She’s Not Even A Full Year Out of College And This Rising Star’s Already A Musical Powerhouse!
Arlo Parks was raised in Hammersmith, South-West London — one of just three black kids in her whole school. Parks is Nigerian, Chadian, and French — interestingly, she actually learned to speak French before she could speak English! Her Dad’s jazz records were the soundtrack to her early years and they laid a brilliant foundation for what would become a meteoric rise for her musical career.
During her teenage years, Parks became obsessed with literature and started writing poems and short stories.She also started exploring facets of her identity that led to a realisation that she was bisexual. LGBTQIA+ representation in her art became very important for her because she didn’t have any role models growing up, “When I was growing up, the music I would listen to was made by people who didn’t resemble me at all. But, in a way, the fact that I didn’t have that many creative role models made me feel like it was okay for me to… if I can’t find anyone that’s like me, then I’m just going to have to keep being me and I guess it inspired me in a way to try to be that for other people, I guess.”
And you know what? It’s working! Parks isn’t yet 20 years old but is well on her way to stardom. In fact, if it wasn’t for COVID-19 keeping everyone in quarantine she’d be on an international tour right now. Instead, she says, “Some days I paint and write and meditate, but some days I just sit about with zero motivation. I think that’s natural though.” But with fans already champing at the bit for her debut album this current forced break from concerts might mean we get that sooner than we’d have ever expected!
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Listen to Arlo Parks on:
YouTube →
Spotify →
Google Music →
Deezer →
SoundCloud →
