Joy Crookes

Joy Crookes is a British singer-songwriter from South London, born to a Bangladeshi mother and an Irish father — a dual heritage that runs through much of her songwriting and public identity. She began writing songs as a teenager and drew early attention with a cover of Ray Charles's «Hit the Road Jack» posted online, which led to her being signed and to a run of early singles including «New Manhattan» and «Sinatra». Her 2018 track «Since I Left You (Demo)» and other early demos built a loyal following well before her full-length debut.

Her sound blends soul, R&B, jazz-inflected pop and elements of rap-adjacent rhythm, often carried by a rich, expressive alto voice and lyrics that deal with heartbreak, identity, mental health and the immigrant experience in London. Songs like «Feet Don't Fail Me Now» and «Man's World» showcase her interest in social and political themes alongside personal narrative.

Crookes released her debut album, «Skin», in 2021, which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and cemented her as one of the UK's most acclaimed young soul-pop songwriters. She has performed sessions for platforms like COLORS, and her work is frequently noted for bridging classic soul influences with a distinctly contemporary South London perspective.