Joy Crookes is a British singer-songwriter whose music blends soul, jazz and indie pop with intimate, storytelling lyrics. Born in South London to an Irish father and a Bangladeshi mother, she moved from the city’s underground scene to wider recognition with her 2021 debut album, Skin, and extended that momentum with her 2025 record, Juniper.
Crookes first found an audience as a teenager posting covers online. After a series of EPs and a critically praised debut, she returned in late September 2025 with Juniper, an album described in coverage as ambitious and shaped by relationships, life observations, perfectionism and mental-health struggles. An 18-date European tour followed in November 2025, and in 2026 she released “Painkiller” with Denzel Curry.
Her story includes early YouTube covers, a breakout debut, a charting second album and a tour that carried her music across Europe. Some details around radio honours and her personal life remain unconfirmed.
Who Is Joy Crookes? Biography and Background
Joy Elizabeth Akther Crookes was born on in South London, according to Wikipedia. She performs under the name Joy Crookes and is described across profiles as a British singer-songwriter. Her father is from Dublin and her mother is of Bangladeshi heritage, a background that surfaces repeatedly in interviews and in her music.
Several details stand out when looking at her career:
- Crookes began performing by posting covers online as a teenager.
- She uploaded “Hit the Road Jack” to YouTube at age 15.
- Her early EPs were Influence (2017), Reminiscence (2019) and Perception (2019).
- Her debut album Skin arrived in 2021 to critical praise.
- Her second album, Juniper, was released in late September 2025.
- The Juniper track “Forever” charted in October 2025.
- She continued into 2026 with “Painkiller,” a collaboration with Denzel Curry.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Profession | Singer-songwriter |
| Nationality | British |
| Heritage | Irish and Bangladeshi |
| Debut EP | Influence (2017) |
| Debut Album | Skin (2021) |
| Second Album | Juniper (2025) |
| Notable Singles | “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now,” “London Mine,” “Don’t Let Me Down” |
| Label | Speakerbox / Epic Records |
| Musical Influences | Jazz, reggae, pop, rap; Billie Holiday, Nina Simone |
What Does “Forever” by Joy Crookes Mean?
“Forever” appears on Juniper and is identified by the Official Charts as a track from the album that charted in October 2025. Noise11 describes it as the focus track and quotes Crookes explaining that the song reflects on mortality, memory and legacy.
The story behind the song
Crookes has described “Forever” as a meditation on the word itself, asking why it exists when loss is inevitable. The song’s themes centre on impermanence, memory and what people leave behind. According to the same Noise11 report, “Forever” was paired with a live video recorded at Tate Modern in London.
How the song performed
The Official Charts records “Forever” among the tracks from Juniper that charted in October 2025. Detailed sales and streaming figures for the song are not publicly available.
Noise11 identified “Forever” as the focus track from Juniper, and the Official Charts confirmed it as a charting track in October 2025. A live video for the song was recorded at Tate Modern.
What Is Joy Crookes’ Most Popular Song? Music and Discography
There is no single official answer for which Joy Crookes song is the most popular, but some tracks appear far more often than others in coverage, playlists and chart records. Among the most consistently cited are “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now,” “London Mine” and “Don’t Let Me Down.”
Albums and EPs
Crookes released three EPs before her debut album: Influence (2017), Reminiscence (2019) and Perception (2019). Her first full-length record, Skin, arrived in 2021 and established her as a major emerging UK artist. Her second album, Juniper, was released in late September 2025. Both albums and her earlier EPs are available on streaming platforms, including Spotify.
Singles and collaborations
Lead singles from Juniper included “Pass The Salt” with Vince Staples, “Mathematics” with Kano, “I Knew You’d Kill” and “Carmen.” In 2026, Crookes returned with “Painkiller,” a collaboration with Denzel Curry covered by The Line of Best Fit. “London Mine,” an earlier single, is often cited in profiles as a song tied to her South London upbringing.
Musical style
Her work is commonly described as soul and neo-soul, with influences from jazz, reggae, pop and rap. Classic vocalists such as Billie Holiday and Nina Simone are frequently named as touchstones. The Montreux Jazz Festival profile of Crookes places her within that wider soul and jazz landscape. Lyrically, reviews and interviews emphasise identity, relationships, mental health and emotional honesty.
Did Joy Crookes Perform a Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1?
A BBC Radio 1 programme page featuring Joy Crookes is dated June 2025 and is associated with a Hottest Record session. It is not clear, however, which specific track was featured in that session, and the exact details have not been widely documented.
What is clearer is the radio and editorial support Crookes received in 2025 and 2026. BBC News, Billboard, the Official Charts, Clash and other outlets covered her album and its follow-up singles during that period. For a broader look at the radio moments that shaped 2025, see Best New Music of 2025: BBC Radio 1 Hottest Records.
Whether “Forever” or any other Joy Crookes song was officially named a BBC Radio 1 Hottest Record remains unconfirmed. A BBC programme page from June 2025 exists, but the specific segment title has not been documented.
Is Joy Crookes Going on Tour in 2025? Live Shows and Events
Yes. BBC News reported that Crookes would begin an 18-date European tour in support of Juniper in November 2025. Billboard reported that the tour opened in Dublin and moved through the UK, with stops including London’s O2 Brixton and Manchester Academy, before continuing into mainland Europe.
RTÉ confirmed a Dublin date at the 3Olympia Theatre on 3 November. Earlier in her career, Crookes also built part of her live reputation through intimate performances documented by Sofar Sounds.
