Cross Radio Interview

Interview - Eirik Boe (Kings Of Convenience) (01/03)

How did you and Erland end up playing together?

Eirik: We met, talked about guitars, played and realized that we came from the same musical planets.

Do you write the songs together?

Eirik: Yes, for the most parts, although we tend to live in different countries. We send each other tapes and play through the phone...

Do you like going on tours with The Kings of Convenience?

Eirik: Yes. As long as things have been well planned. Then all there's left for me is to play and enjoy.

Are your songs based on a personal experience or just pure fantasy?

Eirik: We try to write about real things.

Can your music be considered as "mainstream" or you prefer to call it alternative, or maybe neither?

Eirik: This is purely a question of quantity of record sales. I prefer not to think about it.

Are there any musicians you dreamt of playing with?

I can think of people I like, but they are doing too well on their own...

What kind of music and what bands do you listen privately?

Eirik: The last week I've been listening to Marcos Valle, and a record by a Canadian girl with no record deal. Her name is Leslie Feist. She is fantastic.

Do you prefer to play in big concert halls or small clubs?

Eirik: Big or small. The atmosphere is what counts.

How many instruments do you play?

Eirik: Guitar, some piano, some drums, some harp.

Do you have any more musicians playing with you on concerts or just you two?

Eirik: We sometimes bring friends up on stage and improvise.

All your videos have some kind of specific story, who gets the ides for them?

Eirik: They're based on the director Francois Nemeta's interpretation of the songs.

I read in some article that you are described as "air of Zen contentment" and Erland as "someone who was put to earth to communicate". What do you think about these descriptions?

Eirik: It's funny.

Have you ever recorded any music in your native language, Norwegian, or do you have plans for something like that?

Eirik: Yes. We started of as a band called Skog, and are songs were in Norwegian.

What are the bands from Norway you appreciate?

Eirik: Biosphere, Royksopp, Ralph Myerz, Ephemera, Jaga Jazzist, Evil Tordivel.

Can you tell us something about your cooperation with band Royksopp

Eirik: Erlend wrote three songs with them, and they've remixed "I don't know what
I can Save You from".

Tell us something about your new album, will it be totally different from "Quiet is the new loud", just try to describe it to us.

Eirik: More up-beat it seems.

When is it due to come out?

Eirik: Late 2003 or early 2004.

Do you expect bigger success with this new album?

Eirik: I hope it will be liked.

Have you heard any bands from former Yugoslavia (Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Serbia)

Eirik: "Life is Life"?...

Have you ever been in this part of the Europe and how can we get in your tour plans

Eirik: No, but I have a friend who is Slovenian. Our manager is the person to talk to about concrete plans for performances. I don't like to be involved too much in organizing-work. But I would like to play there...