This month sees the return of the Kings of Convenience and the release of their long awaited second album, Riot on an Empty Street.

We were lucky enough to catch up with the pair (in a strange mood I might add) to talk about the new album, their influences, and what lies ahead for the partnership....

Erlend, I remember you being quite candid about when there might be a new Kings of Convenience album. It sounded like the decision was on Eirik's shoulders. Is that how it was?

Erlend: Yes, that's how it was and that's how it's going to be in the near future.

You've both been leading busy lives the past couple of years. Has this been reflected in the lyrics on the new album?

Erlend: Yes. There's a song called "I'd Rather Dance With You", which is a song about a busy person in a club, and somebody starts talking, and its like "not more talking, can we not just do something physical and dance and communicate that way".

I guess it must have been quite difficult writing together, not just because you've been apart, but because your recent experiences must have been quite different?

That's the strength of our collaboration. That's the way for most of the time that we've been working together; we've been living in different countries: 6 out of the last 7 years, so it allows us to be very objective when we're deciding whether the other person's ideas are good or bad.

So have you managed to stay close friends, as apposed to colleagues, over the last couple of years?

Eirik: We've never been anything other than colleagues.

Erlend: We've been colleagues since we made this album. We had a good couple of moments yesterday: we had a good time. We took the night train from Milan to Paris and that was pretty friendly. It's improving, but first we had to make the album, then we can be friends.

The string and piano arrangements on "Misread" are lovely. Can we expect more of this on the rest of the album?

Eirik: The album is not lovely... it's good. "Misread" is the loveliest song on the album, but there are a lot of good songs on the album.

Have either of you actually had any formal music training?

Eirik: I had five guitar lessons when I was 17, and I learned to play "Stairway To Heaven" and "Deer Hunter". It was quite inspirational, but it was only five lessons, so we're pretty self-taught.

Indeed.

You once said there were loads of other people you would have asked to do the "Versus" album had you had the time. Would you consider doing a similar project for "Riot on an Empty Street" in the future?

Erlend: Actually, we are considering it. I'm kind of very against it and very for it. No names disclosed. Don't call us: we'll call you.

Eirik, any plans for any solo stuff of your own?

Eirik: My solo material would sound so much like Kings of Convenience, because I did so much singing and playing on the records, there wouldn't be very much point for me in releasing a solo record. I think that in the future, their might be some extremely leftfield piano ambient records rather than acoustic music.

And what are your plans for touring the new album? Is it still going to be as "exclusive" as it was?

Eirik: What is touring? We're planning to play a few shows now, three shows in England and we going to play a little bit in autumn. London 19th, Glasgow 22nd Manchester 23rd of June.

Would you say there are any artists who have influenced the music you make in Kings of Convenience?

Eirik: Mark Kozelek and Red House Painters. I also like Joao Gilberto, the bossanova guy from Brazil who plays guitar and sings quietly.

Erlend: I like Suzanne Vega, she has inspired my music.

Eirik: I like The Sea And Cake.

Erlend: You always say that to sound cool, you never listened to that record.

Eirik: How do you know?

Erlend: You like TSAC because I like them.

Eirik: I'm the cool guy in this band, so how does this boring guy know bands that are cooler than the bands I like. What can I do to win back the trophy of being the guy with the most interesting music taste and be the most interesting person in the band.

Ooookay. We run a club night at the local university. I’m trying to talk the DJs into singing and dancing at the same time as playing. The singing could be a disaster but the dancing might work. Erlend, can you recommend a nice long track to give them enough time to get down on the floor before they have to set up the next?

I think something that many people manage to do something with is the instrumental version of "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League. It's ten minutes, and try singing that song by The Smiths... "William, It Was Really Nothing" on top of it. That's a good start.

Thanks very much guys and all the best for the future.

Riot on an Empty Street is out 21 June 2004 in the UK (July in the US) with the first single to be taken from it, Misread, out on 7 June on Source/Virgin.