Nearly four years after her Mercury Prize- shortlisted debut album, ‘Skin’, Joy Crookes is back, building on her success with another single, ‘Carmen’. One of four songs she has released this year, perhaps indicating the start of a new album era. The track follows Crooke’s complex admiration for a woman, with a reverence and longing to be like her.
The lyricism, while generally relatable to so many women, features one particularly poignant moment, “Brown skin European with my London eye / I get envious of that vanilla type.” These lines beautifully display the interplay of both, heritage and beauty standards for women.
Crookes took to Instagram to explain, “it became a song that ended up commenting on society’s standards of beauty, which is naturally pretty anti feminist.” The “London eye” can reference her upbringing in London as a Bangladeshi woman, granting her a unique vantage point to perceive and reflect upon her identity. And ultimately, how identity plays a part in female comparison, subjected to the male gaze.
On Instagram she also added that in regards to beauty, “particularly in my experience of being a brown woman, I felt as though I had to work harder to have the same recognition.” This may not be something others have to consider, yet this song offers an idea of how it can feel.
The production emphasises this sense of monotonous comparison through its droning drum accents. The single hit of the drums underscore that insecurity is a familiar, and predictable burden. Utilising production to develop the storytelling is a beautiful and a difficult skill to perfect.
Even without lyrics, the track's production feels emotive and personal, which makes sense since it’s co-produced by Joy Crookes and collaborator Blue May. By having a hand in production, Crookes is able to build a lovely rapport between the music and lyrics. The choice for a more stripped-back production style accentuates the lyrics and refocuses attention back on the touching subject matter.
The fact that women of colour are subjected to such harsh ideals is no secret, but still not widely discussed. It can be quite an isolating feeling for so many, yet this track offers a powerful reminder that they are not alone. One of the many benefits of having artists like Crookes; her vulnerable lyricism can cast a light out to those in the dark. Music which offers a vital sense of solidarity and community among listeners, is always a true reflection of art.
Jessica Sansoa
Image: ‘Carmen’ Official Single Cover
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