Joy Crookes – Juniper 

Joy Crookes unveils highly-anticipated new record, ‘Juniper’, after fans’ four-year wait.

‘Juniper’ is a playful, exploratory and incredibly clever record – dealing with themes ranging from falling in love, mental health, music industry critique, politics, and self-love. The record traces this expanse seamlessly, wrapped with a neat little bow, on the dynamic world that is ‘Juniper’.

Joy Crooke’s 2021 album ‘Skin’ was nominated for both a Mercury and BRIT, solidifying her status as an influential songwriter. ‘Juniper’ establishes her as a poet as much as a storyteller. Her ability to write a song that is equally witty and thought-provoking comes through in songs like ‘Carmen’ and ‘Perfect Crime’ – the former a pristine example of sarcasm that lands in a relatable and lighthearted way.

Opening the record on ‘Brave’, you would recognise Crookes vocals anywhere, as she croons, “Love is trying to be my friend / what you gonna do when I hand you my heart” – introducing the record’s themes on tender nodes of wonder and rumination. But that is just the first chapter of the record, and it opens up into a progression of Crookes’ assertiveness and honesty. And this is ‘Juniper’ – dynamic and unapologetic.

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Working with names like Kano and Vince Staples, as well as production credits from Blue May, Tev’n and Chrome Sparks, Crookes credits her long-time collaborators in fostering a safe space alongside her, where she could trust the process. Bringing back the very essence of “making music” was crucial for Crookes, and what does indeed come from ‘Juniper’ is a devoted record of the current state of the world – and Crookes’ universe.

In a world where those of us in the music industry love to occupy ourselves with conversations about artistry, Crookes’ focus on the spirit of music comes through in her work, and it is magnetic. ‘First Last Dance’ spins Kylie Minogue’s classic ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’, urging listeners to dig deeper than what’s on the surface. The upbeat rhythms contrast the lyrics detailing a spiralling mental health state and anxiety. Where ‘I Know You’d Kill’ critiques the weaponisation of identity for the sake of inclusivity, a pressing comment on these highly political times.

On Crookes’ note of finality, ‘Juniper’ closes on ‘Paris’, a bittersweet song about someone who helped the artist achieve a feeling of peace. Losing someone often means gaining something of yourself, and this track encapsulates that perfectly. Crookes pours her feelings, her insecurities, her anxieties all onto the plate – absolutely basking in the humanity of it all, inviting us to dance through it with her.

8/10

Words: Rachel Min Leong

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Joy Crookes unveils highly-anticipated new record, ‘Juniper’, after fans’ four-year wait.

‘Juniper’ is a playful, exploratory and incredibly clever record – dealing with themes ranging from falling in love, mental health, music industry critique, politics, and self-love. The record traces this expanse seamlessly, wrapped with a neat little bow, on the dynamic world that is ‘Juniper’.

Joy Crooke’s 2021 album ‘Skin’ was nominated for both a Mercury and BRIT, solidifying her status as an influential songwriter. ‘Juniper’ establishes her as a poet as much as a storyteller. Her ability to write a song that is equally witty and thought-provoking comes through in songs like ‘Carmen’ and ‘Perfect Crime’ – the former a pristine example of sarcasm that lands in a relatable and lighthearted way.

Opening the record on ‘Brave’, you would recognise Crookes vocals anywhere, as she croons, “Love is trying to be my friend / what you gonna do when I hand you my heart” – introducing the record’s themes on tender nodes of wonder and rumination. But that is just the first chapter of the record, and it opens up into a progression of Crookes’ assertiveness and honesty. And this is ‘Juniper’ – dynamic and unapologetic.

—

—

Working with names like Kano and Vince Staples, as well as production credits from Blue May, Tev’n and Chrome Sparks, Crookes credits her long-time collaborators in fostering a safe space alongside her, where she could trust the process. Bringing back the very essence of “making music” was crucial for Crookes, and what does indeed come from ‘Juniper’ is a devoted record of the current state of the world – and Crookes’ universe.

In a world where those of us in the music industry love to occupy ourselves with conversations about artistry, Crookes’ focus on the spirit of music comes through in her work, and it is magnetic. ‘First Last Dance’ spins Kylie Minogue’s classic ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’, urging listeners to dig deeper than what’s on the surface. The upbeat rhythms contrast the lyrics detailing a spiralling mental health state and anxiety. Where ‘I Know You’d Kill’ critiques the weaponisation of identity for the sake of inclusivity, a pressing comment on these highly political times.

On Crookes’ note of finality, ‘Juniper’ closes on ‘Paris’, a bittersweet song about someone who helped the artist achieve a feeling of peace. Losing someone often means gaining something of yourself, and this track encapsulates that perfectly. Crookes pours her feelings, her insecurities, her anxieties all onto the plate – absolutely basking in the humanity of it all, inviting us to dance through it with her.

