As the women continue to lead R&B/Soul to prominence, one of the most underrated of those is none other than Joy Crookes. The South London songstress has consistently delivered with her unique vocals, honest lyricism and vast musicality. It’s a couple years since her last release and with her second album Juniper due 26th September, she feeds fans with this EP, Carmen.
Carmen serves as a bitesize offering of four tracks, with longtime collaborator Blue May, that encapsulate her diverse range of artistry. Leading with the title track,
a modern take on a classic sound, as she poetically explores beauty standards and confidence, the crisp production provides the perfect bed for her captivating vocals, you can see why she has drawn comparisons to the late great Amy Winehouse. I Know You’d Kill, a song about trust which she wrote for her manager,
raises the tempo, on which effortlessly glides. It’s so rare to find current creations that can embody such nostalgic instrumentation whilst possessing these original and current day nuances. Much like the next track, Mathematics featuring legendary Grime MC Kano.
It’s such an unorthodox pairing that seamlessly matches their contrasting styles, with her emotive and vulnerable display complimented by Kano’s tone and delivery, which is refreshing to hear, similar to the last track, the bass-heavy, Pass The Salt featuring Vince Staples,
emphasised with her vocals minutely distorted, blending her sultry sound over a beautifully chaotic production, allowing the Long Beach rapper to flow naturally with one of his standout features. If this is anything to go by, you can expect her 26th September release Juniper to be another quality offering of sexy vocals and high-end production, filled with emotion, experimentation and most of all originality.
ONE Fáris 