Will Joseph Cook

Will Joseph Cook’s recordings stand out through their memorable vocal hooks, sunlit melodic lines, and a vivid, off-kilter pop sheen. His first full-length project arrived in 2017 under the title Sweet Dreamer.

Born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, Cook first gravitated toward music during his early teenage years after his father’s contagious passion led him to countless live shows. Concerts by Vampire Weekend, MGMT, and Everything Everything soon prompted the budding songwriter to compose his own material. Once he had mastered the rudiments of music production through MIDI setups and refined a distinctive sonic palette, he uploaded his debut EP, You Jump, I Run, in 2015. The project quickly surpassed one million streams and caught the ear of Atlantic Records.

Following a string of sold-out London dates and a BBC Introducing appearance at Glastonbury Festival, Cook issued his second EP, Proof Enough, on Atlantic in the middle of 2015. Reviewers likened his style to King Krule and Talking Heads while highlighting his knack for buoyant, summer-ready anthems. The song “Beach” gained notable rotation on both sides of the Atlantic, securing Cook a slot at SXSW and an opening slot for Everything Everything. Members of the headlining band later supplied remixes for several Proof Enough tracks. The next year, Cook co-produced his Atlantic debut album with Hugh Worskett, whose résumé includes work for Birdy and Rae Morris, alongside Jack Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club. Sweet Dreamer reached listeners in early 2017.

After leaving Atlantic, Cook founded his own imprint, Bad Hotel, which released his sophomore album, Something to Feel Good About, in 2020. The record was produced in tandem with Matt Parad, known for collaborations with Max Pope and Olivia O’Brien.