Joy Crookes and Imran Perretta were destined to meet. “I was aware of Joy because there’s not many British-Bangladeshis doing their thing,” says Perretta, from his home in Streatham. On the floor are piles of books, sheet music, instruments and paraphernalia that give a glimpse into the artist, filmmaker and musician’s creative life. “We’re not a rare breed, but let’s just say when one of us pops their head above the parapet… you know how it is…” he says of his instant affinity with the singer-songwriter.
“This isn’t to put Bangladeshis down,” adds Crookes. She’s also speaking via Zoom as she prepares for the European tour of her second album, Juniper, the long-awaited and critically acclaimed successor to Skin. “But I feel like they’re a very homogenised community in the UK, and mainly Sylhetis. I’m not Sylheti and neither is Imran – and we’re both artistic…” Finishes Perretta: “And we’re both, like, this weird mix of Muslim and Catholic, with Joy being half-Irish and me being half-Italian.”
Perretta wears Kartik Research suede Rabari shirt, €1,135, and wool embroidered Rabari Sultan trousers, €680. Sunspel cotton Sea Island T‑shirt, £160. John Lobb suede Ted shoes, £1,490. Crookes wears Supriya Lele leather Mimi coat, POA. Calzedonia microfibre tights, £9.99. Georg Jensen sterling-silver bangles, £490 and £340. Earrings and shoes, her own © Jack Grange
