Smoky alto vocals anchored by cinematic strings and dusty jazz arrangements. A sophisticated, intimate portrait of South London identity and heartbreak.
It sounds like a jazz club in South London where the singer knows all your secrets.
A sophisticated blend of urban grit and orchestral elegance that feels deeply personal and historically rooted.
Released in 2019, Perception is the third EP from Joy Crookes and serves as a definitive bridge to her debut full-length. The project solidified her reputation as a leading voice in the UK soul scene, specifically noted for her ability to weave sociopolitical themes and cultural identity into traditional soul frameworks. Musically, the EP is characterized by its use of cinematic strings and jazz-inflected arrangements, moving away from the more electronic-leaning R&B of her peers toward a timeless, organic sound. 'London Mine' stands as a centerpiece, celebrating the multicultural tapestry of her home, while the inclusion of a demo version of 'Since I Left You' highlights the raw, 'bedroom-soul' intimacy that underlies her more polished orchestral work. Critics frequently compared her vocal delivery to Amy Winehouse, though noting a distinctively modern, South London perspective that is entirely her own.
Put this on for
Rain streaking the bus window on a slow ride through the citySteam rising from a solo cup of tea while the house is finally quietDusk light hitting the brickwork of your neighborhoodThat specific heavy-lidded feeling of a Sunday evening resetHeadphones on in a crowded station where everyone else is a blurCandlelight flickering against the wall during a long-overdue self-check-inTracing old family photos while the record player humsWalking home alone after a date that left you with more questions than answers
Moments worth waiting for
The swell of cinematic strings on London Mine that transforms a local tribute into a grand anthem
The raw, unpolished piano keys and audible room air on the demo version of Since I Left You
The way her vocal rasp catches on the lower register during the opening bars of Hurts
Sounds like
2019s production with a 2010s soul
Sits beside
Lost & Found - Jorja Smith, Frank - Amy Winehouse, Collapsed in Sunbeams - Arlo Parks, Is It Any Wonder? - Durand Jones & The Indications
Lyrical territory
identity, self_examination, love_lost
03Deviation
Perception · 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.
