Indie pop and clinical psychology do not make for a likely coupling, but Eirik Be, one half of Norwegian duo Kings of Convenience, manages to combine the two.

"I find that it's a very rewarding situation to be in, to have things which inspire me," he says. "I find that having two careers is good for my creativity."

Reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel and Belle & Sebastian, the music created by Eirik and his partner in crime Erland ye features classically-inspired guitar and string melodies laced with delicate vocal harmonies, with direct lyrics and honest observations.

Eirik met Erland at school in their home town of Bergen. Drawn together by their guitars and a love of early Pink Floyd, the pair began writing music together.

"He decided to bring his guitar and come to my house one day," says Eirik. "We wrote two songs on the first day. There was a spark between us.

"Music culture was very important in Bergen, " he continues. "You could either be a very good skier or snowboarder or you could play music, so there were two choices."

It would appear that they made the right one. After briefly joining Norwegian band Skog, Erland departed for London, soon followed by Eirik who ended up at Emerson College in East Grinstead.

"We played our first performance at the Poetry Cafe in London in 1998," Eirik says. "It was a small crowd but, from my memory, it went well. We're still playing music, so they didn't kill us..."

Going on to tour the world following the success of their 2001 album Quiet Is The New Loud seems to have influenced Eirik's view on his life and clinical psychology career, rather than his music.

"Coming back from our big shows in New York and Los Angeles and going into the therapy room to try to solve one person's life difficulties - you can't imagine the contrast. One is very expansive and one is totally contractive."

It would appear that life on the road offers little in the way of inspiration: "You can't write songs about hotels and airports. It just becomes about routine, which is not very inspirational."

Personal relationships play a big part in the band's music and rumour has it that Eirik can't write songs if he has a girlfriend.

"Those were Erland's words about me," he says. "He's always trying to make me split up with my girlfriends."

"It's a good time to write songs, when you are on your way out of a relationship. I find it hard to write when I have a girlfriend. Relationships are delicate things."

Friendships are delicate too - but competition between Eirik and Erland seems to fuel their creative processes.

"It's about who can write the best song or come up with the best idea," Eirik says. "I think it's a healthy competitive relationship."

The two boys grew up listening to UK indie and rock - The Charlatans, Stone Roses and shoegazers Ride being favourites.

"I listened to rock music," says Eirik, "but I always wanted to play nice jazz chords and learn to play classical music on the guitar."

This is reflected in the band's most recent single, I'd Rather Dance With You, which uses subtle violins alongside acoustic guitars.

Riot On Empty Street, the long-awaited follow-up to the Kings' first album, met with rave reviews when it was released this summer.

"When you have done something which you yourself are very happy with, like making this record," says Eirik, "it feels good that people like it."

Analyse that.

Starts: 7.30pm, Tickets: £12.50/10, Tel: 01273 736222