KoC Page Popnews Interview

A sofa, a desk, two or three chairs, and a temperamental microphone. Just the good accessories to meet the Kings Of Convenience at Source in Paris one friday afternoon of April. Fortunately, Eirik and Erlend are understanding and help me fixing the problem. The interview can finally start...

You have been promptly appointed as "head of the new acoustic wave scene" with bands like Turin Brake or I Am Kloot. Do you feel like leaders ?

Erlend : we’re just one of the many new bands at the moment. One of the band which is making wave music. We’re not leaders, I think any of the bands are the leaders. Anyway, I really like I Am Kloot.
Eirik : it’s simply something the NME has made up...

How do you feel about always being compared to Simon and Garfunkel ? Do you feel honoured or not ?

Eirik : it’s a very obvious comparison. We’re just bored, not insulted, not embarassed, but bored.
Erlend : i think if a girl had listened only to Simon and Garfunkel and then decided to make a record, nobody would say she sounds like Simon and Garfunkel, but rather like Suzanne Vega. Just because we’re two guys, with low voices who play acoustic guitars, we’re compared to Simon and Garfunkel. It’s obvious. But playing acoustic guitar is a very very old tradition. Sit down, sing with another friend. But most of the time, the two friends remain anonymous.

Eirik : i’ve never been influenced by music. Music doesn’t influence me to make music. I’m influenced by something else than music. Music is probably the only experience in my life, but it doesn’t make me want to make music.

Eirik : all kind of experiences. Everyday life experiences. My girlfriend is also a great source of inspiration for making music (they laugh) !

What would you say to people who would reproach you of being too soft or sweet ?

Eirik : we are probably one of the most quiet, soft-spoken band around now and people who like loud rock bands surely don’t like our music. But that doesn’t bother me, they’re not obliged to like us.

On “Failure”, you sing “failure is always the best way to learn”. What would have you done if the music you’ve been elaborated hadn’t been as succesful as it is now ?

Eirik : i would have been studying psychology and Erlend would have been in a rock band trying to get famous (they smile) !
Erlend : no i would have been a flag-maker...

Really ? Why ?!?

Erlend : i think flags are very beautiful. I would have had 50 people working for me, I’d have my own flag factory and I’d be known for making flags. I would have been interviewed by CNN and the United Nations would have asked me to make flags. Then a new nation would have been created and I would have asked to choose the best colours and materials for making its flag.

(Un)fortunately, Erlend is not a flag-maker and Eirik is not a student in psychology, but you’re getting famous making music. How do you feel about that ?

Eirik : actually, it’s only the beginning, so i’m very happy not being too famous for the moment. If you become a popstar you have to give up your life, and dedicate it to stay in hotels. I think it’s very monotonous.
Erlend : have you heard this song from Britney Spears called ‘Lucky’ ? (he starts singing the chorus) That goes : she's so lucky, she's a star, but she cry, cry, cries in her lonely heart, thinking if there's nothing missing in my life then why do these tears come at night...

How did you end-up recording a song in French (“Parr-à-Pluie”) ?

Eirik : Erlend had made some guitar chords some day and we found the chords sounded very French. So we used all the words we knew in French to make the lyrics and that was it...

What do you know about French music ?

Erlend : very little. Air, Serge Gainsbourg, F.F.F... Federation Francaise de Funk... I remember they played in Bergen, and I’ve met them. They were just so out of place in Norway. They were very nice, very cool...

You mentioned Serge Gainsbourg, I’ve heard you’ve worked with David Whitaker (who was once the producer of Gainsbourg)...

Eirik : i’m not sure how much he has done with Serge Gainsbourg. I’ve never seen his name anywhere. David has made the strings section beneath for the single Toxic Girl... It was great to work with him.

You’ve been playing in April at le Café de la Danse in Paris. Your music is intimate and soft, is it easy for you to play before 300 people ?

Erlend : we’ve played for 1200 people in London recently. But I think 600 people is perfect. I don’t feel any problem about playing before a great number of people. Being on stage is the greatest reward for musicians...

Eirik : yes, this is very rewarding... and exhausting too ! Because you have to give a lot and you’re using a lot of energy. But we really like playing live, seeing people. Getting a real feed-back.

Why did you choose to make a cover of A-ha (“Manhattan Skyline”) ?

Eirik : because first it’s a Norwegian band that we like. And we wanted to do something different.

Are you going to play in any festivals this summer ?

Erlend : i don’t think so. Doing festivals wouldn’t be a great idea. Playing for only 30 minutes between two noisy bands would not ve very clever. But going to festivals this summer, just for fun, could be great !

What would be your ideal future ?

Erlend and Eirik : peace on earth !!
Eirik : ...we just want to go on making good songs, and not becoming too famous... This would be a good future for us.