- Music
- 21 Jun 21
London-based artist Joy Crookes takes on cancel culture in her latest single.
Singer-songwriter Joy Crookes released a stunning new video for her single 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now' last week.
Bright and breezy on the surface, with an addictively thumping bassline, ‘Feet Don’t Fail Me Now’ is filled with blistering irony, in which Joy explores the pitfalls of online activism.
The video, directed by Taz Tron Delix and shot around London, features Joy and a supporting cast reflective of the multicultural landscape of her hometown. According to Joy, the ideas was to split the song into two sections visually.
"I wanted the verses to be surreal and beautiful, but rooted in conformity, and for the choruses to feel chaotic and liberated," she explained.
Speaking about the track, Joy called it one of the most complicated songs she'd ever written, but 'in a good way'.
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"The track carries with it a deep sense of irony, it's written from the perspective of someone who finds it easier to remain complicit out of a fear of being cancelled," she explained. "During the social and political turmoil of the last 12 months, performative behaviour has become prevalent alongside cancel culture. These two reactions I think are often intertwined as cancel culture can be a response to half-hearted performatism."
"In some sense you can sympathise with the perspective I'm singing from because cancel culture is scary, as is re-educating yourself and challenging your friends and families. Ultimately I hope the song encourages people to be a bit braver, whilst the themes are clear in my head the chorus is universal - 'man I guess I was scared, feet don't fail me now, I got to stand my ground and though I'm down for trying, I am better in denial so I hush don't make a sound'. Open up a dialogue, speak out, make mistakes - that's okay and that's how progress happens."
The track was written with Barney Lister and Joel Pott, produced by Blue May, mixed by Spike Stent and was recorded in London.
A proud South Londoner of Bangladesh and Irish heritage, Joy Crookes is a singer-songwriter, a masterful instrumentalist, and an artist who sees herself as part of a beautiful eco system of storytellers, mavericks, and salt of the earth Londoners. Crookes grew up listening to an eclectic mix of genres – everything from Nick Cave, to King Tubby, Kendrick Lamar and Gregory Isaac.
In 2019, Joy made the prestigious BRITS Rising Star Award shortlist, as well as placing fourth on the BBC Sound Poll. She was due to support Harry Styles at The O2 in London pre-pandemic, and has played Glastonbury, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Later…With Jools Holland, and her own sold out shows across the UK and Europe.
Last year she took part in the Hot Press 'Rave On, Van Morrison' series celebrating Van Morrison's 75th birthday, performing 'Madame George' on Youtube and sharing her reflections on Van's music. Watch her performance here.
Watch the stunningly celebratory video for 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now' below.