Young Guv

Young Guv

Young Guv is the solo project of Canadian songwriter Ben Cook. It develops alongside his work in other bands and as a producer and co-writer, and it presents material that is distinct from his band and client work.

Background

Cook begins the project in 2008 under names including Young Guv, Young Governor and Guv. It issues a steady run of singles and EPs, along with two earlier full-length releases, before GUV I appears in 2019. The project’s songs often draw on power pop, but also move between British Invasion-style guitar harmonies, synths and modulated vocals.

Songwriting and themes

The writing centres on memorable choruses, dry humour and direct descriptions of intense feeling. A recurring concern is isolation, with songs often focusing on being alone while surrounded by other people. GUV I is described as a set of power pop songs shaped by Cook’s time writing in Brooklyn.

Other work

Outside Young Guv, Cook fronts No Warning, a New York hardcore band he has led since high school in the 1990s. He also plays guitar in Fucked Up, a role he has held since 2006. In addition, he works behind the scenes as a co-writer and producer for a range of other artists.

Style and collaborators

Young Guv recordings include contributions from Aurora Shields, who appears as a frequent collaborator. The project’s sound varies between guitar-led pop and more synthetic textures, but it consistently keeps a focus on strong melodic hooks.

Recent writing period

In 2018, Cook moves from Toronto to a sublet in Brooklyn, New York, and writes songs there every day while also working near a New Jersey studio. That period feeds directly into the material for GUV I.