A day in the life of Benjamin Cotto

The apartment of Benjamin Cotto, in the 20th arrondissement in Paris, smells new. The 31-year old musician is one of the two members of Lilly Wood and the Prick, famous for its “Prayer in C”song that became number 1 in forty countries with a remix by the German Robin Shulz.

When we come in, no doubt, we’re in a musician’s home: we see a Wurlitzer keyboard and Fender guitars. “I just moved in” he says, when we settle around his table, ready to listen to him talk about his day. On the menu? Tour life, his passion for boxing and his morning playlist.

For the last 10 years, I’ve been a member of Lilly Wood & The Prick. Over this time, we got three albums out, film soundtracks and 700 to 800 concerts worldwide. It all started when I met Nili (editor’s note: the other member of the group). I was making music for 2 years, we started making songs together that we started to play in bars before we got noticed.

I am a songwriter. I write for Lilly Wood & The Prick but for other artists too, and recently for myself, a few songs in French.

My first job was in the fashion industry. I am still an ad filmmaker. I have been a styling assistant, then a stylist and worked on the show “Habillée pour…”. I still make advertising films today.

Having these two jobs allows me to juggle two activities I love. It is good to see something else than music. Both complement one another well: I make the most of my travels to direct fashion films, for example.

Tour is a special time. We lead a second life, it’s like a very intense bubble. There’s the one you live at home, and the one during tour. It’s like summer camp. The days are very organised: you wake up on the tour bus, you try to work out a little then in the afternoon we briefly visit the city before soundcheck and finally the concert.

The stage is indescribable. In the beginning, since I am pretty shy, it was difficult. Now it’s better: the band found its rhythm, we can sense when the show is good thanks to the crowd’s reactions.

On tour, it is difficult but essential to look after oneself.You leave on Monday night, come back the following Sunday, you never see your friends. I always leave with a lot of products: my moisturiser, my soap, my shampoo. I have very sensitive skin, I have to look after it. Sometimes, I steal Nili’s products when I don’t look so glowy during promotion: you are very exposed, so you need to look fresh, even if mobile showers aren’t so nice. Ah and I don’t drink alcohol during the day..

I am always up early, especially in Paris. I am set to France Inter, I listen to the morning show. Very early on, I put on music. Around 10, I have a first meeting, followed by a friendly or business lunch. In the afternoon I write music or film pitches.

My morning playlist is eclectic. There is Nino Ferrer, the song “Looking for you”, Souchon, “Les filles Electriques”, Tim Maia, the album “Nobody can live forever” but also Drake’s “Passionfruit” and the 17 minutes version of Foreigner by Cat Stevens.

I drink a lot of tea. I try all the teas I can find. I almost don’t drink coffee anymore. My breakfast is Krisprolls and orange juice.

I have done a lot of boxing, both French and English. My dad did it when I was younger so I was watching matches with him when I was younger. I never watched football, but always watched boxing. I also played tennis, table tennis, badminton… I still do English boxing, my favourite, and from time to time I keep myself in shape with cardio training. After 10 years of tour, your body catches up with you!

In the music business, partying is important. You have to learn to keep up and set limits. Partying every night quickly gets tiring. I go out a lot less. I prefer a dinner where I know the people, it’s easier to look healthy the next day!

Art is another one of my passions. I travel a lot for it, at the Venice Biennale, at the Frieze. When I buy a painting, I like to know the story behind it and talk about it with the artist.

I travel a lot. I had for a while an aversion to travel, because of the accumulation of tours. It’s gotten better. I just got back from Bali and Singapour. I also really like going to the South of France with friends to share good times and bottles of rosé, or in Brittany. I love 3-4 day trips!