BENEDICT CORK: A YEAR IN RETROSPECT
- Maisie Daniels
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF BENEDICT CORK WORDS EMILIE LOUIZIDES
It's been a year since singer-songwriter Benedict Cork graced F Word's first-ever digital cover in celebration of the release of his debut album, 'Notes On A Hopeless Romance'. With a CV as impressive as Benedict's including a show supporting Adam Lambert at The Royal Albert Hall and high praise from Sir Elton John as 'sensational' and 'a name to look out for' - it's no surprise that he's spent the past year simultaneously writing for album two, touring the UK, Europe, and the US, and adding five additional tracks for a deluxe edition of album one, this time titled 'Footnotes On A Hopeless Romance', which will be dropping July 4th.
'Deep Dive', an upbeat, summery tune and the first single from the new project, is out today, co-written with Tors - who Benedict supported on a European tour - and his close collaborator Justin Tailor, the producer of the original album. Prior to the release of the deluxe, Ben shares his thoughts and a visual diary with F Word, memories and moments from his last few years of writing, recording and touring, before officially stepping into his next chapter.
F Word Magazine: Fuck, marry, kill: album, EP, single?
Benedict Cork: Ooo ok marry album. It’s a long-term love affair. You’ve got to make the commitment to each other and nurture that relationship over time. Even when you get on each other’s nerves, at some random moment they’ll start playing your favourite song and you’ll be reminded why you fell in love with them in the first place. Fuck single - 3 minutes and it’s over. In, out, shake it all about. Kill the EP. I love him, but I’m an albums boy now.
FWM: What made you want to release a deluxe version of ‘Notes On A Hopeless Romance’?
BC: I had the time of my life putting this album together a couple summers back. There were no expectations or outside pressures. It was just me and some friends jumping in and out of studios, making music that we love. I’m not quite ready to let that chapter be over so on the anniversary of the release it feels right to offer up a second helping, an act two!
FWM: What are you hoping people will take from this extended edition?
BC: I hope it brings people straight back into the story of the album. Maybe the new songs will soundtrack their summer of love, or summer of longing. I’d love for people to give the album another listen through and, maybe now a year on, the songs will resonate in a different way. That would be cool. I’m also super happy we have the two live tracks on this extended edition. The ‘Notes On A Hopeless Romance’ tour last summer were some of my favourite live shows I’ve played so it feels fitting to immortalise those recordings forever.
FWM: Do you believe in manifestation?
BC: You know, I never used to. But then some weird shit started happening around the album and now I’m starting to think maybe I’m a bit more psychic than I thought. I told my therapist I’d love to play at The Royal Albert Hall one day and BAM, 6 months later it happened. I wanted to play my first shows in America and BAM, a couple months later a lovely man named Todd offered to help me out with my US visa and I played my first run of shows there last year. I had two wishes for the album - to hear my songs on the radio and to be on some sort of big fuck-off billboard. BAM and BAM. I was standing in the middle of Times Square in New York a couple of months later with a giant photo of my face staring down at me. Mad. So yeah, I guess I’m a bit of manifester now.
FWM: What’s motivating you most lately?
BC: Without wanting to sound too much like a grandpa, long walks. I’m fully in my walking era. I love London so much, but it is chaos personified. I can be in the worst mood - stressed, overwhelmed, sleep-deprived – but then I shove on my trainers, put on a podcast and 10 minutes later I’m so chilled. Can’t recommend it enough.
FWM: Go-to lunch on a studio/writing day?
BC: I’m a spoilt little brat in this arena. Justin Tailor, who I made most of the album with, is an amazing chef. Every day was basically an episode of ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’. I’d bring some random ingredients to the studio, throw them at him on our lunch break and he’d rustle up the most insane dishes. Going back in to record ‘Deep Dive’ a few months back with him was a proper trip down memory lane. I hope I’m not dropping him in it though and all the other artists he works with are getting the same Michelin star treatment.
FWM: What’s bringing the most joy to your days lately?
BC: I’m in writing mode for the next album at the moment. So that’s bringing me joy. Since we finished touring ‘Notes On A Hopeless Romance’ in October, I’ve been living in this beautiful in-between space where you get to just experience life and make music about it. It’s really chill. I think it’s super important for creative people to have that quiet time to find out what they want to say next. Simple things like chilling in a café with my journal, or going to a gallery with a friend on a random Tuesday afternoon is bringing me lots of joy.
FWM: What genre could you see yourself experimenting with for a future project?
BC: I have this itch I want to scratch to make a proper pop/classical crossover album one day. Like lush romantic piano film scores with pop melodies over the top. It would either be beautiful or trash, but it’s something I’d love to have a shot at.
FWM: If you had to choose a new career completely outside of anything having to do with music, what would it be?
BC: I’m pretty shit at everything else to be honest. I would have loved to have been a practical artist. A painter or sculptor. I sometimes fantasise about packing it all in and living by the sea - waking up every day to paint and hanging out with my five dogs. Maybe I’m actually just manifesting this for my future, I don’t know.
FWM: What advice do you have for yourself for tomorrow?
BC: Chill out and enjoy the process.
FWM: What is your new favourite F Word?
BC: I think last time I said the obvious one. Fuck. So let’s go with a new one - festival. Maybe that’s because it’s summer and I’m manifesting a last minute Glastonbury ticket. Come on universe!
