We chat to Belgium's 2manydjs ahead of their SA performance

Cape Town – It’s almost time for Sónar Cape Town and A Taste of Sónar Johannesburg!

And we got to ask international headliners 2manydjs a few questions ahead of their performance in SA.

Having performed at this year’s Sónar Barcelona as well as many previous editions, 2manydjs are no stranger to the Sónar family. They mix an energetic fusion of everything from tech and progressive rock to R&B and funk and are praised for consistently pushing the boundaries of electronic music into new and innovative territory. As brothers they also play as well-known band Soulwax and with James Murphy as Despacio.

Check out our interview here:

Channel24:
Have you guys ever been to South Africa before? If not, what are you looking forward to when you’re here? Will you be doing any sightseeing?

2manydjs:
Unfortunately we will not have the time to sight see as our schedule doesn’t allow it. This is mostly the case for us wherever we go, so our visions of countries are fast and furious.

Channel24:
What can South African fans expect from your set?

2manydjs:
They can expect to dance…a lot. If they don’t they can ask for their money back. Actually we might need to check that with promoters, but we’re pretty confident that won’t happen!

Channel24:
What do you guys do to keep busy while on tour?

2manydjs:
We like to perform to audiences, that tends to take up the bulk of our time. The rest is simply rest.

Channel24:
If you could collaborate with anyone, would it be and why?

2manydjs:
Joe Dolce. He is simply the greatest.

Channel24:
Sonar has identified South Africa as having one of the biggest consumption of electronic music, what is your perception of the South African electronic music scene? Have you heard of any of the local acts playing at Sonar Cape Town?

2manydjs:
We honestly aren’t that up to date with the South African electronic scene, but it is something we should check out. We are fans of Die Antwoord if that is any consolation. We heard they are doing a film with Neil Blomkamp, we can’t wait for that as we were big fans of District 9.

Channel24:
Electronic music is enjoying a huge growth surge in recent years in the face of mainstream pop and rock, what would you attribute this too?

2manydjs:
They thought electronic music was a passing fad that would disappear and that is clearly not going to happen now. It is an established genre alongside pop and rock and hip hop and that will now always be the case. The younger generation seem much less concerned with loyalties to one genre as it was in the past, as they grew up in the ipod shuffle approach to music consumption. We also don’t care too much for genre specifics which is why we have always played a cross section of music. Electronic music is growing as it is associated with live events which provides an experience they cannot get from their downloads.

Channel24:
How has the process of collaborating on the Despacio project been like?

2manydjs:
It’s been…collaborative. We love working with James although it doesn’t really ever feel like work as we all just hang out, have a laugh and play records. It’s as much fun for us as it is for the audiences experiencing it. Despacio is also a real team effort and requires a group of very talented people to make it work. They are like a Formula 1 pit team, the system is the car and us and James are the drivers.

Channel24:
Having toured extensively, what are some of your favourite venues and do audiences differ from country to country?

2manydjs:
Our favourite venues are the ones filled with our fans! Audiences do differ in their range of responses depending on what is acceptable in their culture. The Japanese for example do not dance much and they are very loud in Chile where we just were but they are all generally variants on some positive form of expression. If it’s not, that’s when you have to worry…the truth is that there are always more similarities than differences…people no matter where they are from want to enjoy themselves and be consumed by the music…that is something we all have in common.

Sónar Cape Town:
Good Hope Centre
One-Day Pass for 15 Dec 2014: R495
One-Day Pass for 16 December: R595
PRO Pass (Two-Day): R1350
Early Bird (Two-Day): R695
Get tickets and information here.

A Taste of Sónar in Johannesburg:
Sandton Convention Centre
Friday 12 December 2014
General Pass: R595
PRO Pass: R895
Early Bird Pass: R495
For more information click here.