Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams

Artwork Collapsed in Sunbeams

Contemplating, thinking, sorting oneself out:  mental processes full of sorrows and nerve-wrecking thoughts are put down on paper and into melodies by the singer Arlo Parks: the result sounds somehow therapeutic –  distancing herself from these difficult feelings. I see it as a pretty brave act to be as frank as Arlo Parks in her debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams, sharing her inner voice and thoughts to the outer world. Her music avoids any specific genre classification, but her focus is best described in lying in between Spoken-Word, schemes of Hip-Hop, Soul, Emo and some electronic elements.

cc Rolling Stone

Already in her early 20s Parks had to cope with some big setbacks: the experience of not being able to fit into this world to the extent of feeling like the only one stuck with those problems. These supposedly weaknesses of her identity- being an outsider at school, living in London with a migration background and coming out as bisexual, having to suffer from depression- are all addressed in her songs. A lot to take in for anyone who already has to get through “normal” issues during adolescence.

As intimate as her lyrics is the way she produces her music: Having started writing at an early age of 13, she also taught herself how to play the guitar. During lockdowns in 2020/21 she then started recording songs in her bedroom, which resulted in this piece of music.

As accurate as Arlo Parks describes her inner self, she also seems to attentively observe her environment and the conflicts of her generation, the “Generation Z”, the “Generation of anxiety” and its’ tendency to face a lot of mental health issues: Hurt describes a boy having to cope with an addiction; Black Dog is an analogy for depression: “It's so cruel/ What your mind can do for no reason/ I take a jump off the fire escape/ To make the black dog go away/ At least I know that you are trying/ But that's what makes it terrifying.”

 I have read somewhere that her music sounds monotonous! Yes, I agree, but definitely not in a negative way. Therefore her music and the topics she brings up will get transmitted so perfectly. Her soothing and tender way of singing sounds really like her voice is wrapped in cotton wool, creating something between a dreamy but also indolent mood, underlining severe and devouring topics of a generation who might need some more easiness in their lives. By being so open and intimate she creates a sense of community to those who might have similar obstacles to defeat, which is exactly what lost, anxious and depressed one’s need: support, comfort, a sense of belonging and ways how to get out of a crisis.

Two further tracks that will defenitely get stuck in your head:

Listen to Collapsed in Sunbeams on Spotify: