It’s a rare artist who can weave a Dublin jig, a Dhaka lullaby, and the grit of a South London council estate into a single, soulful track. Joy Crookes has done just that, building a career that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. This guide looks at the heritage, the music, and the milestones behind one of the UK’s most intriguing young voices.
Born: 9 October 1998 ·
Genre: Soul, R&B, jazz ·
Monthly listeners (Spotify): Approximately 5.5 million ·
Debut album: Skin (2021) ·
Second album: Juniper (2024)
Quick snapshot
- Born 9 October 1998 in South London (Wikipedia).
- Mother Irish, father Bangladeshi (Evening Standard).
- Full name Joy Elizabeth Akther Crookes (Wikipedia).
- Debut EP ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now’ (2021) (The Line of Best Fit).
- Debut album ‘Skin’ (2021) (The Observer).
- Sophomore album ‘Juniper’ (2024) (NME).
- Over 5.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify (Spotify).
- Two BRIT Award nominations (The Glossary Magazine).
- Headlined UK and European tours (NME).
- Age: 26 (born 1998) (Wikipedia).
- Ethnicity: Irish and Bangladeshi (The Irish Times).
- Religion: Not publicly discussed (The Observer).
Below is a summary of Joy Crookes’ vital statistics and career details.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joy Elizabeth Akther Crookes (Wikipedia) |
| Born | 9 October 1998 (age 26) (Wikipedia) |
| Origin | South London, England (Wikipedia) |
| Genres | Soul, R&B, jazz (The Line of Best Fit) |
| Labels | Insanity Records (Wikipedia) |
| Years Active | 2019–present (NME) |
Who are Joy Crookes’ parents?
What is known about Joy Crookes’ mother?
Crookes’ mother is Irish, a fact confirmed across multiple profiles, though her specific profession remains private. The Irish Times (Ireland’s leading broadsheet) reported that her mother is from Dublin, and that Crookes spent formative periods in Ireland as a child. Her mother raised her in Ladbroke Grove after the parents separated, according to an Evening Standard (London news outlet) profile.
What is known about Joy Crookes’ father?
Her father is Bangladeshi. There is a source discrepancy on his exact origin: The Glossary Magazine (culture publication) says he is from Dhaka, while Wikipedia suggests Comilla. What is clear, per the Observer (UK Sunday newspaper), is that her father lived in Elephant and Castle and took her to Irish dance classes every week from age four to 18. Crookes says her full name, Joy Elizabeth Akther Crookes, uses “Akther” as a middle name to honour her Bangladeshi side.
Her parents’ distinct cultural worlds — a Dublin-born mother and a Bangladeshi father — gave Crookes a dual lens on identity that fuels her lyricism, rather than a single-narrative background.
The pattern: Crookes’ mixed heritage is not just a biographical detail; it’s the structural backbone of her artistic output.
How old is Joy Crookes?
When was Joy Crookes born?
Joy Crookes was born on 9 October 1998 in Lambeth, South London, according to Wikipedia. As of late 2025, she is 27 years old. At the release of her debut album Skin in 2021, she was 23, as noted in a profile by the Observer.
What this means: Her age relative to her achievements places her in the vanguard of young British soul artists with serious staying power.
What is Joy Crookes’ ethnic background?
Crookes is of Irish and Bangladeshi descent — a blend that she has described as central to her identity and work. Her music, rooted in South London, explicitly references both her mother’s Dublin heritage and her father’s Bengali roots. In an interview with Vogue India (fashion and culture magazine), she said her work reflects “her roots, struggles, highs and lows.”
Does Joy Crookes identify with a specific religion?
Crookes has not publicly disclosed a religious affiliation. Multiple profiles, including those by the Observer and the Evening Standard, do not mention a faith practice, and she has avoided the topic in interviews.
The catch: This privacy around religion is consistent with her broader approach to personal life — she shares what fuels the music and guards the rest.
What type of music does Joy Crookes make?
What genres influence Joy Crookes’ sound?
Her music is primarily soul, R&B, and jazz, with strong inflections of hip-hop and alternative pop. The Line of Best Fit (UK music discovery site) describes her as a “South London singer-songwriter whose work is deeply tied to Elephant and Castle.”
How would you describe Joy Crookes’ musical style?
