Anyone who hears his voice will quickly understand why Elton John described him as “a name to look out for”. In May 2024, Benedict Cork’s debut album Notes On A Hopeless Romance was released. That was followed by his own headlining tour. In September, the British singer and songwriter accompanied indie-pop trio Tors as their support throughout Europe. I had the great opportunity to chat with Benedict about his music at the beginning of October.
Benedict, it’s such a pleasure to talk to you! How did you like touring with Tors?
Benedict: Ah, love – big love. We did it once last year in the UK for a few shows. So I already knew it was going to be so much fun, but it even exceeded those expectations. They not only love music and playing shows, but they’re also just the nicest people behind the scenes. So it makes the whole experience really fun. I got back, and I was exhausted, just because touring life is exhausting – I don’t think there’s any way around that. But I already miss it. I’m sad. I’ve got withdrawal symptoms (laughing).
What’s your best memory?
Benedict: I would say the show in Cologne. At the end of the show, it was the first time they brought me up on stage to do their song Never Give Up. That was obviously really fun, but then suddenly ABBA started playing out of the speakers. Dancing Queen. I had no idea about that because I missed that moment in the first show and had no idea that happens at the end of every show of the tour. So in Cologne we’re on stage, a thousand people in front of us and everyone’s got their arms in the air, and they’re singing ABBA. It wasn’t only a tour highlight, but probably a life highlight.
Oh, I loved that moment in Munich, too. You’ve already mentioned that touring is exhausting. One day you’re in Munich, the other day you’re in Vienna, and it goes on and on. How else would you describe it to be on tour other than exhausting?
Benedict: You know, I think people are getting better at being honest about the tour experience. That time on stage, it’s like pure bliss. That’s why you do it. The early mornings and the late nights, the constant moving around, unpacking and repacking – that’s what really wears you down. I did my own tour in May and June this year when my album came out. I loved it, but I got to the end of that and I immediately got sick. Your body is like: ‘What are you doing to me?’ You’re just running on adrenaline. But it all makes sense as soon as you walk on stage, and you start singing – that’s just pure joy. It makes everything else slip away.
So tour life isn’t much about seeing the cities you play your shows at. You’re just on a run all day.
Benedict: I wish you could see the cities a bit more. Tors are really good at it. If we arrived to a venue, we’d walk around and see a bit of the local area – even for just half an hour. We did have a day off in Prague. That was my favorite. It was sunny, and we had the whole day to chill. There wasn’t a show in the evening, so you could really get lost in the city.
You’ve already talked about your own tour celebrating your album Notes On A Hopeless Romance. How did that feel for you?
Benedict: It felt like a celebration. It was the culmination of two years worth of work. To finally be on stage with the band, playing the songs, with people singing the lyrics back – that makes it all worth it. I think I’d always like to do it like that: the album comes out and maybe a couple of weeks later or a month later you play the shows. I loved it.
The first song on your album is called Sanctuary. How did it come about?
Benedict: Did you know that I wrote that one with Tors?
No – great!
Benedict: I met the boys on a writing session on Zoom during lockdown. We were all in different places, four different screens. We wrote the song If These Walls Could Talk, and it ended up coming out. Then I said: ‘I loved it. Can we do an in-person session? I want to come visit you in your studio and write some more songs.’ So we did. They have a harmonium in the studio, which is almost like an organ – but it’s like mini, and you have to pedal it with your feet and play it at the same time. We started playing that and as soon as the chords started, the song fell out and a couple of hours later it was all written. Sanctuary is the first song we wrote together in real life. So it’s a very special one.
Is there a story behind the lyrics?
Benedict: Yes, it’s a song about finding that sanctuary, whether it’s in another person or music or a place or a feeling. I really liked opening the album with it because even though it’s a personal song, I wanted to say to the person listening: This album can be your sanctuary for the next 30 minutes or so.
Talking about songwriting, what does the process look like for you in general?
