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Arlo Parks - Wikipedia

18 Jul 202518 min read

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AnaĂŻs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho 1 (born 9 August 2000),2 3 known professionally as Arlo Parks, is an English singer and songwriter. Her debut studio album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, was released in 2021 to critical acclaim and peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart. It earned her nominations for Album of the Year, Best New Artist and Best British Female Solo Artist at the 2021 Brit Awards. It won the 2021 Mercury Prize for Best Album.

Early life

AnaĂŻs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho 4 was born on 9 August 2000, and raised in Hammersmith, West London.5 6 She was educated at Latymer Upper School.7 She is of half Nigerian, quarter Chadian and quarter French ancestry.8 Her mother was born in Paris.9 10 Marinho learned to speak French before she learned English.11

Career

Parks performing in 2022 at Somerset House

Parks chose her stage name as a distinctive personal pseudonym, inspired by King Krule and Frank Ocean.12 4 In 2018, she began uploading demos to BBC Music Introducing. This caught the attention of radio presenters across the UK who distributed these demos to Ali Raymond of Beatnik Creative, who soon began managing Parks.13 She made her solo debut when she released the song “Cola” through Beatnik Records in November 2018,14 and announced the release of her debut EP, Super Sad Generation.15 She told Line of Best Fit that the song is “a reminder that betrayal is inevitable when it comes to pretty people that think flowers fix everything.” Olivia Swash wrote that the vocals on the song “flourish thanks to [Parks’] creative writing background, with her delicate tone taking centre stage against the gently plodding guitars and the soft crackle of vinyl.” 14 By November 2019, the song had amassed over three million streams on Spotify.10

Following the release of “Cola”, Parks signed to Transgressive Records.16 She released the title track of her upcoming EP, Super Sad Generation, in January 2019.17 18 Robin Murray told Clash that the song portrays an “astute, nuanced creative control that also utilises word-play that speaks of youthful emotions spinning out of control.” 19 Her third single, “Romantic Garbage”, was released in March 2019,15 before the release of the full four-track EP, Super Sad Generation in early April 2019.20 The EP was recorded in her home in South West London and an Airbnb in the Angel district of London 21 with producer and co-writer Gianluca Buccellati.22

Parks performed her first-ever gig at The Great Escape in Brighton in May 2019,5 then went on to perform on the BBC Music Introducing stage at Glastonbury Festival in late June 2019,23 as well as at Latitude Festival in July 2019.24 She embarked on her first tour supporting Jordan Rakei on the UK leg of his tour in September 2019.25 Throughout the last half of 2019 Parks released the songs “George”,26 “Second Guessing”,27 “Sophie”,28 and “Angel’s Song” 29 30 ahead of her second EP, Sophie.31 Sean Kerwick told DIY that the five-track EP “oozes with the hang-ups of heartbreak and mortality; a topic that seems to overshadow many gen-Z musicians.” 32

Parks performing in 2021

Parks embarked on her first headlining tour of Europe in February and March 2020,33 but could not complete it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, Parks released the singles “Eugene” and ” Black Dog ”, which were well received during the COVID-19 lockdown,34 the latter of which became BBC Radio 1 ‘s Tune of the Week.35 Parks made the front cover of NME in late July 2020.4 She won the AIM Independent Music Award for One to Watch in 2020 in August 2020, after losing the same award to Georgia a year before.36 Parks and Moses Boyd made the front cover of Music Week for the publication’s indie takeover special following the AIM Awards ceremony.37 Parks released her debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, on 29 January 2021.12 The album title comes from the book On Beauty by Zadie Smith, whose writing Parks has said she admires.38

On 12 February 2021, Parks was the music act on The Graham Norton Show singing ” Caroline “. On 19 February 2021, Parks was the main guest of Jools Holland on his BBC programme Later
.39 40

On 11 May, Parks won the Breakthrough Artist Award at the 2021 Brit Awards.

On 9 September, the album Collapsed in Sunbeams won the Hyundai Mercury Prize for Album of the Year. Presenting the award, judge Annie MacManus said: “We chose an artist with a singular voice who uses lyrics of remarkable beauty 
 and connects deeply with her generation as she does so”.

