2 Man Riot is an electronic music group that was founded in the summer of 2021 by Alex Span and Rutger Steenbergen. The group quickly made a name for themselves with the release of their debut track, Iridescense. This and subsequent releases received global support from well-known DJs such as Ferry Corsten, Johan Gielen, Dim3nsion, Daniel Wanrooy, and Artento Divini.
In 2022, Rutger decided to focus on his solo projects, but he continues to play a role behind the scenes in 2 Man Riot. In 2025, Stephan Kerkman joined the crew. 2 Man Riot has continued to produce top-quality music that has been highly regarded in the industry, resulting in signed releases with major labels Elpida, Bemind, Area53, and Addictive Sounds.
2 Man Riot's music is known for its unique blend of melodic and energetic elements, featuring driving beats, soaring synths, and emotive vocals. Their live shows are also known to be high energy and engaging, skillfully mixing and blending their tracks to create an immersive experience for their audience.
2 Man Riot's music is a must-listen for fans of electronic music and for those who are looking for something fresh and exciting. With a growing fanbase and a steady stream of new music, 2 Man Riot is a group to watch in the coming years.
In the ever-evolving world of electronic dance music, few acts manage to capture both the energy and emotion of the genre quite like 2 Man Riot. Formed in the summer of 2021 by Alex Span and Rutger Steenbergen, the group quickly cemented their place in the scene with their debut track Iridescense, earning support from industry heavyweights like Ferry Corsten, Johan Gielen, and Dim3nsion. Over the years, their lineup evolved—with Stephan Kerkman joining in 2025—and so did their sound, blending melodic, high-energy elements with emotive storytelling. With releases on labels such as Elpida, Bemind, Area53, and Addictive Sounds, 2 Man Riot continues to push creative boundaries, captivating fans with their immersive productions and engaging live shows. In this exclusive interview, we dive deep into their journey, creative process, and vision for the future of electronic music.
Let's start with your journey into the world of electronic dance music. Understanding your roots and early influences helps us connect with the artist behind the sound.
Dimitris: How did your journey into the electronic dance music (EDM) scene begin, and what were the key influences that shaped your style?
2 Man Riot: Both of us were teenagers in the '90s, so a lot of our early influences stem from that period. The Prodigy, KLF, and the Dutch gabber scene, for example. We both started making music with trackers, too. This was also the time that trance was mainstream, with Ferry Corsten and Tiësto as notable pioneers of the sound.
Dimitris: How has your understanding of the electronic music culture changed from when you started to where you are now?
2 Man Riot: Making music nowadays, we are able to be as experimental as we want to be, creating a fusion of genres as we like.
Dimitris: Which piece of music equipment or software can you not live without, and why?
2 Man Riot: The DAW is the only essential thing. Everything else is replaceable.
Dimitris: Can you share an unforgettable incident from your career—whether funny, unexpected, or challenging?
2 Man Riot: Having our track played by Ferry Corsten on Resonance Radio 2 weeks in a row!
Current Projects:
Now that we know a bit about your background, we'd love to hear about what you're working on right now. Your current projects offer a glimpse into your creative process and artistic evolution.
Dimitris: Could you please elaborate on the inspiration behind the track Soul Align that is out 10/10/2025 via Bemind records ? How does it align with your current artistic aspirations?
2 Man Riot: Souls Align started as a quick demonstration of the DAW software that Stephan was giving to some family members. The catchy melody and vocal were never supposed to become a full track, but when Alex heard the elements, it was quickly decided that we needed to work this one out.
Dimitris: Have you produced any new tracks since the one we're discussing in this interview? If so, could you share the inspiration behind them?
2 Man Riot: We are working on several tracks, most of them progressive trance but some psy-influenced uplifting too. Protoculture has been a big inspiration because of his production quality and progressive style of trance. We also recently finished a collaboration with Solange and Vascotia, with some fresh vocals from Stephan's girlfriend, Naomi. Keep a look out for that one soon!
Dimitris: Could you describe your current approach to music production and how it has evolved over the years?
2 Man Riot: Proficiency with your tools helps a lot. In the past, we sometimes had a hard time getting the musical ideas written down. Nowadays, we are much quicker to get the ideas locked in and working on a global arrangement, then sound design and a rough mix. This is then finetuned in multiple iterations using shared storage, where Stephan and Alex can work on tracks asynchronously in their own time. We know each other's strengths and are not afraid to lean into those; Stephan tends to focus on creative ideas and sound design, while Alex is into arrangement, mixing, and mastering.
Dimitris: What are some of the challenges you face when producing music, and how do you overcome them?
2 Man Riot: The biggest challenge is time; we both have demanding day jobs. And writer's block happens too. Overcoming them is accepting that these things happen sometimes. By working together, it is easier to overcome those challenges. We also collaborate with other artists to get fresh ideas and learn new tricks.
Dimitris: How do you stay motivated and creatively inspired amidst the fast-paced nature of the EDM scene?