The 2025 Juniper tour was reported as an 18-date European run. Dublin, London and Manchester were named among the UK and Irish stops, with further dates in mainland Europe.
What Is Joy Crookes’ Irish Heritage?
Joy Crookes’ father is from Dublin, and she has spoken about spending many summers in Ireland while growing up. Multiple profiles describe her heritage as Irish-Bengali or Bangladeshi and Irish. She was born and raised in South London, which makes her both British and part of the Irish diaspora.
Irish media have explored that connection in detail. RTÉ interviewed her in September 2025 around the release of Juniper, and the Irish Times published a conversation in which she discussed identity and her relationship with both England and Ireland.
How Did Joy Crookes’ Career Develop Over Time?
- c. 1998: Born in South London to an Irish father and a Bangladeshi mother.
- Teenage years: Began posting covers online and uploaded “Hit the Road Jack” to YouTube at age 15.
- 2017: Released debut EP Influence.
- 2019: Published EPs Reminiscence and Perception.
- 2020: Released “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now.”
- 2021: Debut album Skin arrived to critical praise.
- Late September 2025: Second album Juniper released.
- October 2025: “Forever” charted in the UK.
- : Began an 18-date European tour.
- 2026: Released “Painkiller” with Denzel Curry.
What Is Confirmed About Joy Crookes and What Remains Unclear?
Most of the key facts about Crookes’ identity and career are well documented. A few details remain unconfirmed.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| She is a British singer-songwriter with Irish-Bangladeshi heritage. | Whether a specific track was officially named a BBC Radio 1 Hottest Record. |
| Her full name is Joy Elizabeth Akther Crookes, and she was born on 9 October 1998 in South London. | Not all profiles list her full birth date; some give the year only (c. 1998). |
| She is signed to Speakerbox / Epic Records. | Her current relationship status is not publicly documented. |
| Juniper was released in late September 2025, and “Forever” charted the following month. | The exact release day of Juniper has not been widely reported. |
Why Does Joy Crookes’ Music Resonate?
Joy Crookes belongs to a new generation of UK artists who use personal narrative to explore identity, diaspora and place. Her lyrics often circle back to London, family and the experience of growing up between cultures. Reviews and interviews highlight her focus on identity, relationships, mental health and emotional honesty.
Her musical range is broad. Soul and neo-soul form the core of her sound, with touches of jazz, reggae, pop and rap. Classic vocalists such as Billie Holiday and Nina Simone are frequently cited as influences, giving her work a strong anchor in vocal tradition even when the subject matter is firmly contemporary.
That combination, together with the visibility from Juniper, the European tour and the 2026 collaboration with Denzel Curry, has placed her among the artists worth following on the UK soul scene. For more names in that space, see UK Soul and R&B Artists to Watch in 2025.
Where Can You Find Reliable Coverage of Joy Crookes?
Coverage of Joy Crookes spans mainstream news, music trade titles and cultural magazines. Wikipedia maintains a detailed biography, BBC News reported on Juniper and the European tour, and Billboard documented the tour routing. The Official Charts records her chart positions, while outlets such as Clash and The Line of Best Fit covered her work with Denzel Curry.
Irish media have offered some of the most personal interviews. RTÉ and the Irish Times both published conversations with Crookes in September 2025, and the Montreux Jazz Festival maintains an artist profile that places her within the soul and jazz landscape. Cultural magazine i-D has also collected coverage of her work over the years.
On the meaning of “Forever,” Crookes’ own explanation is the most direct source:
“Why does the word forever exist if loss is inevitable? Nothing can be forever.”
Joy Crookes, quoted by Noise11
What Is the Key Takeaway About Joy Crookes?
Joy Crookes has built a career on honest, soulful songwriting rooted in her South London upbringing and her Irish-Bangladeshi heritage. Her 2025 album Juniper brought renewed attention, and the 2026 single “Painkiller” with Denzel Curry points to an artist still expanding her sound. For listeners discovering her through recent BBC Radio 1 coverage, the catalogue from Skin to Juniper offers a clear picture of her evolution so far.
What Are the Most Common Questions About Joy Crookes?
Is Joy Crookes Irish?
Yes, in part. Her father is from Dublin and she spent many summers in Ireland while growing up. She is also British, having been raised in South London, and her mother is of Bangladeshi heritage.
How old is Joy Crookes?
According to Wikipedia, she was born on 9 October 1998, which made her 27 in 2025. Some profiles have listed her age only by year.
Who is Joy Crookes’ partner?
Crookes has not publicly disclosed details about her relationship or partner. No confirmed reporting on a current romantic partner has been published.
What label is Joy Crookes on?
Joy Crookes is signed to Speakerbox / Epic Records.
What music genre is Joy Crookes?
Her music is commonly described as soul and neo-soul, with influences from jazz, reggae, pop and rap. She has cited classic vocalists such as Billie Holiday and Nina Simone as influences.
When did Joy Crookes release new music in 2025?
She released her second studio album, Juniper, in late September 2025. The focus track “Forever” charted in October 2025, and she began an 18-date European tour in November 2025.
What is Joy Crookes’ real name?
Her full name is Joy Elizabeth Akther Crookes, according to Wikipedia. She performs under the name Joy Crookes.
How did Joy Crookes start her music career?
She began posting covers online as a teenager and uploaded “Hit the Road Jack” to YouTube at age 15. Her early EPs included Influence (2017), which helped build the audience for her later work.
Leon Carter is Celebrity & Royals Correspondent at CultureObserver.uk, covering celebrity news, royal coverage and red-carpet reporting.