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The Knife

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For other uses, seeKnife (disambiguation).
The Knife
The Knife performing at Melt! Festival in 2013
The Knife performing at Melt! Festival in 2013
Background information
OriginGothenburg,Sweden
Genres
Years active1999–2014
Labels
Past members
Websitetheknife.net

The Knifewere a Swedishelectronic musicduo fromGothenburg,formed in 1999. The group consisted of siblingsKarinandOlof Dreijer,who together also run their own record company,Rabid Records.They gained a large international following in response to their 2003 albumDeep Cuts.

The duo's first tour took place in 2006, along with the release of their critically acclaimed albumSilent Shout.They have won a number ofSwedish Grammis,but refuse to attend awards ceremonies. They have appeared in public wearingVenetian masks.AsFever Ray,Karin releasedtheir self-titled solo albumin 2009, while Olof released severalEPsas Oni Ayhun in late 2009 and early 2010. The Knife disbanded in November 2014 after releasing their acclaimed 2013 albumShaking the Habitualand completing its attendanttour.

History

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Formed inGothenburgin 1999,[4][5]amidst the deterioration of Karin's former groupHoney Is Cool,the group perhaps gained stronger international recognition whenJosé Gonzálezcovered their song "Heartbeats"on his 2003 album,Veneer.The cover was used bySonyin a commercial forBraviatelevision sets, and released as a single in 2006. The group commented on this in aDagens Nyheterarticle, saying that Sony paid a large sum of money to use the song. Despite the group'santi-commercialviews, they justified the transaction by citing their need for money to establish a record company.

Having never before performed live, the Knife went on tour in 2006, and after selling out shows worldwide, aDVDof the tour was announced. The DVD was released in Sweden on 8 November 2006, and is titledSilent Shout: An Audio Visual Experience.

On 4 August 2009, the band announced that, in collaboration withMt. SimsandPlanningtorock,they would be writing anoperafor the Danish performance group Hotel Pro Forma. The opera, titledTomorrow, in a Year,is based onCharles Darwin'sOn the Origin of Species.In January 2010, the band announced that they would release a studio version on 1 March.[6]

In a September 2010 post on the official Fever Ray website, Karin stated that the siblings had "started playing together again", hinting that new material might be on the way.[7]On 18 April 2011, as part of a post on their website concerningdiscriminationagainstRomani peoplein Europe, the Knife announced that they were recording a new album to be released in 2012.[8]In December 2012, it was confirmed that their next album would be titledShaking the Habitualand would be released on 8 April 2013.[9][10]The duo posted a teaser trailer for the album on theirYouTubeaccount with the message: "Music can be so meaningless. We had to find lust. We asked our friends and lovers to help us."[11]The album was supported by tour dates in Europe in 2013.[10]"Full of Fire" was released as the album's lead single on 28 January 2013,[12]for which a short film was directed byStockholmandBerlin-based filmmaker and visual artist Marit Östberg.[13]

After announcing their plans to play atCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festivalin April 2014, the Knife also announced plans to tour North America during that time period.[14]On 21 August 2014, the Knife announced that the duo would disband following the final six dates of theirShaking the Habitual Show Tourfrom 31 October to 8 November 2014.[15]In the duo's final interview, Karin toldDazed,"We don't have any obligations to continue, it should only and always be for fun."[16]

The Knife played their final show, entitled Post-Colonial Gender Politics Come First, Music Comes Second, on 8 November 2014 at the Iceland Airwaves Festival inReykjavík.The final performance was recorded and released as a concert film and a special edition vinyl set.[17][18][19]

Relationship with the media

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The Knife rarely cooperated with the media or the mainstream music scene. Until 2005, they did not perform live concerts. The group rarely made public appearances; most of their promotional photos featured the members wearing masks with birds' beaks, similar to the traditionalVenetianMedico Della Peste(plague doctor) masks worn duringCarnival.

