After an incredible national run in 2023, Ministry of Sound is heading back around the country this August & September with their biggest tour yet. Testament will again produce two specially curated sessions (90s & 00s) across 7 cities, as the series celebrates the golden era of clubbing. While they are making their preparations to fly across the globe, we caught up with English Electronic music duo X-Press 2 to talk all things Testament, including who’s set they want to catch, what fans can expect from their set and how the club scene has changed in the last 20 years.

You have been announced as one of the Artists performing at this year's Ministry Of Sound Testament shows happening throughout Australia in August/September, are you excited to be a part of this massive touring event?

Absolutely we’re excited about this event! It’s been a while since we’ve done a big tour so we’re massively looking forward to it. It will be so lovely to get back to Aus and Auckland, we always had a wonderful time whenever we came over.

Is Testament the first time you've toured in Australia? Where or what are you looking forward to most on your visit downunder?

No, we were lucky enough to come play and tour a few times back in the 2000s. Getting to meet up with fans and friends old and new and getting to play alongside some amazing talent and check out their vibe. Rocky also has family in Brisbane and Auckland so massively looking forward to catching up with cousin Ian and Uncle Jim and his family! We always loved the food and shopping whenever we came back in the day so we are pretty excited to be eating some incredible meals and looking for some old vinyl when we have a minute or 2.

“We also like to spend a bit of time sorting out music and getting together some special edits and versions of tunes to play. It makes it a little more special.”

— Diesel - X-Press 2

How do you prepare yourselves for a huge run of shows so close together like Testament?

Hopefully get plenty of rest and decent sleep leading up to our flight over as it’s pretty full on the first weekend we land. We also like to spend a bit of time sorting out music and getting together some special edits and versions of tunes to play. It makes it a little more special.

What can fans expect from your upcoming performances at Testament?

Well, the vibe of the tour is the 2000s, so fans can expect plenty of the tunes and music that we both made and were spinning as DJs back then, maybe with some more contemporary bits that have that feel thrown into the mix as well.

“we always try to incorporate our music into our sets. There’s such a huge body of work that it would be rude not to!!”

— Diesel - X-Press 2

Diesel and Rocky, you have been making music as together as X-Press 2 for over twenty years, so will you be including some songs from your back catalogue into your MOS set?

100% we will. As I said we like to make some new edits/versions of things as well as the original takes. To be honest we always try to incorporate our music into our sets. There’s such a huge body of work that it would be rude not to!!

Apart from your own, who's set are you most looking forward to seeing at Testament?

We’re really interested to see what the local talent will be playing. It’s always really interesting to hear someone else’s take on things. And of course, we’re looking forward to hearing Mousse T and Laidback Luke.

“We thought it’d be great if it lasted a year or two but here we are 36 years later! ”

— Diesel - X-Press 2

Testament is a celebration of 90's & 00's Club Culture, how has club culture changed in your opinion?

It’s a huge industry now. When we first started out it was just something that we did because we loved it. We thought it’d be great if it lasted a year or two but here we are 36 years later! The other huge change is the internet. Good or bad, it’s had an enormous impact on every aspect of club culture.

What are the best and worst parts of being on a multi-artist bill? Do egos ever get in the way or does it just add to the party?

Personally, I think it just adds to the party. Also, I think that all of us have been in this game long enough now that egos are pretty much done with.