20-year-old London based singer-songwriter Arlo Parks released her first single “Cola” in 2018 to wide critical acclaim as fans gravitated to her tender lyricism and effortlessly cool indie folk aesthetic. As her profile has grown, some of the most influential pop culture taste-makers such as Michelle Obama, Phoebe Bridgers, Billie Eillish, and Florence Welch have take notice. She just released her debut album ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ in January of this year, which features some of her best previously released singles like “Eugene”, “Black Dog”, and more. “My album is a series of vignettes and intimate portraits surrounding my adolescence and the people that shaped it,” she says, “It is rooted in storytelling and nostalgia – I want it to feel both universal and hyper specific.” Arlo Parks indeed has a knack for translating specific moments into an emotional portrait, and it is in the sharp details of her songs where her genius really lies. Parks’ music pulls from a range of influences, including Joni Mitchell, Elliot Smith, King Krule, and Odd Future, and slipping in clever literary references in all the right places.
Growing up, Arlo Parks was a sensitive soul, a happy kid with their own rich inner world. This contemplative, sweet personality shines through on ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’, giving each track a sun-drenched authenticity which draws each listener in. Parks carves a quiet, calm corner for herself on the record, one that shows the care and heart that goes into her writing.
Arlo Parks spoke with B-Sides host, Pete Mar to talk more about the process of making ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’, the experience with performing with Phoebe Bridgers and more.
