Beyond The Sounds: Joy Crookes-inspired reflections on Covid-19, mental health, and identity
Abigail Ani explores the work of singer-songwriter Joy Crookes, and the themes that have felt most pertinent when listening to Crookes’ music during lockdown.
The increased free time that self-isolation provides us consists of positive and negative aspects - from the urge to bake chocolate chip cookies to anxiety triggered by the uncertainty of this pandemic. While we should not dismiss negative emotions, trying to focus on what we can take from this period could make the experience a bit easier.
Properly digesting the music we listen to and its potential interpretations is something that was not always made easy by the fast pace of the pre-coronavirus climate. But the excess time that we now have means that we can connect more with artists, discover new ones, and dig deeper into their stories - whether it be through intimate Instagram live sets, new playlists created for quarantine survival or interviews from before and after the concept of ‘social distancing’ came into existence. For me, listening to South London singer-songwriter Joy Crookes during this time has brought on a few thoughts about Covid-19, mental health, and identity.
The song “London Mine”, from Crookes' Perception EP, pays homage to the immigrant communities in the UK’s capital that have and continue to contribute hugely to its social and cultural landscape. The lines “streets that are tailored to no one / but that’s what makes London mine” encapsulates the fact that diversity and multiculturalism characterise London and create value. According to Crookes, “the beauty of London is that it wouldn't be London without all the immigration, and the mix of cultures and colours and the smells and the stories it contains.”
Speaking to Vogue, Crookes explains that it was the Windrush scandal (an event that exposed the Home Office's wrongful treatment of many Caribbean immigrants that had been settled in the UK since the 50s) that motivated her to communicate this message through her music. The Windrush scandal is just one example of the fact that, despite their importance, immigrant communities do not always receive the recognition that they deserve and this leaves them susceptible to mistreatment. Using her signature candid yet playful lyricism and warm jazzy tone (comparable to that of Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse, but still distinctive), Crookes celebrates these “invisible people” and helps to promote a positive narrative surrounding them.
Current discussions about the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities introduces a new perspective from which to reflect on “London Mine”. The Office for National Statistics reports that Black, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Indian people are between 1.5 and 1.9 times more likely to die from Covid-19 than White people. Predisposition to certain health conditions and often being employed as essential workers are just some of the possible explanations as to why BAME communities are more vulnerable to Covid-19.
Listening to “London Mine” in the current climate is a more sombre experience, given that the people Crookes represents through her lyricism and the faces captured in the music video are at risk right now. This health crisis is an urgent reminder that society needs to reevaluate its attitudes towards the multiculturalism on which London (and other places) prides itself. It is important that the appropriate recognition and gratitude is shown towards the contributions of immigrant communities now and after Covid-19, and there needs to be more acknowledgement of and plans to actively address the socioeconomic issues that they face.
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Talking to NME, Crookes shared her approach to songwriting, one that might resonate with other creatives: “My belly gets hungry every day, and so does my mind. You’ve gotta read stuff that will subconsciously feed you, listen to songs that do the same. I think if you’re a lyricist, and you’re not feeding yourself good lyrics, a book, poetry, what’s the point? That’s just research. That’s case studies.” From this - and from the timeless significance of tracks like “London Mine” and “Anyone But Me” - it is clear that Crookes wants to write music that has substance and longevity.
But obviously the need to play an active role in what the mind consumes does not just apply to artists. It is important for everyone to treat the mind like a physical body that needs the proper nourishment in order to thrive. The way in which we spend our time affects our productivity, and therefore, consciousness about whether these activities add value to our lives is vital. So positive procrastination such as listening to a 15-minute podcast could be more beneficial than a scroll on social media.
However, there needs to be a balance. Although Crookes does not explicitly discuss this in the interview, the words are still applicable because what we feed the mind impacts our mental health. For example, while engaging with the news is important, with many contemporary reports relating to Covid-19 deaths, racial discrimination and police brutality against Black people, an overload of negativity could have a bad effect on mental health. So perhaps a commitment to check the news at a set time for a fixed period could be the solution. Also, looking into how you could help directly or indirectly in the fight against injustice and Covid-19 could have a positive effect on your mood.
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Identity appears to be a popular theme surrounding Joy Crookes, with the media’s attention often being placed on her Irish-Bengali heritage. From Irish dancing in the studio to making a point about representation by wearing a gold and yellow lehenga (a South Asian traditional outfit) at the 2020 Brit Awards, it is clear that Crookes values her dual heritage. In fact, she is currently featured on the Dazed 100 list because of her aim to set up a creative scholarship for young people of South Asian heritage in the UK. The initiative would “help them fulfil a creative project start to finish, to be mentored by fellow South Asians within the creative community, for those young people to be represented, and use my platform to showcase their work. It could help open this industry up to an enormously unrepresented community and shine a spotlight on all that talent.”
But the media’s tendency to almost hyperfocus on her Irish-Bengali heritage shows that some have a reductionist view of what identity is. The concept is not black and white. It extends beyond conversations about the countries that a person’s parents come from. Crookes describes herself as “a sponge” because, like everyone else, she is a product of various environmental influences. Speaking to the BBC, she says, “I grew up on a street where my neighbours are Bajan and the neighbours after that are Bengali and the neighbours after that are from Nigeria. I learned so many mannerisms and different forms of respect and stories and myths and legends from all these places. I wouldn't be the person I am without London. It inspires me to be a certain kind of woman, and a certain kind of person.”
Exposure to different things means that, like her character, Crookes’ taste in music is multifaceted. Ranging from the avant-garde sounds of Frank Ocean to 70s reggae, her “Joy’s Quarantunes” playlist on Spotify represents a diversity that comes from within and this plays a role in the music-making process. Crookes explains that songwriting is “a bit like being a painter [...] You’re painting a garden of roses – but you need all the different colours. All those influences and genres colour my palette to create something new.”
Given that the formation of a person’s identity is an ongoing process with various elements, a better understanding of an individual comes from holistic approaches to discussions about the topic. So when exploring identity, learning about Crookes’ cultural encounters outside her home are just as important as those from inside. In other words, it is necessary to address the obvious and the not-so-obvious factors.
Music is just one of many things that influence your internal dialogue. The effects may not be as noticeable as books, articles or even conversations with friends, but music can still contribute to your perspective on the world. So take time to engage with your thoughts while you listen. Write down these thoughts (and share them if you want). Because it will be interesting to reflect on your words and you may even have some great ideas.