Following her Collapsed in Sunbeams tour, Parks has performed as the 2022 opening act for Harry Styles,41 Billie Eilish 42 and Clairo.43

On 25 June 2022, Parks performed a 53-minute set 44 on The Park Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2022,45 before joining Phoebe Bridgers later in the day to perform ” Graceland Too “.46

During Glastonbury, Parks was selected as a guest for the CBeebies Bedtime Story, reading Once Upon a Rhythm by James Carter.47

In September 2022, she cancelled her tour dates in the United States, citing mental health concerns.48 49

On 18 January 2023, Parks announced the release of her second studio album, My Soft Machine, which was released on 26 May 2023. The album’s title comes from a piece of dialogue from the 2019 film The Souvenir. The album’s lead single, “Weightless”, was released with the announcement.50 This was followed by singles “Impurities,” released 1 March 2023, and “Blades” released 19 April 2023.51 52 A fourth single, “Pegasus,” was released on 10 May 2023, featuring artist Phoebe Bridgers, with whom Parks had previously performed with on BBC Radio 1 in 2020 and at Coachella in 2022. Of the single, Parks said “‘Pegasus’ is about experiencing the warmth and lightness of good love for the first time,” and “It also explores how the absence of chaos and the presence of real connection can be a little bit terrifying after a long time of not having it.” 53 54 Parks toured South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand in the months following the release of her new album.55 On 13 June 2023, Parks announced the upcoming release of her debut poetry book , The Magic Border, on 12 September 2023.56 She began her European tour on 5 September 2023 in Dublin.57

In March 2024, Parks received writing credits for the song “YA YA,” performed by BeyoncĂ© on the album Cowboy Carter.58

Personal life

Parks is bisexual and is based in Los Angeles.59 She was educated at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith and completed her A Levels in early 2019 at Ashbourne College.60 61 62 In the autobiographical text on her Spotify profile, Parks claimed that she spent most of secondary school “feeling like that black kid who couldn’t dance for shit, listening to too much emo music and crushing on some girl in her Spanish class.” 63

Parks began dating the singer Ashnikko in December 2021.64 49 They split in early 2024, with Ashnikko referencing the breakup in her debut performance of her song “Itty Bitty” while opening for Billie Eilish in December 2024.65

Parks has named Elliott Smith, Sylvia Plath, Radiohead and Joni Mitchell as among her influences.66 67

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
UK
74		AUS
75		AUT
76		BEL
(FL)
77		FRA
78		GER
79		IRE
80		NLD
81		NZ
82		US
Heat
83
Collapsed in Sunbeams3186684102747404
  • BPI: Gold 84
My Soft Machine
  • Released: 26 May 2023
  • Label: Beatnik, Transgressive
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, vinyl, CD
968—46180
85		23————

Extended plays

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
UK
Indie
86		UK
R&B
/HH
87
Super Sad Generation 26347
Sophie 38
  • Released: 6 December 2019
  • Label: Beatnik, Transgressive
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, vinyl
——

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum/EP
UK
Sales
88		UK
Indie
89		BEL
(FL)
Tip
77		CAN
Rock
90		ICE
91		JPN
Over.
92		NZ
Hot
93		SCO
94		SWI
Air
95		US
AAA
96
"Cola" 972018— 1—— 2———————Super Sad Generation
"Super Sad Generation" 992019— 3———17—————
"Romantic Garbage" 100——————————
"George" 101——————————Sophie
"Second Guessing" 102——————————
"Sophie" 103——————————
"Angel's Song" 104——————————
"Eugene" 1052020——— 4———————Collapsed in Sunbeams
" Black Dog "64— 544—4——92——
"Hurt" 107——44—38————13
"Green Eyes"
(featuring Clairo) 108		——45—2———77—
" Caroline " 109863546—1318——89—
"Hope" 1102021—4642———31——27
"Too Good"———48——————
" Softly "2022————16————27Non-album single
"Weightless"2023—————13———11My Soft Machine
"Impurities" 111——————————
"Blades"—————7————
"Pegasus"
(featuring Phoebe Bridgers)		——————————
"Devotion" 112—————————14
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum/EP
BEL
(WA)
113
"Sangria"
(Easy Life featuring Arlo Parks) 114		2020—Junk Food
"Sunrise"
(Michelle featuring Arlo Parks) 115		—Non-album singles
" Tangerine "
(Glass Animals featuring Arlo Parks) 116		— 6
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.

