Joy Crookes releases new single ‘Somebody To You’
South London singer, songwriter and cultural powerhouse Joy Crookes has today unveiled brand new single & official music video for ‘Somebody To You’, the latest offering from her upcoming sophomore album Juniper, out September 19.Alongside today’s release, Joy has announced a run of 10 in-store shows and signings across 6 dates in September in celebration of the album, ticket bundle are on sale now from respective record stores here.
Co-written and co-produced with long-time collaborator Harvey Grant, the track is a soul-baring exploration of emotional dependency and the delicate dance between closeness and individuality. It’s a moment of quiet reflection amidst the rich tapestry of Juniper, a record that pushes Joy further than ever before, both sonically and personally as she explains: “‘Somebody to You’ is a song that I wrote when questioning the reliance I had on someone I’m very close with and their reliance on me – and whether that needed to change in order for me to understand myself better.”
Backing vocals come from none other than Sam Fender, who appeared on the track after the pair met at the Mercury Awards in 2022. Joy says: “Sam and I met at the Mercury’s. We drank with Guy Garvey and ended up at Little Simz’s afters (I know, so many name drops) and became mates. A year later, he was down in London and I collected him from King’s Cross in my Suzuki and we bolted down Euston Road bitching about music and the state of the world to end up at Studio 13. He blasted some BVs out and played me his new record before it came out. I wouldn’t properly understand “shy bairns get nowt” if it wasn’t for Sam. My fav geordie mate.”
Following the success of her 2021 debut Skin, which earned BRIT and Mercury Prize nominations, went Top 5 in the UK charts, and drew acclaim from The Guardian, NME and many more, Joy set out to make an album that pushed her further both musically and personally. Juniper is the result: a project defined by its depth and dynamism. A stunningly candid and fearless body of work, the album reaffirms Joy as one of the UK’s most vital and original voices. A once-in-a-generation talent, Crookes delivers a record that is both emotionally raw and sonically rich; humorous, heartbreaking and profoundly human.
Written with a stripped-back approach and produced by long-time collaborators including Blue May (Kano, Jorja Smith), Tev’n (Stormzy) and Harvey Grant (Arlo Parks), Juniper features standout guest appearances from Vince Staples on the incendiary ‘Pass The Salt’ and Kano on the bittersweet confessional ‘Mathematics’. Crookes describes the record as “more nuanced” than Skin: “With Juniper, every situation is visceral and I’m very much in it. It’s me in the centre of it all.”The title itself nods to resilience (an evergreen that thrives in harsh conditions) and the album dives deep into themes of body politics, mental health, queer love, anxiety, industry hypocrisy and the ecstasy (and terror) of falling in love.
Lead singles like ‘Pass The Salt’ and ‘I Know You’d Kill’ showcase Crookes’ lyrical agility – blending poetic detail with razor-sharp wit. Meanwhile, the euro-pop inspired ‘First Last Dance’ channels euphoric melodies to mask deep emotional struggle, and the cinematic ‘Perfect Crime’ sees Joy fully self-actualise in the style of a Western showdown. On ‘Paris’, the closing track, Joy reflects on a formative queer relationship: “Something I feared so much finally, actually felt like love.” It’s a sentiment echoed across Juniper – a record that captures the beauty and brutality of emotional openness.
The album arrives after a period of personal upheaval for Crookes, including a mental health crisis that shadowed the album’s creation. “I was in the trenches,” she says. “But the studio became my solace. What you hear is live and direct from that time.” Despite the darkness, Juniper radiates warmth, levity, and life, powered by Crookes’ ever-restless creativity and artistic excellence. ‘Somebody To You’ lands off the back of Joy’s outstanding performance on Glastonbury’s Other Stage on the Sunday afternoon of the festival which was a roaring success. A packed crowd joined Joy for a powerful rip through her catalogue including lots of new music and she was lauded with praise from the likes of Vogue, The Guardian, The Times, Dazed, The Independent, The BBC, ELLE + more. She returns to the live stage at the backend of the year for a full UK & EU headline tour in all major cities including Dublin, Manchester, Bristol and London where she’ll play two shows at the much coveted O2 Academy Brixton for the first time. See below for full routing and ticket info.
Tracklist:
1. Brave
2. Pass the Salt feat. Vince Staples
3. Carmen
4. Perfect Crime
5. Mathematics feat. Kano
6. House With A Pool
7. I Know You’d Kill
8. First Last Dance
9. Mother
10. Somebody To You
11. Forever
12. Paris
Tour Dates:
UK & Ireland
Monday, November 03, 2025, Dublin, Ireland, Olympia
Monday, November 10, 2025, Glasgow, UK, O2 Academy
Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Leeds, UK, O2 Academy
Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Manchester, UK, Academy
Friday, November 14, 2025, Birmingham, UK, O2 Academy
Saturday, November 15, 2025, Bournemouth, UK, O2 Academy
Sunday, November 16, 2025, Bristol, UK, O2 Academy
Tuesday, November 18, 2025, London, UK, O2 Academy Brixton *SOLD OUT*
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, London, UK, O2 Academy Brixton
Europe
Monday, November 24, 2025, Brussels, Belgium, Ancienne Belgique
Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Melkweg
Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Melkweg
Friday, November 28, 2025, Hamburg, Germany, Docks
Saturday, November 29, 2025, Cologne, Germany, Live Music Hall
Monday, December 01, 2025, Zurich, Switzerland, X-tra
Tuesday, December 02, 2025, Paris, France, Salle Pleyel
Thursday, December 04, 2025, Berlin, Germany, Tempodrom
Sunday, December 07, 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark, Vega Main Hall
Monday, December 08, 2025, Stockholm, Sweden, Cirkus
Tuesday, December 09, 2025, Oslo, Norway, Rockefeller