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 sleek fashion create greater than sufficient noise to earn crucial acclaim – and the eye of the world’s finest movie administrators and prime style 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 residence 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 screen, Clementine was the composer for the movie Magnificence and made an arresting look as Herald of the Change in Denis Villeneuve’s beautiful 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 tasks, together with Julian Schnabel’s display screen adaptation of Within the Hand of Dante, and Blitz, a World Warfare II drama directed by Steve McQueen.
It’s an illustrious CV, and now he can add Givenchy muse to the checklist, with Clemintine turning 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, contemporary from his UK tour to ask him about all the things 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 dwell gigs?
It’s been nice. Individuals have been heat and type, and I acquired nice evaluations and an incredible reception. I used to be completely satisfied 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 at all times working.
There’s been a variety 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 together with this new craft and new expertise. The actual fact that Denis Villeneuve is variety and heat and individual form 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 in regards to the new sound and world-building he created for Dune. Does being concerned in a undertaking 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 likewise how they go about composing their music, their course of, and the way they do it. I’m studying. This yr and subsequent yr will in all probability be the yr of simply rooting out each bit of data I probably can out of this new world that I’ve encountered.
Taking part in the Herald of the Change in Dune (2021)
You’ve lived in Paris, Los Angeles and Edmonton, North London, the place you grew up. If you happen to have been inviting somebody on a tour of your outdated neighbourhood, what could be the highlights?
Properly, I haven’t been there for greater than 10 years, however I keep in mind all the things, and I’m positive nothing has actually modified, I’d in all probability take them to Pymmes Park, which was our park in Edmonton. We performed a variety of tennis throughout the summer time, and soccer. I’m unsure if the cinema remains to be up there, I’d take them to observe one thing. Not Dune – one thing I’m not in!
I believe I’m like 90% of individuals from Britain who didn’t actually exit once they have 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 have been on a college journey to the Peak District, Lake District or Cornwall. That’s after 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 dwell in one of the best a part of London. For me, that’s Kensington. I now know Portobello Highway, Portobello Market, Excessive Avenue Ken, Holland Park and the areas round the place I dwell now.
The place ought to we hand around in Paris?
There are a variety 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 complete factor, and the pink 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 a variety of bars to go the place you may hearken to correct music, rock’n’roll, jazz, soul, classical music.
Just a few buddies of mine personal essential buildings there that, for instance, the track Carmen was truly written there. It’s not a brothel anymore, however it was once. So it’s received this historical past surrounding it as effectively. Paris, as you already know, has a variety of historical past.
There’s additionally a spot, in the event you go additional down, to Arts et Métiers. I lived in a variety of locations, that’s one of many locations I lived. I used to be in Place de la République and the subsequent place is known as Arts et Métiers, the place there’s like an Asian a part of Paris. It’s Asian and Moroccan, North African. They’ve received these good eating places and this mix of various meals from these specific areas, largely Chinese language, Vietnamese, and Moroccan.
However then on the opposite aspect of République is Bastille. Proper earlier than Bastille, there’s a stupendous market – you may 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 keep in mind the scent of London by supplies, whereas for Paris, it’s extra intangible. London, for me, has at all times been very conservative. Trying again, I can’t keep in mind a horrible scent in London. I suppose as a result of we get a variety of rain and all the things will get washed out, so Edmonton will get cleaner air.
Whereas in Paris, there are such a lot of totally different smells. It’s balanced – there’s an prosperous scent, and from the Mètros of Paris, that guttery scent. However for me, that’s how I get impressed.
If you happen to 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, nevertheless, know that I’ll undoubtedly break the principles similar to Gentleman Society Extrême does. Style-wise, that will be a combination of Arabic, European sounds. Once 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 at all times been about being unafraid to bend the principles at any time when. I like the truth that there’s an additional 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.
Except for perfume, what different grooming merchandise do you depend on?
I get dry pores and skin, I exploit cocoa butter and a Givenchy moisturising creme. To be sincere, proper now, all the things I exploit is Givenchy. I’m impressed with their merchandise past fragrance. I’ve put it all over the place, it’s actually all over the place in my home. I exploit their physique lotion as effectively and I believe I’m trying fairly first rate.
We all know you favor to go barefoot on stage. Off stage, what footwear 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 some of the comfy sneakers I’ve ever worn in my life.
I can keep 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 have been wearing a really dangerous manner. So we at all times wore fits, you see. Even going to the nook store to get milk, we needed to put on fits. Loopy. However by way of footwear, 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 a variety 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 a variety of buddies doing that. There have been a variety of charity outlets in Edmonton, and, it was good doing that. I went to charity outlets in Paris as effectively. However proper now, I simply don’t have the time. I don’t have the time to go to outlets anymore typically.
I’ve given a variety of my garments away, in Paris particularly, after I was there. And likewise 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 form of fashion, however it’s simply new. I hardly hold something.
While you have been in school, you’ve talked about how there was a ‘Mufti’ day and you continue to wore your uniform, despite the fact that you didn’t must. How would you describe your present ‘uniform’?
I at all times put on a easy coat with trousers. If I like a bit I purchase a variety of them, so I’ve like 10 pairs of the identical trousers. I similar to simplicity. I realized that from Paris. As a result of, clearly whenever you’re not ready to afford new garments, you’re going to put on the identical factor.
Additionally, the entire thing about going to high school carrying the identical garments – perhaps that’s one thing innate. Nobody instructed me to do this. I simply selected to put on the identical garments, as a result of why not? I’ve at all times had this factor, I’ve simply by no means paid consideration to it – I can specific myself any manner I would like.
We expect your fashion is straightforward however immaculate. Is there something in regards to the match, development or materials of an merchandise that pulls you to it?
Cashmere. I like my garments comfortable 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.
While you stroll previous any person they usually scent like they’ve placed on an entire 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 on the market at Givenchybeauty.com, at nationwide from twenty seventh March from Harrods, John Lewis, Boots, The Fragrance Store, Sephora and LookFantastic.