The Knife won theSwedish Grammisaward for Pop Group of the Year in 2003, but they boycotted the ceremony by sending two representatives of theGuerrilla Girls,with the number 50 written on their costumes, as a protest against male dominance in the music industry.[20]Their albumDeep Cutswas also nominated for the best record of the year, although that award went tothe Cardigans.At the Grammis awards in 2007, the Knife won in all six categories that they were nominated in: Composer of the Year, Music DVD of the Year, Producer of the Year, Pop Group of the Year, Album of the Year and Artist of the Year. Again, they did not attend the award ceremony. On another occasion, they did not come to collect the award but sent a manipulated video that muffled their voices and made them look very elderly.

Silent Shoutwas named the best album of 2006 byPitchfork.[21]The song "We Share Our Mothers' Health"from the album was made available for free as theiTunes Store's Single of the Week in late 2006.

Influences

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In a 2006 interview withPitchfork,the Knife citedDavid Lynch,Aki Kaurismäki,Korean cinema,Trailer Park Boys,Donnie DarkoandDoomas inspirations for their work.[22]In addition, Karin namedSonic Youth,Kate Bush,Le TigreandSiouxsie and the Banshees,while Olof citedtechno,grimeandSouthern hip hop.[20]

Solo projects

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In 2008, Karin announced the release of a solo album under the nameFever Rayin March 2009. Theeponymous albumwas digitally released in advance of this date. The single "If I Had a Heart"was featured ina 2011 episodeofBreaking Badand in the 2013 filmHorns,is the opening theme of the Canadian-Irish historical drama television seriesVikings,and is the opening of the movieLaurence Anywaysby Canadian directorXavier Dolan,who also used Karin's song "Keep the Streets Empty For Me" in his movieHeartbeats.In a 2016 interview withThe Fader,Karin related that they were at that moment working on more solo music, though they were "unsure" if it would be under the Fever Ray moniker or not.[23]Their second solo albumPlungewas released in 2017. A new album by Fever Ray, Radical Romantics, was released in the spring of 2023.

Olof performs as both DJ Coolof and Oni Ayhun.

Discography

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Main article:The Knife discography

Tours

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The Knife initially did not play live shows, until 8 February 2005 when they played a show at theInstitute of Contemporary ArtsinLondonconsisting of a screening ofWhen I Found the KnifebyAndreas Nilssonand performances of "Heartbeats", "You Take My Breath Away"and"You Make Me Like Charity".[24]

Awards

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Year Awards Category
2003 Nöjesguiden's Stockholm Award Music Category[5]
Swedish Hit Music Awards Best Video for "Heartbeats"[5]
Swedish National Radio P3 Gold Group of the Year[5]
Grammis Pop Group of the Year[5]
2004 Manifest Awards Pop Rock[5]
Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards (SAMA) Song of the Year for "Heartbeats"
2006 Pitchfork Media Album of the Year
Manifest Awards Dance/House Techno of the Year
Live Performers of the Year
2007 Swedish National Radio P3 Gold Group of the Year
Dance of the Year
Grammis Artist of the Year
Pop Album of the Year forSilent Shout
Songwriters of the Year
Pop Producers of the Year
Music-DVD of the Year forSilent Shout: An Audiovisual Experience
Pop Group of the Year
SAMA Song of the Year for "Marble House"
Album of the Year forSilent Shout
2013 Nordic Music Prize Best Nordic Album of the Year forShaking the Habitual[25]

Television and film uses

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The song "We Share Our Mothers' Health" was featured in theABCseriesUgly Betty,as well as an episode ofCSI: NY.In August 2007, "Heartbeats" was featured in an episode of theHBOseriesEntourage,[26]and was later used in an episode of the HBO seriesGirls.The song "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" was used in the closing scene and credits of the episode "The Bridge"in the2017 first seasonofHulu'sThe Handmaid's Tale.

Their song "Pass This On"was used in the 2010 drama filmHeartbeatsby Quebec directorXavier Dolan.[27]"Pass This On" was also used in the 2011 dramaEllesby Polish directorMałgorzata Szumowskaand in the 2013 thrillerMagic Magicby Chilean directorSebastián Silva,which opens with Canadian actorMichael Cerasinging along to the song. The documentary filmThe Jeffrey Dahmer Files(2012) used the song "Still Light" during the closing credits. The 2014 documentaryDior and Iuses an instrumental of "Silent Shout" during an atelier montage sequence.

