Joy Crookes returns with new single 'Pass the Salt'

Published: 10 January 2025

British singer Joy Crookes has returned today with her first music in over three years with ‘Pass the Salt’, featuring US rapper Vince Staples.

Written by Crookes with Barney Lister, Jonny Lattimer and Stapes, and produced by Crookes and Blue May, ‘Pass the Salt’ mixes R&B with trip-hop, projecting a feeling that is both pointed and laid back.

Lyrically it is a cutting rebuff to someone that crossed Crookes, who refuses to sit back and take it. “‘Pass the Salt’ is about a woman I know vaguely, who is nothing short of an arsehole, who got jealous and started spreading rumours about me,” Crookes explains. “The song is basically me squaring up (musically) and being like ‘ok bitch if u have something to say come say it to my face’.”

‘Pass the Salt’ marks a major return to music for Crookes, after the release of her critically acclaimed debut album Skin in October 2021. The album not only peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums chart, but also saw her nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop/R&B Act at the 2022 Brit Awards, and for Album of the Year at the Mercury Prize.

Crookes has spent the last three years taking stock and focusing on this next era of her music with a determination to not lose the spirit that fuelled Skin. It is clear on one listen to ‘Pass the Salt’ that Crookes remains one of the most exceptional musicians of her generation and with more music coming in 2025, her return to music is going to be one of the highlights of this year.

‘Pass the Salt’ is out now via Sony Music. You can buy and stream here.
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Read our six page interview with Joy Crookes in issue 11 of Women In Pop magazine.