Promotional singles

TitleYearAlbum/EP
” Creep ” 682020Non-album single

Guest appearances

TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"What Matters Most?" 1182020Future Utopia12 Questions
"Stranger in the Night" 118
"Quilt of Steam"2023Del Water GapI Miss You Already + I Haven't Left Yet
"Breathe"2024KhalidSincere

Music videos

TitleYearDirector(s)Ref.
"Cola"2018Ruby Brown and Leo Taylor119
"Super Sad Generation"2019Molly Burdett120
"George"121
"Second Guessing"33bound122
"Sophie"Molly Burdett123
"Sangria"
(with Easy Life)		Greg Barth
"Angel's Song"Ruby Brown124
"Eugene"2020The Coyle-Larner Brothers125
"Black Dog"Molly Burdett126
"Hurt"127
"Green Eyes"Louis Bhose128
"Hope"2021Molly Burdett110
"Too Good"Bedroom129
" Softly "2022Zhang and Knight
"Weightless"2023Marc Oller
"Impurities"Jak Payne111
"Blades"Bedroom
"Pegasus"
(featuring Phoebe Bridgers)		Bedroom
OrganizationYearCategoryNominated workResultRef.
AIM Independent Music Awards2019One to WatchArlo ParksNominated130
2020Won42
2021UK Independent BreakthroughWon131
Best Live (Streamed) ActNominated
PPL Award for Most Played New Independent ArtistNominated
Best Independent AlbumCollapsed in SunbeamsWon
Best Independent Track"Hope"Nominated
Best Independent VideoNominated
2022"Softly"Nominated132
PPL Award for Most Played New Independent ArtistArlo ParksNominated
BBC2020Sound of 2020Longlisted133
Introducing Artist of the YearWon134
Hottest Record of the Year" Black Dog "Shortlisted135
UK Music Video Awards2020Best R&B/Soul Video – NewcomerNominated136
2021Best Pop Video - UK"Hope"Nominated137
2022" Softly "Nominated138
Best Production Design in a VideoNominated
BRIT Awards2021Album of the YearCollapsed in SunbeamsNominated139
Best British Female Solo ArtistArlo ParksNominated
Best New ArtistWon
Denmark GAFFA Awards2022Best Foreign New ActPending140
Best Foreign Solo ActPending
Best Foreign AlbumCollapsed in SunbeamsPending
Music Managers Forum2021Breakthrough Artist & ManagerArlo Parks and Ali RaymondWon141
BET Awards2021Best New International ActArlo ParksNominated142
Mercury Prize2021Album of the YearCollapsed in SunbeamsWon143
Ivor Novello Award2021Best Song Musically and LyricallyBlack DogNominated144
MOBO Awards2021Album of the YearCollapsed in the SunbeamsNominated145
Best NewcomerArlo ParksNominated
Best Female ActNominated
Music Week Awards2021PR CampaignPending146
Music Video Festival2021Revelation in Direction"Too Good"Nominated147
BMI London Awards2021Impact AwardArlo ParksWon148
GLAAD Media Awards2022Outstanding Breakthrough Music ArtistCollapsed in SunbeamsNominated
Grammy AwardsBest New ArtistArlo ParksNominated149
Best Alternative Music AlbumCollapsed in SunbeamsNominated
NME AwardsBest Solo Act in the WorldArlo ParksNominated150
Best Solo Act from the UKNominated
Libera AwardsRecord of the YearCollapsed in SunbeamsNominated151
Best Pop RecordWon
Berlin Music Video AwardsBest ConceptSOFTLYNominated

Notes

References

Footnotes

  1. Veitch, Mara (19 August 2020). “Arlo Parks’s Music Captures the Angst and Agony of Growing Up”. W. ISSN 0162-9115. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020. ↩

  2. Parks, Arlo [@arloparks] (9 August 2020). “I turned 20! years! old! today! Thank u 2 everyone for the messages of luv n light - my heart is full” (Tweet) – via Twitter. ↩

  3. “Anais Oluwatoyin Estelle MARINHO (born August 2000)“. Companies House. Retrieved 5 June 2020. ↩

  4. Williams, Jenessa (24 July 2020). “On The Cover – Arlo Parks: “I feel like I’m 10 and 100 at once"". NME. Retrieved 23 August 2020. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  5. Geoghegan, Kev (11 June 2019). “Arlo Parks: ‘I cried at the end of my first gig’“. BBC News. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩ ↩2

