to the likes of Róisín Murphy, Peggy Gou, Robyn, Sylvester, Fontaines D.C., Wet Leg and Marie Davidson. Despacio, the roving audiophile soundsystem which the Dewaeles undertake alongside LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, completes the picture.
Alongside like-minded allies such as Erol Alkan, Tiga and Jacques lu Cont, 2manydjs swept dancefloors into delirium, gifting a rock ‘n’ roll attitude to club culture. With As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 2 as their genre-blurring calling card, the Dewaeles’ unique style managed to be deeply credible and hugely scalable, propelling the brothers to dance.
