SOULWAX are one of the most innovative bands around. They are expert musicians who aren't afraid to try something new, and this shows in their latest album 'much against everyone's advice' - a perfect blend of ballsy guitars, singalong tunes, keyboards, a sampler..

They are from Belgium and are dominated by two brothers - David and Stephen Dewaele. David was on time, Stephen was late (that's why he pops in at the end of the interview)..

 Why are you called SOULWAX?

David - My brother came up with it..and..erm. I remember that we had to do our first gig and we had to come up with a name, we had a bunch of really stupid suggestions.. and the Stephen and our drummer came up with SOULWAX! It just sounded good. It's not so much soul music, as it's anything that has soul in it.

 How long have you been together?

David - About 6 or 7 years. There have been some personnel changes. We've changed the drummer twice and this is our second keyboard player

 How did you end up supporting the Wannadies?

David - I've no idea actually.no.. They had to choose between dozens of other bands, and they just thought our album was the best. The record company wanted to have another band supporting and they said 'no we don't really want them, we want SOULWAX' and the record company said 'right no tour support' and the Wannadies said 'right we are not touring'! In the end the record company had to have us!

 This is the last night of the Tour. How has it been?

David - It's been good. It's the first time we've done such a long tour. We did this tour and we supported MUSE, and we did 10 nights in Germany and Switzerland. We've been away for a month and a half, we'd never done anything like this..so erm.. in one sentence 'how has this tour been?'..it'd be ..erm..Unambitious

 Is it important to break the band in Britain?

David - Maybe..yes! If we weren't doing this then I'd just be asking myself 'maybe I didn't give it a try'. So.. at least we tried!

 The first single off the album is 'Conversation Intercom'. What the song about?

David - It's about having a fight with someone, through something - could be a microphone or a telephone, an intercom! You know how sometimes when you are having a fight with someone and you're not one on one, you're not talking to each other, you're just blaming the device for the anger. That's what it's about!

 'Conversation Intercom' features hand clapping, which is my favourite bit! Do any of your other songs feature handclapping?

David - That's a good question. Erm..gee.. there have to be other songs! Yeah there's one called 'Saturday' which features reverse hand clapping!

What is that?

David - well in Conversation Intercom they will do (David demonstrates some hand claps).. and in 'Saturday' they will go 'Schupp' (makes sound of reverse hand clap)! And there is another song called 'Funny' that has a small bit with hand claps in it!

 Do you have any groupies?

David - No! (very confident about this one)

 You were interviewed on MTV by ZANE. Is he as witty as he appears on TV?

David - Well what we do is..before the interview we write down some jokes that we wanna incorporate in the interview.. no I'm kidding! Yeah, he is. Actually he's a cool guy. I met him before in Paris, he just introduced himself and all of a sudden we were just talking for 45 minutes. We have similar tastes in music.

 What can people expect to hear if they buy the album?

David - The album contains uptempo songs, mid-tempo songs and ballads! I dunno how to explain it - you just have to listen to it.

 What bands influence you?

David - how many bands can I name?

Ten!

David - Ten? OK! I'd have to say Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Run DMC, Daft Punk, Small Faces, Prince, David Bowie. just regular really good artist.

 What's the best thing about being in SOULWAX?

David - I guess it would be receiving things for free! Sometimes we get like a mixing desk, or a discount on an instrument. Other than that it's just a hassle.

 And the worst thing about being in SOULWAX?

David - The worst thing would be showering in different showers and not finding a good one. I think on this tour I might have had 2 or 3 good ones over a month and a half! Not good!

 The album title is 'Much Against Everyone's Advice'! Who's advice or what advice?

David - My brother, he came up with it. To me it just means. once you are in a band everyone becomes a music critic. From your mum and your dad to all your friends! So everyone has an opinion on it. I think it means that this album was made without anyone's opinion - it was just us and the producer

 Describe the other members of the band in one word?

David - Boring!

 What are your most overused word?

David - really? And (spouts something off in Flemish)..

What does that mean?

David - That means 'right on' (in American accent) 'and here's my friend (his brother Stephen enters the room) 'come on over here you boy, come and sit yourself down!

Stephen - Hello Brother

David - Stephen? Much against everyone's advice? Explain?

Stephen - What you I have to explain?

Why you named it that?

Stephen - David couldn't come up with any good names

 What is the next single going to be?

David - I think it's gonna be 'much against everyone's advice'! And I recommend it to everyone! It'll be out on the 6^th June.

 What are your plans for the next 6 months or so?

David - read some books, eat some food, tour some more, do some festivals, do some special television appearances .We wanna open a restaurant in London. But that's not gonna be for the next 6 moths, that'll be the next 9 months! We are just gonna do the regular things any band does.

Stephen - Do nothing

David - release records, play live and think that we are actually making a career out of it!

 You have your own cable TV show in Belgium. Emma B from the spice girls has her own show on VH-1 and she plays all her own videos. Do you play any of your videos on your show?

David - No!

Stephen - We'd like to swap with her. She's on VH-1 which is a cooler thing than we have. I heard that she reads this magazine so if she reads this, we wouldn't mind swapping. Is she baby spice?

Yeah she is!

Stephen - Baby Spice, you wanna swap?

 Do you have a website? Cos I was looking for one and couldn't find it!

David - You couldn't find it? Well what do you think it's gonna be? www.soulwax.com

Sorry I'm a bit stupid. Right, erm, that's all the questions ive got.

David  - All-riight! Thank you ver much

Stephen - thank you

Thank you!

(the brothers finish by giving me an unnerving round of applause)