I meet andhim inside their hotel lobby on a cloudy afternoon. ADE has already begun and the boys are looking a little bit tired from their event the night before, a hybrid dinner-turned-into-party affair that kept them awake until early morning. Despite this, their spirits are high and they’re as talkative and approachable as ever.
We step outside the lobby and sit down by the river overlooking Oeverpark and the docks on the left and Amsterdam Centraal and the rest of the city on the other. We opt to do the interview alfresco without really explaining why. All three of us could do with some fresh air and the backdrop available isn’t too shabby either. It helps that Amsterdam is in the midst of some kind of heat wave during ADE week this year, just like the rest of mainland Europe.
Simon and Tobias are as busy as ever, pushing their own releases on their Superfriends label (their latest is the recent Huso EP), touring practically every weekend of the year and always working on exciting projects, the latest of which is the release of their very own Dragon Brew – Super Kölsch style ale in collaboration with Pipeworks Brewing Co. in Chicago. Find full information on the beer at the end of the article.
So you guys got in yesterday huh?
Tobias: Yes
How many years is it that you’ve been coming to ADE now?
Tobias: About 5 years now as andhim
How has the conference changed in the last 5 years?
Simon: To be honest, we don’t know that much about the conference because we never really go to the panels and stuff. I would say that the shows probably got bigger, even bigger like bigger brands, bigger venues. But the cool thing is that even if we don’t go to the panels, ADE is still very important for the industry and for us. It’s not like WMC, because ADE is also about this part of the industry and not just about the parties. We are here with our agent and he is having meetings all the time, and yesterday at our dinner there were people from all over the world, from Australia, from the USA, Scandinavia, from all over Europe, they’re all coming here to meet and do work.
I agree I have had almost 30 meetings in 3 days artist interviews, networking and of course all the parties and trying to keep it all balanced. but if you’re not going to meetings and the panels what else are you guys doing when you’re in Amsterdam during ADE that you feel you can talk about? Red Light District? Restaurants? The Museums? Do you party?
(both laugh and look at each other almost embarassadly)
Tobias: Yesterday we combined it because that we had dinner at a restaurant. It was our own party and our own dinner, so we combined it but usually we don’t have that much time. But also Amsterdam is very close to our home…
Simon: Yes we come here 4-5 times a year, you know? There is no need to do things every time we are here but of course we’ve done everything from boat rides, to the red light district, to all the museums, all the typical touristy stuff. It’s such a unique city.
You’re flying to the States this weekend after ADE. I’m interested to know what about actually being in the United States in different cities, the culture, the food and the like gets some of the European artists like yourself excited about?
Tobias: It depends, sometimes the Friday shows are in and out, but on Saturdays a we might have time to see the city a little bit. This time we’re going to see the Niagara falls for the first time.
Simon: Of course it’s always very very short amount of time for us because it’s in and out, but as he said if we have the time we always try to do stuff and this time we actually fly there just for the Niagara falls right?
Tobias: Yes, because it’s between the East Coast and the West Coast. Actually it’s because of our gig in Montreal, it’s possible because it’s right in between.
Simon: Yeah we fly in for 1-2 days just to do this, of course we try to take some time for fun activities when we can.
Tobias: Oh and we’ll get some Buffalo wings!
Simon: Yeah and then we have the release of our own beer in Chicago!
