00:00Because of the nature of my music being so personal, I have to protect that.
00:09My name's Joy Crooks. I'm a musician.
00:12I started writing when I was at home.
00:14I didn't have the opportunity to be in studios.
00:17I've always been more comfortable here.
00:18Say if I've written a song in the studio and I really like it,
00:21but I'm not happy with the lyrics, I'll come back here.
00:24My parents are massive on opportunities.
00:27They both have, I call it the immigrant mentality.
00:29They both moved here quite young.
00:31They kind of, you know, they left their homes, they left their families,
00:33they left everything they knew to kind of find their life here.
00:36So I remember being like 14, 15 and my dad being like,
00:39you're clearly interested in music.
00:41And he saw it as, you have an opportunity and school's always going to be there
00:45and you should take it.
00:47Because I left so young, I kind of had to make connections with people
00:50and that's kind of how we met, because you started the collective
00:52and I was really amazed by the fact you were doing your own thing.
00:55During that time we built each other up a lot.
00:58Definitely, because we've both grown so much.
01:00When I worked with Marielle, I could just cuss her out and be like,
01:03what have you done, mate? What have you done?
01:04Yeah, what have you done? You want me dead?
01:06Yeah, that's kind of how our friendship works,
01:09that we can be honest with each other.
01:10I just think it's important to have people you're very close to around you.
01:13I don't need people that will ground me.
01:15I can disappear up my own arse in like two minutes.
01:18And that's what music industry can do to you as an artist.
01:22Today's look, we're just trying to make Joy look decent.
01:27When I'm performing, I still like to keep it quite natural,
01:30but just a little bit more heightened.
01:32I like to wear car keys and quite natural colours,
01:36so if I'm wearing an orange eyeshadow and stuff,
01:38it brings those colours out.
01:40I like finding things, so like charity shops and lots of hand-me-downs.
01:46I like jewellery, though. That's one thing I definitely like.
01:50I feel like ideas are an actual kinetic energy.
01:53If you want it, then it'll come to you.
01:55I have conversations with my friends on the Jubilee line,
01:57and they'll say one thing and that'll become some.
02:00There's an intensity to London.
02:02Everything's moving and nothing stops.
02:04It's very much inspired my ethic to get stuff done,
02:07to keep going, to keep going, to keep going.
02:11I go to my grandma's, I'd say, once every two weeks.
02:15I generally go for lamb curry and cuddles.
02:20Spending time with my grandmother teaches me how strong my family are.
02:23It makes me realise that I'll cope through, like, everything,
02:26because they managed to, and they went through so much more.
02:30Since I left, it's based off of a photo
02:33that my brother took of me in our great-grandmother's village.
02:37We bonded massively on that trip,
02:40and because my Bangladeshi family were moved by that,
02:43and they've, like, now realised what I'm trying to do,
02:46nothing compares to that, ever.
02:49You dined on my demons when I was just seeking for someone who I could call home.
02:58You saw our future, but mine was without you.
03:02You knew that I needed to go.
03:06Because freedom don't come for free.
03:12See passion be calling, comfort's a warning, no fun in the evening.
03:19I'll leave it till morning, let go.
03:24It's time to let go.
03:26You feel happy when you hear my music?
03:29Yes.
03:30Like, very much.
03:36We have had life, but we don't show people.
03:41We show love, you know?
03:43I'm not going to stop doing what I'm doing.
03:46I'm not going to stop.
03:47The same way that you didn't stop, I'm not going to stop any time soon.
03:50No, you have to head on.
03:51Yeah, exactly.
03:52100%.
03:53And that's what we keep doing.
03:54Yeah.
03:54We keep going.
03:55I'm very proud of you, yes.
03:58Thank you, Nani.
03:58You're welcome.
