Album Review: Joy Crooks - 'Juniper'
Having let go of perfectionism, Juniper is Joy Crookes’ most raw, fearless and sonically adventurous work to date.
Back and better than ever, Joy Crookes’ new album dives into the experiences that shape her artistry. Its been a long time since we last heard from her : her acclaimed debut ‘Skin’ way back in 2021 spearheaded the modern revival of neo-soul and gave everyone a new artist to talk about. In the time since then though, she all but disappeared. The four long years that separate Juniper from the debut are the foundation from which she begins her reintroduction and its that distance that makes her melodies all the more sweet.
‘Juniper’ continues the intention of its predecessor in terms of the way it seeks to explore the heritage, experiences and people that make Crookes’ the artist she is today. It is a further introduction to the woman that the circumstances of ‘Skin’ crafted, only now more grown and finally feeling able to create again. The subject matter on ‘Juniper’ is hard hitting and explores all facets of adulthood; from universal experiences such as heartbreak, loss and anxiety to nuanced and powerful conversations about the realisation of the under-representation of brown and black folks in what society sees as beautiful. In spite of the difficult themes and emotions, Crookes writes and performs in a way that lets light shine through the cracks, bringing a real sense of hope and (as her name would suggest) joy.
The album starts with the deeply soulful ‘Brave’ and with it the tone of the record is set straight from the off - Crookes is intent on leaving everything out on the floor. It's brutally honest in its exploration of heartache and pain and as an opener is an incredibly bold statement to be making. If this is Joy’s reintroduction after four years without releasing, it begs the question of what kind of story she wants to tell with ‘Juniper’ and, more importantly, whether that story will have a happy ending.
‘I get sick, I get tired of carrying this weight on my mind / And with every step that I’ve got to take don’t know how much more that a heart can break / I’m so sick, I’m so tired, I cant keep losing my mind / I wanna be brave, I wanna be in love, it’s time I stop running away / I should stay, I should stay, I should stay’
Her lyricism has always been powerful but the way she articulates the personal trauma here is such a shift from the snappy, smart and streetwise tone we grew accustomed to on ‘Skin’. Here, all she has is her feelings. The deft political dissections and calculated clapbacks can come later; first she has to stand on her own.
Keen to get a lot off her chest, it doesn’t take long for the energy to shift. Personal favourites include ‘Perfect Crime’, a slinky and salacious track which is the ideal dancefloor filler and ‘I Know You’d Kill’ a punchy tribute to her manager Charlie. Features from Vince Staples on ‘Pass the Salt’ and Kano on ‘Mathematics’ are also real highlights. The journey of composing, arranging and producing each of the 12 tracks has been very special and therapeutic for Crookes. Certain songs ended up being true labours of love, requiring upwards of 30 takes in the studio and others flowed effortlessly, needing only only one session. The process of accepting and learning to love the imperfections and quirks was rough and combined with personal mental health struggles are the main reasons why ‘Juniper’ has taken as long as it has to be released.
It’s really exciting to see how Crookes’ style has evolved in the time she has been away - theres a curiosity that comes through on Juniper and its evident that she has enjoyed the process of exploring different things. Rather than remain rooted in the neo-soul that was the sonic foundation of ‘Skin’, she is unafraid to experiment and play around with her sound. Blends of retro soul, trip hop and smoky jazz that detour into shimmery pop and dub creates this magical soundscape that is fresh, exciting but also brings a sense of nostalgia. The songs all have a real lived-in quality to them, testament to the amount of time and effort that has been poured in to making sure they hit exactly as they are meant to
‘..making sure that the songs sounded the way they should, to match the songwriting… that was the hardest part’
The real vibe of the album is one of exploration. Sonically, its looking outward; expanding and building on what she wants her songwriting to be. Thematically though, its the inverse. She is looking within and all the storytelling is grounded in a vulnerable search for emotional truth. For Joy, identity has always been something that is complex and multifaceted so it makes sense that so much of ‘Juniper’ has been about her searching and finding this sense of resilience. The dichotomy between the discovery of the self and the discovery of the sound adds a beautiful depth and poignancy to what already is a staggeringly powerful record.
Joy Crookes is undoubtedly back and has said herself that she feels better now than she ever has. Juniper is evidence of that; it shows the work she has done on herself, the way she has felt empowered to explore her sound, and above all else speaks to her determination to continue to grow as an artist. Given the things she has been through, emerging with an album that is as confident, infectious and dynamic as this one proves once and for all that she is one to stick around. Having completed a sold out record store tour, Crookes is set to head back on the road in November. She’s made it a mission to go up and down the country before leaving for Europe and the UK leg culminates in 2 home dates at the O2 Academy in Brixton, a stone's throw away from where she grew up in Lambeth. The first night has already sold out, so too has the Bristol show, so those who are keen had better get tickets quickly.
Words by Kirsty Ann Thomson