See also

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References

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  1. ^Ugwu, Reggie (April 12, 2014)."Coachella 2014: The Knife Dazzles Crowd At First U.S. Appearance In 8 Years".Billboard.com.RetrievedJuly 25,2024.
  2. ^"The Knife Deliver Creepy Christmas Tune".Spin.13 December 2006.Retrieved3 December2010.
  3. ^McRuvie, Sarah (12 June 2013)."Ten Things You Never Knew About The Knife's Karin Dreijer Andersson".Clash.Retrieved7 October2022.
  4. ^"Grammisregn över Göteborg".Sveriges Radio(in Swedish). 31 January 2007.Retrieved24 May2014.
  5. ^abcdefMcLean, Craig (January 2006)."Biography".theknife.net. Archived fromthe originalon 14 April 2010.Retrieved8 March2010.
  6. ^Jones, Charlie Robin (12 January 2010)."The Knife interview:" Yes! "".Dummy.Retrieved7 October2022.
  7. ^Dreijer, Karin(23 September 2010)."Hi..."feverray.com. Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2010.Retrieved18 October2010.
  8. ^"Take action for the housing rights of Roma in Rome!".theknife.net. 18 April 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 26 April 2011.Retrieved23 April2011.
  9. ^Phillips, Amy (12 December 2012)."The Knife Return With New Album".Pitchfork Media.Retrieved14 December2012.
  10. ^abMinsker, Evan (14 December 2012)."The Knife Reveal Release Date, Will Tour Next Year".Pitchfork Media.Retrieved7 October2022.
  11. ^Martins, Chris (12 December 2012)."The Knife's New Album 'Shaking the Habitual' Due Spring 2013".Spín.Buzz Media.Retrieved14 December2012.
  12. ^"Full of Fire – Single av The Knife"(in Swedish).iTunes Store(SE).Apple.Retrieved3 February2013.
  13. ^Knight, David (30 January 2013)."The Knife 'Full Of Fire' by Marit Östberg".Promo News.Retrieved7 October2022.
  14. ^Pelly, Jenn; Minsker, Evan (9 January 2014)."The Knife to Tour North America Surrounding Coachella".Pitchfork Media.Retrieved10 January2014.
  15. ^Gordon, Jeremy (21 August 2014)."The Knife Call It Quits".Pitchfork Media.Retrieved21 August2014.
  16. ^Denney, Alex (21 August 2014)."The Knife are no more – read their last interview".Dazed.Retrieved21 August2014.
  17. ^Monroe, Jazz (September 2017)."Watch the Knife's New Concert Film".Pitchfork.Retrieved2020-11-30.
  18. ^Subscribe (September 2017)."The Knife have shared their 'Live At Terminal 5' film".diymag.com.Retrieved2020-11-30.
  19. ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:"The Knife - Live At Terminal 5 (Full Film)".YouTube.September 2017.
  20. ^abFoley, Jack."The Knife – Swedish duo hoping to cut it in synth-pop world".IndieLondon. Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2016.Retrieved9 November2009.
  21. ^"Top 50 Albums of 2006".Pitchfork.19 December 2006.Retrieved4 July2008.
  22. ^Pytlik, Mark (24 July 2006)."Interviews: The Knife".Pitchfork Media.Retrieved4 July2011.
  23. ^Maine, Sammie (17 February 2016)."A new Fever Ray album could be on its way".NME.Retrieved7 October2022.
  24. ^"Live report: The Knife @ The ICA, London 02/08/05".Itsatrap. 2005-02-09.Retrieved2013-04-13.
  25. ^Studarus, Laura (1 March 2014)."The Knife Wins the Nordic Music Prize".Under the Radar.Retrieved12 March2014.
  26. ^"Entourage Music: Season 04: Episode 52" Snow Job "".HBO.Archived fromthe originalon 29 February 2008.Retrieved4 July2008.
  27. ^Polly, John (24 February 2011)."Movies, Music & Montreal: An Interview with" Heartbeats "Director Xavier Dolan".Logo.Retrieved7 July2022.
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