8/10

Words: Rachel Min Leong

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Joy Crookes unveils highly-anticipated new record, ‘Juniper’, after fans’ four-year wait.

‘Juniper’ is a playful, exploratory and incredibly clever record – dealing with themes ranging from falling in love, mental health, music industry critique, politics, and self-love. The record traces this expanse seamlessly, wrapped with a neat little bow, on the dynamic world that is ‘Juniper’.

Joy Crooke’s 2021 album ‘Skin’ was nominated for both a Mercury and BRIT, solidifying her status as an influential songwriter. ‘Juniper’ establishes her as a poet as much as a storyteller. Her ability to write a song that is equally witty and thought-provoking comes through in songs like ‘Carmen’ and ‘Perfect Crime’ – the former a pristine example of sarcasm that lands in a relatable and lighthearted way.

Opening the record on ‘Brave’, you would recognise Crookes vocals anywhere, as she croons, “Love is trying to be my friend / what you gonna do when I hand you my heart” – introducing the record’s themes on tender nodes of wonder and rumination. But that is just the first chapter of the record, and it opens up into a progression of Crookes’ assertiveness and honesty. And this is ‘Juniper’ – dynamic and unapologetic.

—

—

Working with names like Kano and Vince Staples, as well as production credits from Blue May, Tev’n and Chrome Sparks, Crookes credits her long-time collaborators in fostering a safe space alongside her, where she could trust the process. Bringing back the very essence of “making music” was crucial for Crookes, and what does indeed come from ‘Juniper’ is a devoted record of the current state of the world – and Crookes’ universe.

In a world where those of us in the music industry love to occupy ourselves with conversations about artistry, Crookes’ focus on the spirit of music comes through in her work, and it is magnetic. ‘First Last Dance’ spins Kylie Minogue’s classic ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’, urging listeners to dig deeper than what’s on the surface. The upbeat rhythms contrast the lyrics detailing a spiralling mental health state and anxiety. Where ‘I Know You’d Kill’ critiques the weaponisation of identity for the sake of inclusivity, a pressing comment on these highly political times.

On Crookes’ note of finality, ‘Juniper’ closes on ‘Paris’, a bittersweet song about someone who helped the artist achieve a feeling of peace. Losing someone often means gaining something of yourself, and this track encapsulates that perfectly. Crookes pours her feelings, her insecurities, her anxieties all onto the plate – absolutely basking in the humanity of it all, inviting us to dance through it with her.

8/10

Words: Rachel Min Leong

—

Joy Crookes unveils highly-anticipated new record, ‘Juniper’, after fans’ four-year wait.

‘Juniper’ is a playful, exploratory and incredibly clever record – dealing with themes ranging from falling in love, mental health, music industry critique, politics, and self-love. The record traces this expanse seamlessly, wrapped with a neat little bow, on the dynamic world that is ‘Juniper’.

Joy Crooke’s 2021 album ‘Skin’ was nominated for both a Mercury and BRIT, solidifying her status as an influential songwriter. ‘Juniper’ establishes her as a poet as much as a storyteller. Her ability to write a song that is equally witty and thought-provoking comes through in songs like ‘Carmen’ and ‘Perfect Crime’ – the former a pristine example of sarcasm that lands in a relatable and lighthearted way.

Opening the record on ‘Brave’, you would recognise Crookes vocals anywhere, as she croons, “Love is trying to be my friend / what you gonna do when I hand you my heart” – introducing the record’s themes on tender nodes of wonder and rumination. But that is just the first chapter of the record, and it opens up into a progression of Crookes’ assertiveness and honesty. And this is ‘Juniper’ – dynamic and unapologetic.

—

—

Working with names like Kano and Vince Staples, as well as production credits from Blue May, Tev’n and Chrome Sparks, Crookes credits her long-time collaborators in fostering a safe space alongside her, where she could trust the process. Bringing back the very essence of “making music” was crucial for Crookes, and what does indeed come from ‘Juniper’ is a devoted record of the current state of the world – and Crookes’ universe.

In a world where those of us in the music industry love to occupy ourselves with conversations about artistry, Crookes’ focus on the spirit of music comes through in her work, and it is magnetic. ‘First Last Dance’ spins Kylie Minogue’s classic ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’, urging listeners to dig deeper than what’s on the surface. The upbeat rhythms contrast the lyrics detailing a spiralling mental health state and anxiety. Where ‘I Know You’d Kill’ critiques the weaponisation of identity for the sake of inclusivity, a pressing comment on these highly political times.

On Crookes’ note of finality, ‘Juniper’ closes on ‘Paris’, a bittersweet song about someone who helped the artist achieve a feeling of peace. Losing someone often means gaining something of yourself, and this track encapsulates that perfectly. Crookes pours her feelings, her insecurities, her anxieties all onto the plate – absolutely basking in the humanity of it all, inviting us to dance through it with her.

8/10

Words: Rachel Min Leong

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