CreativityArtMusic
SOULWAX / 2MANYDJS
Biography
Since 1995, David and Stephen Dewaele have consistently pushed the boundaries of music, exploring new and innovative territories across various creative platforms. As the core of Soulwax, the duo has evolved into much more than a band. They are also pioneering DJs under the moniker 2manydjs, founders of the DEEWEE record label, creators of the iconic Despacio sound system, and developers of the Radio Soulwax app and website. Their ability to diversify and innovate has made them one of the most influential musical acts of the past three decades.
David and Stephen’s influence extends beyond their own projects—they are widely regarded as one of the most innovative remix and production teams in the industry. Their recent credits include Cliché by Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul, Bizcochito by Rosalía, the Grammy-nominated Too Late Now by Wet Leg, I Go by Peggy Gou, Sensitive Child by Oliver Sim, You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) by Sylvester, Work It by Marie Davidson, and Fontaines DC, alongside high-profile collaborations with Diplo, Chet Faker, Róisín Murphy, Robyn, Arcade Fire, The Rolling Stones, Tame Impala, Metronomy, Daft Punk, MGMT, Hot Chip, and Warpaint, to name just a few.
In 2024, Soulwax co-produced City of Clowns, the highly anticipated new album by Marie Davidson, set to be released on February 28, 2024. With the help of Soulwax's legendary production and visionary sound design, the album has already generated significant buzz, propelled by the release of three singles that showcase Davidson's bold and innovative artistry. Adding to the excitement, Soulwax have also contributed a dynamic remix of the track Y.A.A.M, further solidifying their imprint on this groundbreaking project.
The Dewaeles also produced Bolis Pupul's album Letter to Yu on their DEEWEE label, which has been met with widespread acclaim, highlighting their continued influence and innovative approach to production.
Soulwax delivered electrifying live performances, featuring a lineup with three drummers and a bold new production. Known for continually raising the bar with their live sets, these shows have captivated audiences across the UK, Europe, and the US.
As 2manydjs, the Dewaeles became familiar to millions, revolutionizing modern DJ culture with their genre-blurring, rock 'n roll-infused sets. Alongside contemporaries like Erol Alkan, Tiga, and Jacques Lu Cont, 2manydjs became synonymous with high-energy performances that took club culture by storm.
Their groundbreaking As Heard on Radio Soulwax Pt.2 [AHORS], released in 2002, marked the birth of a new era of live DJ mixes. Now, for the first time ever, a two-decade strong collection of these innovative, genre-defying mixes, recorded at legendary venues like Barcelona’s Primavera and Ghent’s Kompass, is being made available for streaming on global platforms, introducing their vision to a new generation of fans.
In November 2022, AHORS saw a deluxe reissue, with Richard Young’s iconic original photography restored, following a tumultuous legal journey. This reissue, alongside their highly anticipated 20th-anniversary celebration in London in February 2023, cemented their legacy as trailblazers in the world of electronic music. As David and Stephen continue to push musical boundaries, they are redefining the future of sound in the digital age.
Their enduring influence was acknowledged in September 2023 when they were honored with the "Outstanding Contribution to Music" award at the AIM Awards for their work with Soulwax, 2manydjs, and DEEWEE. The duo also won Best Remix at the Red Bull Elektropedia Awards for their reworking of Robyn’s Ever Again and Best Producers at the Music Industry Awards.
In 2020, Soulwax released Empty Dancefloor, a track originally created to score the AirPods Max product video, followed by EMS Synthi 100 – DEEWEE Sessions Vol.1. Meanwhile, outside of their own projects, the Dewaeles continue to work with an eclectic range of artists at their DEEWEE studio in Ghent, producing recordings for Charlotte Adigéry, Laima, James Righton, and others.
The 2018 Essential album, made exclusively for BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix, and their 2017 album FROM DEEWEE—which won Best Album at the MIA Awards—marked new milestones for the duo. Recorded in a single day, FROM DEEWEE introduced a new lineup, featuring original member Stefaan Van Leuven and three drummers, Iggor Cavalera (Sepultura), Victoria Smith, and Blake Davies (Turbo Wolf), along with Laima Leyton (Mixhell) on synths and backing vocals.
Additionally, their 2005 remix album Nite Versions celebrated its 15th anniversary with a special repress, and the Radio Soulwax project, launched in 2011, redefined the live music experience with its ‘visual radio station’ format. Over 600k downloads later, Radio Soulwax continues to be a global phenomenon, also evolving into a live event series.
The Despacio sound system, created in collaboration with James Murphy in 2013, remains a revolutionary force in dance music, onering an unmatched sonic experience that has been hailed as the "greatest sound system ever."
From pioneering remixes to boundary-pushing live performances, David and Stephen Dewaele’s contribution to music is immeasurable. They’ve connected the past, present, and future of music in ways no other artists have, doing it "the hard way since 2002."
Gallery
Rob Walbert
About the talk
SOULWAX: NO FIXED FORMAT
Fireside Chat with David & Stephen Dewaele, hosted by Lies Vanborm
For three decades, David and Stephen Dewaele, aka Soulwax and 2manydjs, have refused to stay in one format. Band, DJs, remixers, audiovisual pioneers, producers, label founders, studio builders and creators of the legendary Despacio sound system: each new idea seems to become an excuse to reinvent the rules.
In a rare on-stage conversation, the brothers look back on 30 years of experiments, from 2manydjs and Radio Soulwax to DEEWEE, Despacio, Belgica and beyond, and reveal what happens behind the music: the technology, constraints, collaborations and infrastructure that allow ideas to become entirely new experiences.
The conversation will be hosted by Lies Vanborm, programme & production coordinator at VIERNULVIER and coordinator of Club Wintercircus, the recently opened music venue inside Ghent’s spectacular Wintercircus.
How do you keep reinventing yourself after 30 years, and what do you build next?
