This is a part of
Coke Studio Sessions
Lovely double bill of dreamy indie and electronic rock
Affaire is a Belgian duo consisting of Michiel Ritzen and Nick Caers. A raw, energetic sound is what they create with their off-beat electronic rock. They are both drummers, but decided to shift their focus to synths, drum computers and effect-pedals for various projects.
Their music combines the sinuous energy of Suicide, the edginess of Talking Heads and the adventurous spirit of LCD Soundsystem and Soulwax, but then with their own twist. Live, the contrast between Caers' concentrated use of synth and Ritzen’s hyperactive stage presence ensure the necessary excitement and enjoyment. January 2025 will see the release of their EP Internal Swing.
Soft Boy began as Xander Hamelton‘s bedroom pop project, but has developed quite a bit since then thanks to a motley crew of friends. Soft Boy impressed at We Are Open in 2023 and raced further over Flemish stages that year to refine their live show.
2024 saw the release of debut album Always Hungry, on which Hamelton and sous-chef Niels Hendrix (Fence, Shovels) served up a wonderful menu of power-pop. The album combines influences from Beach Boys and Velvet Underground with a fresh, contemporary twist.