Smoky alto vocals meet cinematic strings in this noir-inflected soul EP. A moody, intimate collection of South London stories for the late-night hours.
It's like Amy Winehouse and Nina Simone had a conversation in a South London rainy street.
A sophisticated, late-night meditation on identity and longing wrapped in cinematic strings.
Influence is the second EP from Joy Crookes, released in 2018, and serves as a pivotal bridge between her early experiments and her Mercury Prize-nominated debut album. Sonically, the EP is defined by its 'noir-soul' aesthetic, heavily influenced by the jazz standards her father played during her childhood. The track 'Sinatra' explicitly references this lineage, using cinematic strings and a slow-burn arrangement to establish Crookes as a storyteller with a vintage soul. Unlike many of her contemporaries who lean into trap-influenced R&B production, Crookes opts for a more traditional, orchestral approach here, utilizing live instrumentation to create a sense of timelessness. The EP received critical praise for its vocal maturity and its ability to blend Bangladeshi-Irish heritage with a quintessentially British soul sensibility. It remains a fan favorite for its cohesive mood and its introduction of 'Power,' a track that would become a centerpiece of her live performances.
Put this on for
rain streaking the window while the tea goes coldlast train home with city lights blurring through glasslow light and a single candle flickering on the table3am ceiling stare when the silence is too loudslowly unpacking boxes in a new, empty apartmentwalking through south london as the streetlights hum to lifethat heavy pause before answering a text you shouldn't
Moments worth waiting for
The haunting orchestral swell that opens Sinatra, setting a noir-inspired tone for the entire EP.
The skeletal, bluesy guitar lick on Mother May I Sleep With Danger? that highlights the grit in her vocal delivery.
The powerful, gospel-adjacent piano chords on Power that elevate the project's emotional stakes in its final minutes.
Sounds like
2018s production with a 2010s soul
Sits beside
Frank - Amy Winehouse, Lost & Found - Jorja Smith, Is Your Love Big Enough? - Lianne La Havas, Collapsed in Sunbeams - Arlo Parks
Lyrical territory
self_examination, love_lost, identity
03Deviation
Influence · vs · Joy Crookes
Artist
This Album
Low Energy
Energy · ↓ −15% less than usual
On this album, low energy sits about 15% less prominent than across the rest of the artist's catalogue.
