Kings of Convenience Declare Their 'Dependence'

Posted on Oct 16th 2009 4:00PM by Mike Ayers
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After 10 years, Norwegian folk duo Kings of Convenience are making a statement with their third record, 'Declaration of Dependence' -- when it comes down to it, they're 're not so dependent on each other anymore. The two compose delicate songs that teeter the lines between pop and coffee house acoustics, recalling Simon and Garfunkel at times. But over this decade, instead of pumping out a new Kings record every two years, they've constantly branched out. Eirik Boe is working with a new band called Kommode and Erlend Oye keeps busy with his electronic project the Whitest Boy Alive as well as various DJ appearances.

Now when they resume as the Kings of Convenience, Oye says it's become a bit trickier. "I have to say, it was much more clearer in the beginning," he tells Spinner. "Ten years ago, we were much more dependent on each other. But three years ago, when we started to think about this record, it wasn't so clear. We didn't necessarily need each other as musicians."

So the album isn't a commentary on the band, but instead Boe suggests it's a bit more metaphorical throughout. "Our whole lives are about trying to figure out how to make other people love us and finding other people to love," he says. "We wanted to say that independence is not what we are."

To that thought, Oye adds, "Now we have happiness and it's clearly only down to yourself. If you're not happy, it's your fault. So, it's great if you can depend on something. That's another choice you have to make."

'Declaration of Dependence' is out Tuesday, October 20 on Astralwerks.