This single was recorded in Brighton at The Meeting house designed by Sir Basil Spence specifically for its’ acoustics. It was mixed and produced under the advise of Diana Stone from Brighton Small Pond Studios and cellist Hannah Sauvignon-Smythe.
William John Titus Bishop was born in London, attending the Haberdashers Askes’ School for Boys where he learned cello and double bass, performing predominantly orchestral works. Having a background in literature and poetry, music became second nature for him. He picked up acoustic guitar as a teenager in order to write his own songs and music. William writes on guitar and piano. Influences include Laura Marling, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan.
Delicate and melodic, “Hesperus and Phosphorus” takes the classic love song structure and focuses on the tear jerking lyrics, with gentle acoustic plucks to cushion his words. His soft vocals marry the mood perfectly, and his emotional sincerity is both refreshing and admirable.
“The song is about a relationship,” he says, “a way of describing what happens between two people.” This is a straightforward description and one that reflects Bishop’s view of the simplicity of pure romance.
Conversely, the song also deals with the process of recapitulation and coming to terms with the absence of a loved one or partner. The song has a simple structure– Bishop chose not to write a chorus– which reflects the desire for closure in the part of the singer.
The main focus of the lyrics is the notion that two people cannot ultimately be the same, even if in a relationship those boundaries between ourselves and our partners is blurred. Bishop illustrates this by using the image of Phosphorus and Hesperus, which were the names for Venus, before it was discovered that both names referred to the same star.
The final verse deals with the idea of disingenuousness in love, with the realization that the end of a relationship leads to a deeper understanding of self.
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