Interview: Paul Cook and The Chronicles
Paul Cook & The Chronicles is a songwriting and recording project and is the brainchild of Paul Cook. He has been well received by the likes of Dermot O’Leary on Radio 2 and has made it on to a number of ‘one to watch’ lists across the industry. SKRBBLR caught up with the heart-struck artist who channels this emotion and relationship failures through his music.
SKRBBLR: Can you tell us a bit about Paul Cook and The Chronicles?
Paul Cook: Paul Cook & The Chronicles is a songwriting and recording project I started a few years ago. We’re planning to release four volumes over the next 18 months or so. Some songs chronicle my many romantic failures and some are inspired by other peoples bad luck whether overheard on nightbuses or read about in short stories.
S: Your first single ‘Six Places’ had huge support from Dermot O’Leary on BBC Radio 2 and XFM – how important was this in order to staple your name early on?
PC: Radio support is always great but it’s definitely not something I expect. Almost all of the artists who I really like – and certainly all of the ones that have influenced my writing for Volume One – hardly ever get played, so anything that happens on the radio front for me is definitely a bonus as far as I am concerned.
S: Your new album Volume One is out this month, what can fans expect?
PC: Volume One is kind of an introduction as much as anything so I wanted to keep it pretty stripped back. It’s basically the best debut Americana album by a British guy from Brixton that you can get your hands on…
S: We saw on Twitter you were finishing up Volume Two…can you give us any idea of what it will be like because Volume One is rather heart-rendering…
PC: Volume Two has just been finished. It’s definitely a progression. The same emotional fragility is on show because, well, I’m still f**ked up, but if Volume One was the 60s then this one is the 70s. It’s definitely a more ambitious album sonically and making it almost killed me.
S: What’s next for Paul Cook and The Chronicles?
PC: Next up are more gigs, some festival appearances and beginning work on Volume Three, although I’m not sure my nerves can take it at the moment. A weekend in the Lake District might be more on the cards first. I need to climb some stuff, and stare into some deep water for a while.
