Photo: Joy Crookes
The thing about Joy Crookes is, she’s always honest. About the city she lives in, the cultures that raised her, the pains of being twenty-something, romantic mishaps and much more. It’s that intense honesty and assuredness, delivered through a voice drenched in rich, sultry warmth that has compelled audiences worldwide to lean in. Now, that same quality will define an upcoming stop in Chicago, where the British singer-songwriter will bring her signature blend of soul, jazz and pop to Park West on April 24.
Hailing from South London, Crookes first emerged in the late 2010s. Her EP “Reminiscence,” featuring early hits like “Two Nights” and “Man’s World,” introduced us to her smoky, jazz-inflected vocal and sharp lyricism about the ails of contemporary life. Her ability to masterfully navigate between them quickly became a defining trait. Soon after, 2021’s debut album, “Skin,” earned widespread critical acclaim. With a Brit’s Rising Star nomination and an album that reached number five on the UK charts under her belt, it’s hard to believe Crookes is only twenty-seven. That album drew from her Irish and Bangladeshi heritage to reflect on identity, family and belonging. Four years later, she’s back with a body of work that turns a little more inward.
Joy Crookes’ “Juniper”
“Juniper” plays out like a diary of the slumps and uncertainties that can crawl under your skin and make your twenties, well, feel like war. For an artist already known for telling it like it is, listeners can’t ask for much more baring of one’s soul. There are reflections on the harrows of diving back into a dating pool seemingly full of urine, wrestling matches with traditional European beauty standards and gut-wrenching breakup ballads, but most of all, there’s resilience. “Juniper” feels like smoky gin bars, old jazz records, 4am text messages, poems scrawled on receipts and dusting yourself off the next morning. All under the botanical symbolism of strength, femininity and rebirth.
This turn toward emotional precision can only lend naturally to the stage. The audience in Chicago should expect a show that feels like a conversation with an artist still refining and growing. One that feels like being invited inside Crookes’ personal hangout to listen to sweeping fan favorites and introspective new material alike. It’s the performance style some of us might dream of: polished, disarmingly personal, never simply projecting outward.
Whether you’re just getting to know Joy Crookes or you’ve been emotionally invested for years, her thoughtful songwriting and ability to tell the truth, even when it’s messy, are undeniably magnetic. In a world where self-care is conflated with the clichés of healing crystals and perfectly curated routines, Crookes pushes past the bubble baths and looks straight in the mirror. It’s a reckoning with herself, her habits and her heart that feels like being seen for anyone at any age. And at Park West, it might even feel like singing along to your own story.
Joy Crookes performs at Park West, 322 West Armitage, on April 24. Tickets here.