2 Man Riot: It is a major help that we are not financially dependent on this thing, so any decision we have to make is purely creative. No need to chase the latest fad and try to stay relevant that way; we are just creating our own niche in the scene.
Future Plans:
Dimitris: What are your future plans in terms of new releases, collaborations, or live performances?
2 Man Riot: We have a lot of music to finish! Some cool collaborations with old and new friends are already underway.
Dimitris: Are there any collaborations you dream of, either with other artists or brands, that you haven’t yet explored?
2 Man Riot: If we need to voice one ambition, it would be to release a track with Protoculture in the future.
Dimitris: How do you incorporate new trends or technologies in your music while maintaining your unique sound?
2 Man Riot: We don't follow trends really. Especially AI is not something we embrace creatively - we want AI to do our laundry, not make our music for us :)
Dimitris: What message would you like to share with your fans and the broader EDM community about your journey and vision?
2 Man Riot: Just be yourself and have fun.
Music Industry & Technology:
The music industry is constantly evolving, influenced by technology and cultural shifts. Let's dive into your thoughts on these changes and how they impact your work.
Dimitris: How do you see the current state of the electronic music industry, and what changes would you like to see?
2 Man Riot: There seems to be a huge divide between established labels and artists on one side, and on the other side the new guys trying to find an audience. It would be great if the scene were less about status.
Dimitris: What role do you think AI technology plays in the future of electronic music production, and have you experimented with it?
2 Man Riot: AI is fun to noodle around with for ideas. It could even be used to produce artwork. It should not create a big role to create music, when the music is the primary product.
Dimitris: How do you feel about the shift towards streaming platforms for music consumption—do you think it's beneficial for artists?
2 Man Riot: Also, the sheer amount of daily new music on streaming platforms makes it a challenge to stand out, and revenue for artists is peanuts. Streaming is potentially beneficial for artists to find their audience, but because of the way the users of streaming platforms consume their music, this effect is marginal. On the other hand, without streaming platforms, a lot of artists wouldn't be able to release their music at all.
Dimitris: How important do you find online tutorials and classes for aspiring producers, and do you engage in any form of music education yourself?
2 Man Riot: It's great that these are available. Some YouTube content is pretty good, but even better are the courses and tutorials by established artists, most notably Protoculture and Dim3nsion. When we collaborate with less established artists, we also always reveal our production secrets to them :)
Personal Insights:
To wrap things up, we'd love to get a glimpse into your personal life and philosophy. These insights help us understand the person behind the music.
Dimitris: How do you maintain a balance between your personal life and your music career?
2 Man Riot: That is a challenge. Since music is not our primary source of income, and we both have families, it is sometimes difficult to free up enough time to make music. It helps that we have found a way to work on our music from both of our homes, so we can work on it anytime we have some spare time.
Dimitris: What advice would you give to aspiring producers looking to make their mark in the industry?
2 Man Riot: We can only comment on production really, and there, in the beginning, quantity is more important than quality. Try to recreate your favorite artist's tracks to see how they are constructed, and use this knowledge to your advantage. When you create the quantity, the quality will inevitably rise too.
The Art of DJing:
Dimitris: What inspired you to transition from producing to DJing, or did both passions develop simultaneously?
2 Man Riot: We don't really play a lot of gigs yet. However, performing your music is the best way to get an audience to experience it. We use Traktor and Ableton Live to perform.
Dimitris: Which mixing style do you prefer—long transitions, quick cuts, harmonic mixing, or another technique? How do you decide which style suits a particular set?
2 Man Riot: Mixing in key is paramount, and long transitions are the best. We always aim to try and create a kind of mash-up between the outtro of the track that is playing and the intro of the next one, aligning the phrases and maintaining the energy of the tracks.
Dimitris: How do you incorporate effects, loops, and EQ adjustments to add depth and dynamics to your live mixes?
2 Man Riot: In Ableton, it is very easy to cut loops and prepare them beforehand, so our sets make extensive use of this.
Dimitris: Do you prefer beatmatching manually or using sync features? How do these choices impact your creative flow during performances?
2 Man Riot: In our opinion, beatmatching manually is a cool skill, but it has lost its importance. Track selection and creating the mashup-like transitions are more important to our sets, and if the tool to sync the music is available, why not use it?
Dimitris: Please tell us your final statement to our readers who will read this interview.
2 Man Riot: Thank you so much for your love and support! We really appreciate it.
As our conversation with 2 Man Riot comes to a close, one thing is clear: their passion for music is as authentic and boundless as the tracks they create. From the early days of experimenting with trance and gabber-inspired beats to their current progressive and uplifting sound, the duo remains committed to forging their own path in the EDM landscape—free from trends and driven purely by creativity. With exciting collaborations on the horizon, a steady flow of new music, and a loyal fanbase growing with each release, 2 Man Riot is a name to watch closely. Thank you to Alex, Rutger, and Stephan for sharing their journey with us, and here’s to many more unforgettable tracks and performances in the years to come.
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