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Joy Crookes releases music video for ‘When You Were Mine’ ahead of debut album

The video is described as a "love letter" to Brixton where the singer spent much of her childhood

By Hollie Geraghty

Joy Crookes is decked in flowers for the When You Were Mine video
Joy Crookes' When You Were Mine video (Picture: Press)

Joy Crookes has released the music video for ‘When You Were Mine’ ahead of her debut album release next week.

The track is the third single from new album ‘Skin’ which is due to be released on 15 October via Insanity Records.

In the music video, which is described as a love letter to Brixton, Crookes walks through the bustling street and markets, adorned with gold jewellery and a fresh flower gown and headdress.

Directed by Hector Dockrill, who has worked with the likes of Jorja Smith and Maverick Sabre, the video celebrates the vibrancy and community of streets like Coldharbour Lane, Electric Avenue, Atlantic Road and Pope’s Road Market.

The various spots served as the backdrop to south London singer’s childhood.

Of the song, Crookes said: “‘When You Were Mine’ is a song I wrote about an ex-partner that ended up being with a man after we broke up. It’s a song about accepting their love, but wishing the same for myself.  

“I wrote it with the backdrop of Brixton because that is where their love unfolded and where I spent a lot of my childhood. We recorded a brass section (it was my first time recording brass and excited  was an understatement); we wanted it to sound messy so Japanese whiskey was involved and listening to lots of Ebo Taylor.”

Crookes added on Twitter: “‘When You Were Mine’ is a love story of sorts, written against the backdrop of beautiful brixton. When my parents moved to the UK they both lived in Brixton – really it’s where they started their lives in the UK.”

Next month will also see Crookes embark on her first official tour, where she will perform two London gigs, along with several other UK dates, followed by a European tour in February 2022.

Crooke’s UK Tour dates are as follows.

Sat 06 Nov 2021 Brighton, England Concorde 2 (SOLD OUT)
Sun 07 Nov 2021 Bristol, England The Trinity Centre (SOLD OUT)
Mon 08 Nov 2021 London, England O2 Forum Kentish Town (SOLD OUT)
Tue 09 Nov 2021 London, England O2 Forum Kentish Town (SOLD OUT)
Thu 11 Nov 2021 Dublin, Republic of Ireland The Academy
Sun 14 Nov 2021 Manchester, England Manchester Academy(SOLD OUT)
Mon 15 Nov 2021 Glasgow, Scotland St Luke’s(SOLD OUT)
Wed 17 Nov 2021 Leeds, England Leeds University Stylus
Thu 18 Nov 2021 Birmingham, England The O2 Institute