Jeremy Crooks (Artist)

m i n d f i e l d has been slowly plugging away on the west coast.
This collab with Jeremy Crooks, “If It Ends Up A Lie,” swings his style from the criminally smooth beat tapes to just the right blend of up and down rnb. - Bodega Beats

What would you do, with this Catch-22

Rhythmic genius. That’s what this song is all about, from the Mindfield-produced beats and string melodic motifs to the groovy chorus. It doesn’t matter that you can’t catch any of the words that R&B crooner Jeremy Crooks is singing in his velvety falsetto - it only matters that the lyrics are chopped up at exactly the right beats and the urban vibes are totally on point. This collaboration emerging from the West Coast is one of those ‘play on repeat’ tracks, we know it. - Jump Into Limbo

Music is the medium Jeremy Crooks’ feelings “flux” through, so when it came time for the Rocklin songwriter to title his new EP, a name was quick in coming.

“It’s reminiscent of the days of high-top fades, but mixed with distorted guitars and heavy drums,” Crooks said of his new collection.

The 2009 Rocklin High graduate doesn’t think his work is beholden to any particular genre, though describes it as very “soulful and groove-driven,” like an updated version of New Jack Swing. “Flux” includes his most popular song to date, “Foxtrot,” which is ranking well on Soundcloud.

As a Rocklin High student, Crooks became a local celebrity when he uploaded his choreography of Usher’s “OMG” to YouTube in the spring of 2010. The video received over 200,000 views within the first few days and a million views within the first week. He also appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in April and May of 2010 and released his debut single “Faith” that year.

In 2012, Crooks finished in the top 4 of the quarter-finals in Los Angeles for the television show, “The Next,” which paralleled his mentorship with famed singer Joe Jonas. Since Crooks' televised appearances he has launched his own company, J Crooks Entertainment. He also recorded his album, shot a music video and “basically rebranded everything,” he said.

Crooks added that Rocklin was a great place for him to develop his artistic abilities and the support from his hometown has always been excellent and appreciated over the years.

Crooks feels his style has evolved “drastically” since 2009, as he’s started to trust his own instincts more. No longer does he try to write to other musicians’ sensibilities, nor does he try to emulate hits on the radio. He draws inspiration from James Brown, Michael Jackson and the Nicholas Brothers but continues to find his own voice. Crooks says he has now been writing songs from “front to back” — conjuring melodies, instrument parts and rhythms that flow in his head before the song is produced. Other forms of progress he’s made since high school include huge lessons on how the music business works, as well as how to improve his own artistry around singing and performing.

The end game is success.

Ultimately, Crooks wants to tour internationally and sign with a record label. He doesn’t know if he would be better off with a major label or an “indie,” but he does know he needs to keep focusing his energy on pushing the momentum of his production company. He thinks his team has grown to catalyze the business aspect of his entertainment entity, allowing him to better focus on making music.

“Many times artists want to have their music known, but lack the foresight and motivation to follow through on what it takes,” observed Laura Cornwall, Crooks’ manager. “Jeremy takes every challenge and road block in his career head-on, and stays excited about pushing forward, come what may.”

Cornwall views Crooks’ musical message as being one’s best self through love and compassion, championed by authenticity.

“Everything can be a muse if it makes me feel something special,” Crooks agreed, and pointed out that each of his songs undergoes a unique process of creative construction. And whatever the subject matter, the Southern California resident says that his music will continue to strive for “positivity and substance” meant to inspire people. He finds it both amazing and humbling when listeners find a special connection with something he’s recorded.

As for goals in the short term, Crooks is setting his sights on a host of performances in late 2014 and early 2015. He has already taken the stage at California Six Flags amusement parks, Kollaboration LA, the Ford Ampitheater and University of California, Irvine.

“It’s tough pursuing your dreams, and it requires a lot of patience and perseverance,” Crooks told the Placer Herald. “I’m still nowhere near where I want to be, and I have a lot more work to do.”

As for aspiring artists, Crooks advises to remember the reasons behind what’s propelling the dreams.

“Trust in that desire and passion that you have, and don’t always listen to what others tell you,” he remarked. “Stay in control of your career and life as much as you can, know what you want, and go get it.” - Placer Herald

Jeremy Crooks started singing at age 3. By age 6, he was singing
solos in church. From the time he was in elementary school, Crooks knew he was meant to perform. Crooks, who grew up in Elk Grove and Rocklin, credits both his Irish and Filipino family and his biggest influence, Michael Jackson, for his love of music. After graduating from Rocklin High School, where he was active in choir and talent shows, he attended UC Irvine. And while he's still an Orange County resident, Crooks says Sacramento and the Kings are always in his heart.
In 2010, Crooks set up a video camera in a parking garage and recorded himself dancing to Usher's "OMG." The video, which has more than 2 million views on YouTube to date, caught the eye of one of the producers of "Ellen," who approached him to perform on the show. He got "The Next." The experience taught him a lot about how TV works. "There are definitely a lot more takes than what you see on TV," says Crooks. Now he's going it alone. Crooks released his debut EP "Flux" in October 2014, showcasing his hip-hop, soul-inspired vocals. "My goal is really to make the music that I want to make to spread a certain message to people," says Crooks. That message is positivity. "Nowadays there is just not a lot of substance in mainstream and popular music," Crooks says. "There are different tribes around the world, and each has a different dialect. I want them all to come together through art and music." Crooks expects to release a full-length album of up-tempo tracks in early 2015.
For more information, visit jeremycrooks.com. -ELIZABETH MARXEN - Sacramento Magazine

Singer/Songwriter Jeremy Crooks stops by Tremblay Radio to give us an exclusive inside look into his brand new single “When It’s Wrong.” You can also check out my exclusive sit-down with Jeremy filmed last month in Burbank, California. Don’t forget to subscribe to TremblayTV on YouTube and check out Jeremy’s social links below! Keep an eye out for more Jeremy Crooks on TremblayTV! - Zack Tremblay