“[James] Murphy once said it felt like we were almost a rock show for people,” he says, referring to 2manydjs sets during that time. “[Audiences] were like ‘What the fuck's going on?!’” The lines separating Soulwax from 2manydjs became increasingly blurred as the brothers showcased both in rapid succession. “We needed both," Stephen says. "They each feed each other, they each need each other — we loved this idea that we could be rock kids that moved into this electronic world and go in-between.”

The Dewaeles have since toned down the rigor of their touring and recording schedules. They kept busy in the first half of the 2010s with an ambitious Radio Soulwax app that placed an ample selection of their 60,000-plus records into the pockets of fans.

By the time the undertaking concluded with an animated version of ‘As Heard on Radio Soulwax Pt. 2’ in 2014, the app was hosting 24 hour-long mixes with a complementary short film for each. The duo also debuted Despacio — an imposing 50,000-watt soundsystem designed to bring high fidelity audio out of the home and into the club — in collaboration with James Murphy at the 2013 edition of Manchester International Festival.

“We wanted to do a thing where it wasn't about the DJ, it wasn't about the lights, the effects, or the stage,” Stephen says of the philosophy underpinning the traveling dance floor. “It was more about people being together and this communal feeling; that's why I think it's become so special for a lot of people.” Accounts of Despacio often attest to its potential for poignancy, a quality those in its DJ booth have experienced for themselves.

“We played Coachella with Despacio and Prince died before the second weekend,” Stephen recounts of the installation’s 2016 outing at the Indio, California festival. “James was playing, and because we didn't have a lot of Prince with us, we had to go find Prince records.” Once the records had been gathered, and with Despacio’s white lights now emanating purple, the Dewaeles and LCD Soundsystem frontman proceeded to play nothing but Prince for three hours. Stephen laughs before sharing the most profound moment of the evening.

“We played ‘Purple Rain’ and I remember James, Dave and me didn't talk, and then I could see all three of us were bawling —we were crying,” he says, prompting Dave to utter “Ah, right.” “Something about the soundsystem, it makes you emotional — but in a good, euphoric way,” Stephen continues. “In a song like that and in a moment like that it just hits you,” he says as he smacks his palm.