The award-winning composer, pianist, songwriter and face of Givenchy, on cashmere, charity outlets, sneakers and secret hangouts…
Whereas Benjamin Clementine speaks softly and treads quietly, his distinctive vocals, poetic lyrics and swish fashion create greater than sufficient noise to earn vital acclaim – and the eye of the world’s finest movie administrators and high trend homes, who’re lining as much as gown him.
Clementine’s story begins with a difficult upbringing in North London, the place he lived along with his strict Roman-Catholic grandmother. At age 11, his household acquired a piano, however his father forbid him to play it as a result of he needed him to focus on different topics.
Leaving dwelling at 16 with out assist, he ended up in Camden, and at 19, he moved himself to Paris. Clementine arrived with no cash and nowhere to remain, counting on his musical expertise to outlive by enjoying in bars and busking on the Mètro. Embraced by the Parisian music scene, he was found by an agent, who discovered him a supervisor. This led him to a enterprise mogul who helped him arrange a report label earlier than he finally signed with Virgin EMI.
He launched his first EP, Cornerstone, in 2013. Two years later, he gained the Mercury Prize for Greatest Album, ‘At Least for Now’. This was adopted by ‘I Inform A Fly’ in 2017, and in 2022, he launched his long-awaited third album, ‘And I Have Been’.
Shifting from stage to display, Clementine was the composer for the movie Magnificence and made an arresting look as Herald of the Change in Denis Villeneuve’s gorgeous remake of Dune reverse Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin and Timothée Chalamet. Anticipate to see extra of him: he’s joined an equally stellar solid for upcoming initiatives, together with Julian Schnabel’s display adaptation of Within the Hand of Dante, and Blitz, a World Battle II drama directed by Steve McQueen.
It’s an illustrious CV, and now he can add Givenchy muse to the record, with Clemintine changing into the face of the model’s spirited new perfume, Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Extrême: a mix of darkish iced espresso, peppermint, vanilla and three famous forms of vetiver.
To have fun the information, we caught up with Benjamin Clementine, recent from his UK tour to ask him about every part from his go-to grooming merchandise to his favorite spots in London and Paris…
You’ve been touring the UK and Europe and have a busy summer time with extra dates forward. How have you ever discovered the return to reside gigs?
It’s been nice. Folks had been heat and sort, and I obtained nice opinions and a fantastic reception. I used to be pleased to lastly play to so many individuals after such a very long time. Proper now, I’m composing for a movie and releasing the second a part of my final album. I’m all the time working.
There’s been lots of anticipation surrounding the discharge of Dune: Half Two. You made your cinematic debut in Dune: Half One – was it a frightening expertise becoming a member of such a significant Hollywood set?
It felt like I’d been appearing for some time; it was simply my first movie. This made me suppose that perhaps there’s someplace to go along with this new craft and new expertise. The actual fact that Denis Villeneuve is form and heat and an excellent individual type of helps me suppose that perhaps there’s one thing for me to do in that sphere, in that world.
You additionally work as a composer for the movie. Hans Zimmer has spoken concerning the new sound and world-building he created for Dune. Does being concerned in a venture and seeing how different composers work affect your course of?
Sure. Hans Zimmer’s nice. I had the privilege to work with Sam Schwartz [Gorfaine/Schwartz] who labored with Ennio Morricone [the legendary composer for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Cinema Paradiso, The Untouchables, Once Upon a Time in America].
It’s nice to be round individuals who’ve been doing this for many years. And in addition how they go about composing their music, their course of, and the way they do it. I’m studying. This 12 months and subsequent 12 months will most likely be the 12 months of simply rooting out each bit of data I presumably can out of this new world that I’ve encountered.
Enjoying the Herald of the Change in Dune (2021)
You’ve lived in Paris, Los Angeles and Edmonton, North London, the place you grew up. When you had been inviting somebody on a tour of your previous neighbourhood, what can be the highlights?
Properly, I haven’t been there for greater than 10 years, however I bear in mind every part, and I’m positive nothing has actually modified, I might most likely take them to Pymmes Park, which was our park in Edmonton. We performed lots of tennis through the summer time, and soccer. I’m undecided if the cinema remains to be up there, I’d take them to look at one thing. Not Dune – one thing I’m not in!
I feel I’m like 90% of individuals from Britain who didn’t actually exit once they had been rising up. We didn’t actually go wherever. We simply lived round the place we’re from. The one time we truly left was as a result of we had been on a college journey to the Peak District, Lake District or Cornwall. That’s once we truly travelled.
For me, London was solely Edmonton or Enfield. The one time I ever went to the centre of city was when it was my sister’s birthday, I used to be about 13. We went to Trocadero in Piccadilly Circus. I do know England greater than I do know London.
The place are your favorite spots in London now?
It was solely after I went to Paris, after going to Camden, and solely after I had made some cash, I clearly needed to reside in the very best a part of London. For me, that’s Kensington. I now know Portobello Street, Portobello Market, Excessive Avenue Ken, Holland Park and the areas round the place I reside now.
The place ought to we hand around in Paris?
There are lots of good locations to hang around in Paris. There’s a aspect of Pigalle that’s cooler than the vacationer half, like Moulin Rouge and that entire factor, and the purple mild district. After which there’s one other aspect, the place there’s music, all music. It’s like Denmark Avenue in London – all music outlets. Behind these music outlets, there’s lots of bars to go the place you’ll be able to take heed to correct music, rock’n’roll, jazz, soul, classical music.
A couple of associates of mine personal essential buildings there that, for instance, the music Carmen was truly written there. It’s not a brothel anymore, but it surely was once. So it’s obtained this historical past surrounding it as properly. Paris, as you recognize, has lots of historical past.