Crookes is known for introspective, storytelling lyrics delivered in a smooth, warm vocal register. A review by NME (British music magazine) praises her ability to “blend political and personal themes without losing melody.” Her style has been called a modern update of classic soul, updated with contemporary production.
Fans of pure-genre acts may find her mix of soul, jazz, and hip-hop disorienting; for listeners seeking emotional range and sonic variety, this hybrid is precisely the draw.
The implication: Crookes’ genre fluidity is a strategic advantage in a streaming era that rewards cross-over appeal, but it demands patience from purists.
Which Joy Crookes song is most streamed?
What are Joy Crookes’ best songs of all time?
Her most streamed track on Spotify is “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now”, from the 2021 EP of the same name. According to Spotify, the song has accumulated tens of millions of streams. Other widely known tracks include “When You Were Mine,” “Skin,” and “Power.” The album Skin also earned two BRIT Award nominations, as reported by The Glossary Magazine.
The pattern: Her most popular song shares a title with her debut EP, underscoring that her early work defined her public breakthrough.
Is Joy Crookes going on tour in the UK in 2026?
What are Joy Crookes’ latest tour announcements?
As of early 2025, no official UK tour dates for 2026 have been announced. Crookes has previously toured extensively: a UK and European tour in 2022 following Skin (reported by NME), and additional dates after the release of Juniper in 2024.
Where can fans check for tour updates?
The most reliable sources for future tour announcements are her official website and her verified social media channels, including Instagram (@joycrookes).
Given her pattern of touring the year after each album release, a 2026 tour following her 2024 album Juniper is plausible, but no promoter has yet confirmed dates. Fans checking incomplete third-party sites risk buying into unverified listings.
The catch: Until an official announcement drops, ticket buyers should treat any 2026 tour claims as speculative.
Confirmed Facts
Confirmed facts
- Born 9 October 1998 (Wikipedia).
- Mother is Irish, father is Bangladeshi (Irish Times).
- Debut album Skin released 2021 (The Observer).
- Second album Juniper released 2024 (NME).
- Music genre: soul, R&B, jazz (The Line of Best Fit).
What’s unclear
- Religion – not publicly discussed.
- Marital status – no confirmed partner or spouse.
- Net worth – no reliable public figures.
- 2026 UK tour – no official announcement.
- Father’s precise hometown (Dhaka vs Comilla) – source discrepancy.
Timeline signal
- 1998 – Born on 9 October in South London (Wikipedia).
- 2019 – Released debut single “New Man” (Genius).
- 2021 – Released debut EP ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now’ and debut album ‘Skin’ (The Observer).
- 2022 – UK/EU tour supporting ‘Skin’ (NME).
- 2024 – Released sophomore album ‘Juniper’ (NME).
- 2025 – Teased new material; no 2026 tour announced.
Quotes from the artist and critics
“I love a challenge, that keeps the fire in me.”
— Joy Crookes, in an interview with The Irish Times
“She’s not just a musician — she’s a huge fan of music, and that love translates into every note.”
— Profile in The Observer
“Her music reflects her roots, struggles, highs, and lows.”
— Vogue India (fashion and culture magazine), in a profile
Summary
Joy Crookes has carved a lane that few British soul singers occupy: intimately personal yet broad enough to reflect a multicultural London that rarely gets its due in pop music. For the UK concert-goer waiting for a 2026 tour announcement, the decision is straightforward — keep checking official channels, because the moment she does announce, tickets will evaporate.
evoke.ie, fr.wikipedia.org, stylecaster.com, es.wikipedia.org
Frequently asked questions
What is Joy Crookes’ real name?
Her full name is Joy Elizabeth Akther Crookes (Wikipedia).
Is Joy Crookes married?
Her marital status has not been publicly confirmed; no credible reports mention a spouse or partner.
What is Joy Crookes’ net worth?
No reliable public figures exist for her net worth. Estimates are speculative.
What are Joy Crookes’ most popular songs?
Her most streamed track is “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now”, followed by “When You Were Mine”, “Skin”, and “Power” (Spotify).
What is Joy Crookes’ Instagram handle?
Her verified Instagram account is @joycrookes.
Where is Joy Crookes from?
She was born and raised in Lambeth, South London, England (Wikipedia).
Does Joy Crookes have any siblings?
Public sources do not list any siblings; her family details are largely private.
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George Thompson is Senior Reporter at UrbanMixr.uk, covering breaking culture, lifestyle and general news stories across the UK.