  6. Mahanty, Shannon (10 August 2019). “One to watch: Arlo Parks”. The Guardian. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  7. Iqbal, Nosheen (8 May 2021). “Arlo Parks: Gen Z star entrances all who hear her”. The Guardian. ↩

  8. Schiller, Rebecca (24 October 2019). “Arlo Parks Shares Powerful Visuals for Vulnerable New Single ‘Sophie’: Premiere”. Billboard. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  9. Zonderman, Tom (24 February 2020). “Arlo Parks: ‘It’s not that we are super sad all the time’“. Bruzz. Retrieved 21 July 2020. ↩

  10. Thomas, Katie (9 November 2019). “Storytelling with Arlo Parks”. The Face. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩ ↩2

  11. Fiorentino, Paulie (22 November 2019). “VEVO DSCVR: Arlo PArks”. Verge Magazine. Retrieved 23 December 2019. ↩

  12. “Arlo Parks has announced her debut album, ‘Collapsed In Sunbeams’“. Dork. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020. ↩ ↩2

  13. Cirisano, Tatiana (7 December 2020). “One To Watch: Arlo Parks Talks Mining ‘Traumatic Places’ to Create Her Debut Album”. Billboard. Retrieved 16 January 2021. ↩

  14. Swash, Olivia (23 November 2018). “Arlo Parks introduces soulful melancholy with debut offering “Cola"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩ ↩2

  15. Keith, James (19 March 2019). “Premiere: Soul Singer Arlo Parks Deals With An Intense Early Crush On “Romantic Garbage"". Complex. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩ ↩2

  16. Thompson, Alex (19 November 2019). “Arlo Parks’ Super Sad Generation”. Nouse. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  17. Renshaw, David (30 January 2019). “Arlo Parks gives teen angst a human face on “Super Sad Generation"". The FADER. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  18. Bartlet, Jess (31 January 2019). “Arlo Parks debuts reflective and poetic “Super Sad Generation"". Earmilk. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  19. Murray, Robin (31 January 2019). “Arlo Parks Shares Remarkable New Single ‘Super Sad Generation’“. Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  20. “Super Sad Generation - EP by Arlo Parks”. Apple Music. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  21. Homewood, Ben (20 November 2019). “On The Radar: Arlo Parks”. Music Week. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  22. Williams, Jenessa (24 July 2020). “Arlo Parks: “I feel like I’m 10 and 100 at once"". NME. Retrieved 26 July 2020. ↩

  23. “Glastonbury 2019 - Acts - Arlo Parks”. BBC. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  24. Toubro, Tanja (22 October 2019). “Arlo Parks Wants to Be for Others What She Did Not Have for Herself [Q&A]“. Ones to Watch. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  25. Rakei, Jordan (4 June 2019). “Arlo Parks is supporting me on all the UK and European dates of the ORIGIN Tour in September / October!“. Facebook. Retrieved 25 December 2019. ↩

  26. Ellerby, George (13 June 2019). “Arlo Parks shares ‘george’”. tmrw. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  27. Murray, Robin (24 September 2019). “Arlo Parks Returns With ‘Second Guessing’“. Clash. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  28. Kenneally, Cerys (25 October 2019). “Arlo Parks unveils endearing new cut “Sophie"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  29. “Arlo Parks shares ‘Angel’s Song’“. DIY. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  30. “Arlo Parks is teasing her new EP with latest single, ‘Angel’s Song’“. Dork. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  31. “Arlo Parks shares new single ‘Second Guessing’, announces forthcoming ‘Sophie’ EP”. DIY. 14 September 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  32. Kerwick, Sean (29 November 2019). “Arlo Parks - Sophie | Reviews”. DIY. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  33. Hewitson, Rosie (16 December 2019). “Class of 2020: Arlo Parks”. DIY. Retrieved 25 December 2019. ↩

  34. Richards, Will (20 May 2020). “Arlo Parks: Creator of the year’s most devastating song”. NME. Retrieved 5 June 2020. ↩

  35. Ahmed, Narzra (13 May 2020). “Singer-songwriter and poet Arlo Parks’ confessional style seeps into her powerful new single ‘Black Dog’“. When The Horn Blows. Retrieved 5 June 2020. ↩

  36. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (12 August 2020). “Sarathy Korwar, Flying Lotus and FKA twigs among 2020 AIM awards winners”. The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 August 2020. ↩

  37. Homewood, Ben (10 August 2020). “The shape of indie to come: Meet Moses Boyd & Arlo Parks”. Music Week. Retrieved 16 September 2020. ↩