There’s additionally a spot, if you happen to go additional down, to Arts et Métiers. I lived in lots of locations, that’s one of many locations I lived. I used to be in Place de la République and the subsequent place is named Arts et Métiers, the place there’s like an Asian a part of Paris. It’s Asian and Moroccan, North African. They’ve obtained these good eating places and this mix of various meals from these specific areas, principally Chinese language, Vietnamese, and Moroccan.
However then on the opposite aspect of République is Bastille. Proper earlier than Bastille, there’s a gorgeous market – you’ll be able to inform that I’m invested in meals.
Benjamin Clementine is the face of the brand new Givenchy perfume, Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Extrême
Scent performs an extremely necessary a part of reminiscence. Between London and Paris, which metropolis triggers recollections for you?
For me, I bear in mind the odor of London by supplies, whereas for Paris, it’s extra intangible. London, for me, has all the time been very conservative. Wanting again, I can’t bear in mind a horrible odor in London. I suppose as a result of we get lots of rain and every part will get washed out, so Edmonton will get cleaner air.
Whereas in Paris, there are such a lot of completely different smells. It’s balanced – there’s an prosperous odor, and from the Mètros of Paris, that guttery odor. However for me, that’s how I get impressed.
When you needed to put phrases or music to Givenchy Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Extrême, how would this perfume sound to you?
It takes some time to create my music. I do, nonetheless, know that I’ll positively break the foundations identical to Gentleman Society Extrême does. Style-wise, that might be a combination of Arabic, European sounds. After I say European, I imply expressionism, classical music. I’m taking a look at Debussy, for instance. Combined with some Arabic music and a mix of Blues.
A mixture of influences, and the time signature can be 6/8.
Because the face of Gentleman Society Extrême, what does it imply to you?
The motto of Gentleman Society has all the time been about being unafraid to bend the foundations each time. I like the truth that there’s an extra exploration, the need or quest for deeper expressions. So it’s of no shock that Extrême goes to the lengths of experimenting with notes of Ethiopian espresso and peppermint and even natural cedar from the Himalayas.
Other than perfume, what different grooming merchandise do you depend on?
I get dry pores and skin, I take advantage of cocoa butter and a Givenchy moisturising creme. To be trustworthy, proper now, every part I take advantage of is Givenchy. I’m impressed with their merchandise past fragrance. I’ve put it in all places, it’s actually in all places in my home. I take advantage of their physique lotion as properly and I feel I’m trying fairly first rate.
We all know you favor to go barefoot on stage. Off stage, what sneakers do you select?
There’s just one sneaker I’ve worn, the Givenchy sneaker. What are they referred to as once more? Metropolis? Sport? I don’t know what they name them however they’re one of the crucial snug sneakers I’ve ever worn in my life.
I can bear in mind after I was younger, me and my brother, we went to get sneakers. My father threw them within the bin. We purchased sneakers and a few denims, and he put them within the bin, as a result of he didn’t like us carrying avenue garments. To him, it appeared like we had been wearing a really dangerous manner. So we all the time wore fits, you see. Even going to the nook store to get milk, we needed to put on fits. Loopy. However by way of sneakers, if I’m not carrying one thing for “adults” then I’m carrying Givenchy boots or one of many pairs of sneakers I’ve.
You’ve spoken about how as a baby lots of your garments got here from charity outlets. There was once extra of a stigma about ‘second-hand’. Now it’s referred to as ‘pre-loved’ or ‘classic’ and it’s seen as sustainable, which it’s. Do you continue to wish to browse charity outlets for inspiration?
I’m so proud to have had the chance and inclination to work in charity outlets rising up. I made lots of associates doing that. There have been lots of charity outlets in Edmonton, and, it was good doing that. I went to charity outlets in Paris as properly. However proper now, I simply don’t have the time. I don’t have the time to go to outlets anymore generally.
I’ve given lots of my garments away, in Paris particularly, after I was there. And in addition in America, truly. There’s Goodwill, and people shops the place you give your garments away. That’s why I put on the identical factor time and again, similar type of fashion, but it surely’s simply new. I hardly hold something.
Whenever you had been at college, you’ve talked about how there was a ‘Mufti’ day and you continue to wore your uniform, though you didn’t should. How would you describe your present ‘uniform’?
I all the time put on a easy coat with trousers. If I like a chunk I purchase lots of them, so I’ve like 10 pairs of the identical trousers. I identical to simplicity. I realized that from Paris. As a result of, clearly once you’re not ready to afford new garments, you’re going to put on the identical factor.
Additionally, the entire thing about going to highschool carrying the identical garments – perhaps that’s one thing innate. Nobody informed me to do this. I simply selected to put on the identical garments, as a result of why not? I’ve all the time had this factor, I’ve simply by no means paid consideration to it – I can specific myself any manner I need.
We expect your fashion is easy however immaculate. Is there something concerning the match, building or materials of an merchandise that pulls you to it?
Cashmere. I like my garments tender however becoming, and fairly heavy. I need to really feel that I’m carrying a substance. Garments that don’t take consideration or attempt to seize consideration, simply elegantly poised and there for the assist.
Whenever you stroll previous someone and so they odor like they’ve placed on a complete home of fragrance, it’s an excessive amount of for me. Whereas with Givenchy, this perfume, they’ve made it prefer it’s a part of my pores and skin.
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Givenchy Gentleman Society Eau de Parfum Extrême, £85 for 60ml and £109 for 100ml, is obtainable at Givenchybeauty.com, at nationwide from twenty seventh March from Harrods, John Lewis, Boots, The Fragrance Store, Sephora and LookFantastic.
