It's like a warm hug from a jazz singer who knows all your secrets.
A sophisticated blend of urban grit and orchestral elegance that feels both grounded and aspirational.
Juniper serves as a definitive statement in Joy Crookes' discography, further refining the jazz-inflected soul sound established in her earlier EPs and debut. Released in late 2025, the album highlights her unique position as a storyteller of the Bangladeshi-Irish diaspora in London. Sonically, the record is characterized by its heavy use of live strings and woodwinds, arranged with a cinematic flair that recalls 1960s soul while remaining firmly rooted in contemporary neo-soul sensibilities. Critics, including those at AllMusic, have noted the album's maturity and its ability to balance personal introspection with broader social observations. The track 'Paris' stands out as a structural departure, utilizing a longer runtime to explore more experimental, atmospheric textures compared to the tighter songcraft of 'Perfect Crime' or 'Mathematics.' The album was recorded with a focus on analog equipment, contributing to its distinctive 'dusty' and 'warm' sonic profile.
Put this on for
rain hitting the window while the kettle whistleslast train home with city lights blurring pastsunday morning slow-cooking with the radio lowcandlelight flickering against a half-empty wine glassbrowsing a dusty bookstore on a Tuesday afternoonsoft conversation over a shared plate of foodquiet reflection before the house wakes up
Moments worth waiting for
The way the strings swell and then suddenly drop to a whisper on the opening track Brave.
The six-minute atmospheric build of Paris that feels like a cinematic ending to a film.
The intimate, dry vocal mix on Mother that makes it sound like she is sitting in the room.
Sounds like
2025s production with a 2020s soul
Sits beside
Collapsed in Sunbeams - Arlo Parks, Lost & Found - Jorja Smith, Not Your Muse - Celeste, Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas
Lyrical territory
identity, family, love_romantic
03Deviation
Juniper · vs · Joy Crookes
Artist
This Album
Medium Energy
Energy · ↑ +15% more than usual
On this album, medium energy sits about 15% more prominent than across the rest of the artist's catalogue.