Benedict: It’s varied. I like being at home, on my own, on my piano, just singing out my deepest, darkest thoughts. I also love being in the studio with other musicians and other songwriters, sort of throwing ideas around and playing around with different sounds and melodies. I think if I have too much time on my own at home, then I get a little bit restless, but also if I spend too much time in studios with other people, then I crave a bit of time on my own. A balance is perfect for me.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Benedict: Often from conversations or situations. I might be at the pub with my friends on a Friday night. We’ll be chatting about something and then someone will say something and I just go quiet and write it on my phone. Or I’ll be going through something like a breakup or something quite emotional, and I feel like I need to get it off my chest. Then sometimes I’ll steal things from TV shows or movies. A character will say something, and I’ll be like: ‘That’s really cool, I want to steal that.’ So I’ll write it down. I’ve got a really, really long phone note with little concepts and ideas, and I just keep updating that with fresh stuff.
When did you start to write songs?
Benedict: I was about 15 years old.
And you always wanted to be a singer and songwriter?
Benedict: I always wanted to be a musician. I knew I loved music, but I didn’t really know in what form. Then I started playing classical piano when I was a kid. I remember my teacher – she was amazing – saying when I was probably around eleven years old: ‘If you seriously want to do this, you’re going to have to compromise on your lifestyle: You’ll be practicing eight hours a day on your own in a room, and you will be dedicating your life to the piano.’ I thought: ‘I love the piano, but I also love singing.’ At that point I wasn’t writing songs, but I was already putting chords together, making kind of like filmic instrumental music. I thought: ‘I don’t want to compromise my lifestyle for music. I’d rather live life and then write songs about it.’ So that’s when I discovered my favorite singers – Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell. Then I started writing songs and it felt good.
When was the first time you realized you could really make a living out of music?
Benedict: I was really lucky. I was 15 years old, I was at school and there was a restaurant next to it that had a piano in the window. I never saw anybody playing it and thought: ‘What a waste.’ So I went in one day after school and I said: ‘Hey, do you have anyone that plays your piano in the evening when people are eating?’ They said that they had someone on a Saturday night, which is why I’d never seen anyone playing it. I suggested: ‘Well, how about a Friday night?’ I did a little audition and they liked it. So every Friday after school, I’d stick around after school, go to this restaurant and play for a few hours. I loved it. Ever since then, I’ve never had a real job. I started playing anywhere that would have me: hotels, piano bars, restaurants. When I moved to London, I did the same thing. So I was really lucky, I sort of fell into it.
Let’s talk about the future. What are your plans for the rest of the year and 2025?
Benedict: Good question. I was sad that the shows were over for the year when I got back from tour with Tors. So on a whim, I booked a couple of new shows. I’ve got one in New York on the 26th October, which I’m very excited about. In December, I’m going back to the Netherlands to play at this lovely night called The Limelight Sessions, which I’ve already done a few times. Most of the rest of the year, I’m concentrating on writing the next project. My album came out in May, and since then I haven’t really written anything. Besides that, I have some plans for next year, but I can’t reveal those just yet.
Exciting! Where do you see yourself in, let’s say, five years from now?
Benedict: Oh that’s a big life question. I hope that I’m still really enjoying making music and playing shows. To walk on stage and love it: I hope that feeling still exists in five years time. Maybe I’ve whipped another album out, maybe I’m playing some really cool venues. I don’t know. I just want to be happy.
You’ve been on tour with amazing artists such as Tom Walker, Tors of course, Duncan Laurence – to name a few. Who would you love to work with or go on tour with in the future?
Benedict: Oh, loads of people. I mean, there’s obviously the greats. I know that Joni Mitchell’s back and she’s playing shows. That would be a dream, but obviously that’s a dream for the majority of singers. I love Alicia Keys, I love Maggie Rogers, I love Emily King. There are many artists who I really admire. People that I would love to be able to watch their show every night for free (laughing). Do my set and then just like pitch up a chair at the side of stage and study them.
Interview: Michelle Brey
Foto: Private
