As someone who predominantly only listens to sad folk music, finding anything that I like outside of this genre is rather difficult. Either it is too jazzy, too wordy, or reminds me too much of 80’s classics that I honestly just can not stand. However, British artist Arlo Parks has definitely caught my attention with her killer album, “Collapsed in Sunbeams”.
Admittedly, I had not heard of Arlo Parks until I was on a film set with the director raving about this breakout artist’s first album being unbelievably good. Naturally, I wanted to be my own judge— and I can confidently say there was not a single skip on the album.
Indie-pop with hypnotic vocals and lo-fi beats, Arlo Parks does not disappoint. The album starts with a poem written by Arlo where she beautifully describes what it means to “make peace with your own distortions” about yourself. The 33 second introduction to the album sets listeners up for an ethereal experience, each song as beautiful as the poem that starts off the journey. In looking up the background information for this breakout artist, she says that “I started writing short stories when I was about 7 or 8 and I only started writing songs when I was 14 or 15, so for a big part of my life it was just all about the words”. The lyrics on each of the songs on this album are so intriguing and unique I can not wait to listen to it again to pull out my favorite lines.
Parks’s work made me feel like I was in a sundress on a beautiful spring day surrounded by my friends and family as we picnic and enjoy being alive. Her voice is silky smooth with a hint of musk, almost matching the cadence of the 1990’s hit song, “Fade Into You” sung by Hope Sandoval. Parks has this hypnotic lull in her voice, eerily giving me the same vibes I feel when listening to the aforementioned 90’s hit; the distinct feel of comfort present in every track.
I could play this album and either fall asleep or fall in love with a random stranger; it is all open for interpretation. With only 12 tracks on the album, Parks knows what it means to leave the audience wanting more. If this was her first album, I can not wait to see how her style and lyricism develops as her career progresses.
With all the tracks being hauntingly beautiful, there were a few that stuck out to me as instant repeats. Firstly “Caroline” which features a bouncy guitar accompanied by percussion that I can only describe as “vibey”, because the entire time I was bobbing my head. The chorus hits in “Caroline” and I want to be slowly dancing in a crowded room with headphones on. It is truly as atmospheric as it is enjoyable. This track fits well into 2021, but I could also see this being a hit in the early 2000’s.
“Black Dog” is another track that stuck out to me on this album. Without fear of sounding redundant, this track was whimsical, poetic, and so delightful. Parks’s lyrics in “Black Dog” hit my heart head on—as a track that discusses the relationship between a friend and someone in their life that is obviously struggling with their mental health, I felt the tenderness she meant to communicate to whoever inspired this song. “It’s so cruel… What your mind can do for no reason” she says in her lyrics, a thought that is ever present in current times as mental illness runs rampantly undiagnosed and misunderstood.
If you’re looking for a track outside of the whimsical, atmospheric songs listed above, I also recommend checking out “Green Eyes” or “Just Go”. These two tracks definitely had a more jazzy, bumpy feel to them. I may not like jazz, funky beats, or lofi— but Parks’s songs are so good I’m completely willing to retrain my brain to enjoy this album thoroughly from start to finish.
Parks’s overall message in this album encourages vulnerability and raw honesty with yourself. Whether her tracks addressing mental health were inspired by people in her life or herself, Parks’s takes the authenticity of human emotion and uses it for good.
Ultimately, Parks’s debut album does not disappoint. The poetic nature of her songwriting abilities shine through the catchy beats of her songs. If you’re looking for a new artist to watch rise to the top of the charts, Arlo Parks makes your life a whole lot easier.
The Beat @APU 