  38. Nechamkin, Sarah (26 January 2021). “Arlo Parks Is Listening to Frank Ocean, Funkadelic, and Music for Plants”. Interview Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2023. ↩

  39. “Watch Arlo Parks, Sleaford Mods and more christen new season of ‘Later
 With Jools Holland’“. NME. 20 February 2021. ↩

  40. “How Later
 With Jools Holland became a lifeline for artists in lockdown”. ↩

  41. Zemler, Emily (2 February 2022). “Arlo Parks Watches Her World Crumble in ‘Softly’ Video”. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 February 2022. ↩

  42. “Billie Eilish announces Jessie Reyez, Jungle, Arlo Parks and Girl In Red as support for UK tour”. NME. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022. ↩

  43. “Clairo announces “no bullshit” US tour with Arlo Parks”. NME. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022. ↩

  44. “BBC Music - Glastonbury, 2022, Arlo Parks”. BBC. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022. ↩

  45. Digital, Pretty Good. “Glastonbury Festival - 2022”. Glastonbury Festival - 22nd-26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022. ↩

  46. “Phoebe Bridgers live at Glastonbury 2022: a triumphant – and powerful – victory lap”. NME. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022. ↩

  47. “Arlo Parks, Phoebe Bridgers and Guy Garvey to read CBeebies Bedtime Stories from Glastonbury”. www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2025. ↩

  48. Morris, Ben (16 September 2022). “British singer Arlo Parks cancels US dates, saying: ‘I am broken’“. The Guardian. Retrieved 17 September 2022. ↩

  49. Hans, Simran (3 February 2023). “Arlo Parks on burnout, boundaries and budding romance: ‘I have to remind myself to take it easy’“. The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 October 2024. ↩ ↩2

  50. Strauss, Matthew (18 January 2023). “Arlo Parks Announces Album and Shares Video for New Song “Weightless"". Pitchfork. ↩

  51. Geraghty, Hollie (2 March 2023). “Arlo Parks Shares Ambient New Single “Impurities"". NME. ↩

  52. Duran, Anagricel (21 April 2023). “Arlo Parks Shares Lively Cathartic New Single “Blades"". NME. ↩

  53. Strauss, Matthew (10 May 2023). “Arlo Parks and Phoebe Bridgers Share Video for New Song ‘Pegasus’“. Pitchfork. ↩

  54. Corcoran, Nina; Moreland, Quinn (16 April 2022). “Watch Phoebe Bridgers Duet with Arlo Parks, Perform New Song at Coachella 2022”. Pitchfork. ↩

  55. Mzezewa, Tariro (18 August 2023). “Arlo Parks Pivots to Poetry”. The Cut. Retrieved 8 September 2023. ↩

  56. “Arlo Parks Announces Debut Book The Magic Border”. Pitchfork. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023. ↩

  57. “Arlo Parks in Dublin review: An energetic, intimate performance to kick off her tour”. The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 September 2023. ↩

  58. Dailey, Hannah (2 April 2024). “Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Songwriting Credits: Here’s Who Wrote Each Song”. Billboard. Retrieved 2 April 2024. ↩

  59. “Arlo Parks says cancelling string of concerts was ‘really difficult decision’“. 30 April 2023. ↩

  60. Homewood, Ben (31 July 2019). “Making Waves: Arlo Parks”. Music Week. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  61. “Arlo Parks interview: ‘People like to write that I was confused about my sexuality – but I never felt that’“. The Independent. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021. ↩

  62. “Ashbourne College Facebook post”. Facebook. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2021. ↩

  63. “About - Arlo Parks”. Spotify. Retrieved 19 December 2019. ↩

  64. “ashnikko on Instagram: “1 year with my love. 1 year of constant giggling and slow dancing to khruangbin in the kitchen. i love you."". Instagram. Retrieved 3 December 2022. ↩

  65. ""It’s about that feeling when a girl breaks up with you and kinda ruins your life
and your mental health"". Instagram. Retrieved 24 December 2024. ↩

  66. “Arlo Parks interview: ‘People like to write that I was confused about my sexuality – but I never felt that’“. The Independent. 5 January 2021. ↩

  67. “Interview with Arlo Parks: On Turning Poems into Songs”. 16 September 2020. ↩

  68. “Creep - Single by Arlo Parks on Apple Music”. Apple Music. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020. ↩

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