We sat down with German sibling duo TWO LANES, the sibling duo of German brothers Leo and Rafa, who have carved out a unique sound by blending acoustic piano recordings with analogue synthesizers and electronic beats. Their genre-spanning music, from electronica to melodic techno, has earned them a global fanbase and radio support from BBC1, Sirius XM, and Triple J, along with over 300 million streams across all platforms. With their latest body of work, the Innervision EP, they continue to evolve their distinctive style, combining Leo‘s classical training from The Juilliard School with Rafa‘s passion for electronic production. As their evocative sound resonates across the electronic music scene, TWO LANES is positioned to be a mainstay for years to come.
Listen to the powerful pair’s latest track with Recondite while you read our interview with them below.
What sparked your passion for the arts in the first place? Was there a single moment or experience that solidified your decision to pursue this path?
We grew up in a very artistic household – our father is a jazz musician, and our mother is a painter. Music and art were always around us, whether it was hearing our father practice the trombone or seeing our mother paint. It wasn’t a single moment that sparked our passion, but being constantly surrounded by creativity made it feel natural for us to explore our own creative paths.
When you create, what leads the way – a feeling, a story, or the sound itself?
For us, the inspiration mostly comes from the process itself. Whether it’s an acoustic idea on the piano or an interesting sound on a synthesizer running through an effect pedal – most tracks start without a clear plan. We just get together in the studio and experiment until we come up with something that resonates with both of us.
What’s in your toolkit? Share the gear, gadgets, or software you can’t create without.
In every one of our tracks, you’ll find our August Förster Upright Piano, Prophet Rev-2, and Moog Subsequent 37 – they’re essential to our sound. We also enjoy experimenting with different effect pedals and our modular system. For example, we often send the piano through some effect pedals to create dreamy, atmospheric soundscapes, which we use in the background of our tracks to add depth and texture.
What’s your go-to ritual or trick for getting into the creative zone?
It’s somehow hard for us to get into the creative zone during the day. We tend to come up with most of our ideas in the evening and at night.
What’s the one item you always keep within arm’s reach while creating or performing?
We’re really into coffee and always have a pour-over setup in the studio: a hand grinder, pouring kettle, scales, flat-bottom filters, and fresh beans. We even have a travel setup that we take with us when we’re on tour for longer periods of time.
How did you ultimately end up defining your sound?
I think the defining moment for our project came when we figured out how to incorporate the piano into our electronic productions. We spent a lot of time experimenting with different pianos, microphone setups, pre-amps, and mixing methods until we found a balance between the acoustic recordings and the electronic elements that felt right for us.
How has your creative process or perspective shifted since you started your journey?
I think playing live has had a big impact on our music-making. Performing our own music for an audience on a big sound system makes you want to return to the studio and make adjustments to the track or the arrangement. This has led to many live edits of previously released music, which we exclusively play during our live shows.
Walk us through a recording session: what’s the most memorable moment you’ve had in the studio?
Probably everyone who uses analog equipment can relate to this: sometimes, you create something on a synth running through a tape echo or similar effect, resulting in a unique recording. Even if you think you remember all the settings, it always sounds different the next time you try to recreate the sound. It’s the magic of certain settings that you have to take full advantage of while they still sound right.
Are there any unexpected or dream collaborations hidden in your work?
Some of our dream collaborations on the musical side would include Thom Yorke, RY X, and Four Tet, to name a few.
Who’s an emerging artist you think deserves more recognition right now?
Two friends of ours from Berlin, Jan and Justin, have an electronic indie project called Propellar. They’re incredibly talented and definitely deserve more recognition.
What’s the strangest or most surprising song currently on your playlist?
György Ligeti – ‘Continuum’
Which song, album, or playlist do you never get sick of no matter how many times you listen to it?
Chet Baker – My Funny Valentine, Four Tet – New Energy, Rhye – Taste
Are there any unexpected hobbies or projects you’re exploring outside of your main work?
We’re really into table tennis. When we were younger, we played a lot and even won a couple of tournaments in Germany. Recently, we’ve joined a club again and love playing in our free time.
Give us a glimpse into the future – what surprises or milestones are coming up for you this year?
We’re currently finishing up our upcoming EP. Later this year, we’ll be going on tour again in North America and Europe. We’re also working on a new live setup and show, with many ideas for expanding the visual aspects of our performances.
Famous last words?
Grateful for every single person who is supporting our music and being a part of our journey.
Follow TWO LANES:
Spotify – Apple Music – Youtube – Instagram
