Berlin-based brothers Leo and Rafa, also known as TWO LANES, have become one of the most distinctive forces in today’s electronic scene, blending neoclassical piano, ambient textures, and melodic techno into a refined, cinematic sound. With more than three hundred million streams, their music bridges the intimacy of live instrumentation with the expansiveness of the dance floor. Their new single, Signs of Change, released in September via Cercle Records, captures that duality while underscoring their connection to a label renowned for pairing music with immersive visual storytelling.
Premiered during their luminous set at Cercle Odyssey in Paris this past June, Signs of Change arrives as a studio release that preserves the tension and warmth of its live debut. “It feels like closing the circle,” TWO LANES share, reflecting on that night’s energy. As they continue their busy tour across the US and Europe, the single stands as a bridge between their atmospheric performances and their evolving studio identity.
Where are you right now, and when is your next show?
We are currently in Topanga, Los Angeles. We have two more shows in the States, in San Francisco and Los Angeles, before heading back home to start our European tour.
Your schedule this fall is intense. As you’ve just said, you have confirmed dates across North America and Europe. What does touring on this scale mean for you at this stage of your career?
Playing live is essential for us. It is the moment when we connect deeper with the audience, experiencing the music together in the same space. After long periods in the studio creating new music, touring is where everything truly comes alive. We get to see how people react when they hear the material live for the first time, how it resonates in a big room and how it feels on a big sound system.
What is a typical day for you when you’re on tour? Do you have any routines you can’t live without on the road?
We usually play our concerts on weekends, so the days in between are often off days. Those can look very different. Sometimes we are working on new music or refining the live set and other times we are meeting friends or collaborating with vocalists and other producers. We both love cooking, so we usually prefer staying in an apartment instead of a hotel, which gives us a kitchen and a sense of home while on the road.
Your new single, Signs of Change, is finally out. How does it feel to share it with the world after performing it live for the first time back in June?
Performing at Cercle Odyssey in Paris back in June was one of our most special live moments. The energy of the crowd and the venue were truly unique. Now that the track is out, it feels like closing the circle. It takes us back to that night, but it also opens a new chapter where everyone can experience the song in their own way.
This track feels cinematic and introspective, with a gradual emotional build. What was the creative spark that set it in motion?
The idea for the track came about very randomly. We had already wrapped up a day in the studio and I was packing up my things while Leo was just jamming on our Prophet synthesizer. That is when he came up with the main lead melody. We could sense it had a certain energy, so we kept going and ended up recording late into the night.
Leo, you studied classical piano at Juilliard. Rafa, you focused on production and sound design. How do those backgrounds continue to define your workflow in the studio?
Our backgrounds definitely give us a natural starting point in the studio. Rafa usually takes on more of the technical side, focusing on sound design and production details, while Leo is more drawn to the instrumental side with piano and harmonies. But it is never a strict division. Sometimes Leo will dive into the production side and sometimes Rafa will come up with a strong melodic or harmonic idea. That back and forth is really what defines our workflow.
Your music blends minimal electronic beats with acoustic piano and analogue synth textures. At what point do those different elements merge into a single voice?
It is hard to say at what exact point the analogue, electronic, and acoustic elements merge, because it is something very abstract. For us, it is a very subjective process. We keep exploring different layers and textures until the track starts to feel whole.
“After long periods in the studio creating new music, touring is where everything truly comes alive. We get to see how people react when they hear the material live for the first time.”
Your sound is often described as cinematic. Beyond music, what other disciplines influence the way you construct atmosphere?
Beyond music, we draw inspiration from visual art, architecture, and film. Visiting exhibitions often gives us fresh perspectives on both art and life. Last week, we visited the Eames House in Pacific Palisades, which left a strong impression on us. Experiencing how the couple approached the idea of a home was truly inspiring. They managed to create a space that was not only beautiful to live in but also a place where new ideas and creative work became a natural part of daily life.
Cercle is known for merging sound with visual storytelling. How do you adapt your music to immersive environments of that scale?
When it comes to visuals and lighting, there is a lot of trust involved, because they add such an important layer to the performance. For the Cercle show, we worked closely with their team beforehand, talking about colors and the kind of immersive atmosphere we wanted to create.
Do you compose with the live show in mind, or does that translation happen after the track already exists in its final form?
There are some tracks that we compose specifically for the live set. We like the idea that certain pieces can only really be experienced in the context of a concert. Other tracks are created without thinking about performing them live, and when we decide to bring them into the set, we usually adapt them a bit, whether it is changing the arrangement or adding new elements, so they work in that environment.
You’ll be in Spain in November, with dates in Barcelona and Madrid. What connection do you feel with Spanish audiences, and what can they expect from these shows?
Our dad grew up in Madrid, although he is originally Swiss, so we have always felt a strong connection with Spain. We played our first shows there in 2022 and were impressed with the energy of the audience. We cannot wait to be back.
Touring as brothers can be both rewarding and challenging. How do you manage the balance between family dynamics and professional collaboration?
We get this question a lot, but for us it feels very natural. We were always close growing up, so starting to work together just came naturally. Of course there are moments of conflict, but we always find a way to work through them.
“There are some tracks that we compose specifically for the live set. We like the idea that certain pieces can only really be experienced in the context of a concert.”
When you look back at your earliest experiments with piano recordings and synths, what has changed the most in your creative process today?
Probably the biggest change is the trust we now have in our process. In the beginning, we questioned a lot and often overthought decisions. Today, we rely much more on instinct. If something feels right to us, we trust the process and build on it.
What does success mean to you right now, beyond numbers and milestones?
Success for us is making the music we truly want to make, without compromising our vision for numbers.
Looking back, what balance do you make of this year so far?
We feel very grateful for this year so far. The shows we have already played have been great, and seeing people come out and support us means a lot. We have also met and connected with many new producers and artists, which has opened up new ideas and perspectives for us.
Are you already thinking about 2026? Any projects in motion you can share with us?
We are currently working on a lot of collaborations with other instrumentalists, producers, and vocalists. One of them is a track with the pan-drum player Malte Marten, which we are very excited to release next year.