Joy Crookes returns with her latest single Mathematics', featuring the legendary Kano. Premiering as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record with Jack Saunders, the track showcases Joy’s signature introspection, navigating the messy, bittersweet realities of human connection.
Initially penned as a personal exploration of love and miscommunication, 'Mathematics' has evolved into something deeper for both Joy and Kano. The track unpacks the frustration of one-sided affection, as Joy candidly explains:
“Mathematics was written when I was dating a French man who couldn’t understand that what was going on between us wasn’t hieroglyphics—we were just falling in love. And then he tried to friend-zone me. As I get to know this song better and sing it more, I’ve realized it’s somewhat an angry song about how easy I find it to love, and the frustration that it can’t be reciprocated. It’s nice when a song becomes a medicine for the different fuckeries that life hands us.”
On Kano’s unexpected contribution, Joy adds:
“Kano came to hear the record with Blue May and me, and then secretly recorded his verse when I’d initially asked him to record on another song. He was drawn to ‘Mathematics’ and popped into the studio without us and literally just sent over a verse. It was so moving to see how he’d been moved enough to do this, almost like a little gift to this record. Cheers, Kane. It’s really special to hear you write about love.”
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