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Arlo Parks
Arlo Parks (headshot).jpg
Parks performing in 2019
Background information
Birth name Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho
Born (2000-08-09) 9 August 2000 (age 24)
Origin London, England
Genres
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Years active 2018–present
Labels
  • Beatnik
  • Transgressive

Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho (born on August 9, 2000), known as Arlo Parks, is an English singer and songwriter. She became famous for her unique music style. Her first studio album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, came out in 2021. It was highly praised and reached number three on the UK Albums Chart. This album helped her win the 2021 Mercury Prize for Best Album. She also received nominations at the 2021 Brit Awards, including for Album of the Year and Best New Artist.

Early Life and Background

Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho was born on August 9, 2000. She grew up in Hammersmith, a part of West London. Her family background is quite diverse. She is part Nigerian, part Chadian, and part French. Her mother was born in Paris, and Arlo actually learned to speak French before she learned English!

Music Journey

ArloParksSomerset120722 (2 of 16) (52214076671)
Parks performing in 2022 at Somerset House

Arlo Parks chose her stage name because she wanted something special and personal. She was inspired by other artists like King Krule and Frank Ocean.

Starting Out: 2018–2019

In 2018, Arlo started sharing her demo songs on BBC Music Introducing. These demos caught the attention of radio hosts across the UK. They shared her music with Ali Raymond, who soon became her manager.

Her first song, "Cola," was released in November 2018. She said the song was about how people can sometimes let you down. Critics liked her singing style, saying her voice was "delicate" and her writing was "creative." By November 2019, "Cola" had been streamed over three million times on Spotify!

After "Cola," Arlo Parks signed with Transgressive Records. She then released the song "Super Sad Generation" in January 2019. This song showed her thoughtful and creative way of using words to describe young feelings. Her third song, "Romantic Garbage," came out in March 2019. These songs were part of her first collection of songs, called an EP, titled Super Sad Generation. She recorded it at home and in a rented place in London.

Arlo performed her first live show at The Great Escape festival in May 2019. She also played at big festivals like Glastonbury Festival and Latitude Festival. Later in 2019, she released more songs like "George," "Second Guessing," "Sophie," and "Angel's Song." These songs were part of her second EP, called Sophie. This EP explored feelings about life and growing up.

Breakthrough Success: 2020–2022

Arlo Parks - 7th Street Entry - 10-3-2021 - 51554188158
Parks performing in 2021

Arlo Parks started her first headlining tour in Europe in early 2020. However, she had to stop it because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, she released the songs "Eugene" and "Black Dog." "Black Dog" was especially popular during the lockdown and was named "Tune of the Week" by BBC Radio 1.

In August 2020, Arlo won the AIM Independent Music Award for "One to Watch." She released her first full album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, on January 29, 2021. The album's title was inspired by a book called On Beauty by Zadie Smith, an author Arlo admires.

After her album came out, Arlo performed on popular TV shows like The Graham Norton Show and Later... with Jools Holland. In May 2021, she won the Breakthrough Artist Award at the 2021 Brit Awards.

A big moment for Arlo was on September 9, 2021, when Collapsed in Sunbeams won the Hyundai Mercury Prize for Album of the Year. The judges said she had a "singular voice" and used "lyrics of remarkable beauty."

After her own tour, Arlo Parks opened for famous artists like Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and Clairo in 2022. She also performed at Glastonbury Festival again in June 2022. During the festival, she even read a story for CBeebies Bedtime Stories, which is a show for young children! In September 2022, she needed to take a break for her well-being and canceled some tour dates.

New Music and Projects: 2023–Present

On January 18, 2023, Arlo Parks announced her second studio album, My Soft Machine. It was released on May 26, 2023. The album's title comes from a line in the 2019 movie The Souvenir. The first song from the album, "Weightless," was released with the announcement. Other songs like "Impurities" and "Blades" followed.

On May 10, 2023, she released "Pegasus," which featured artist Phoebe Bridgers. Arlo said "Pegasus" is about feeling the "warmth and lightness of good love for the first time." She toured in South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand after her new album came out.

In June 2023, Arlo Parks shared that she would release her first poetry book, The Magic Border, in September 2023. She started her European tour in Dublin in September 2023.

In March 2024, Arlo Parks received writing credits for the song "YA YA," which was performed by Beyoncé on her album Cowboy Carter.

Personal Life

Arlo Parks lives in Los Angeles. She finished her high school exams in early 2019. She has shared that during her school years, she felt like an outsider and enjoyed listening to emo music.

Arlo has mentioned that artists like Elliott Smith, Sylvia Plath, Radiohead, and Joni Mitchell have influenced her music.

Music Releases

Studio Albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
AUS
AUT
BEL
(FL)

FRA
GER
IRE
NLD
NZ
US
Heat

Collapsed in Sunbeams
  • Released: 29 January 2021
  • Label: Beatnik, Transgressive
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, vinyl, CD
3 18 6 6 84 10 27 47 40 4
  • BPI: Gold
My Soft Machine
  • Released: 26 May 2023
  • Label: Beatnik, Transgressive
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, vinyl, CD
9 68 46 180
23

Extended Plays

Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
Indie
UK
R&B
/HH
Super Sad Generation
  • Released: 5 April 2019
  • Label: Beatnik, Transgressive
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, vinyl
34 7
Sophie
  • Released: 6 December 2019
  • Label: Beatnik, Transgressive
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, vinyl

Singles

As Lead Artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album/EP
UK
Sales
UK
Indie
BEL
(FL)
Tip

CAN
Rock
ICE
JPN
Over.
NZ
Hot
SCO
SWI
Air
US
AAA
"Cola" 2018 Super Sad Generation
"Super Sad Generation" 2019 17
"Romantic Garbage"
"George" Sophie
"Second Guessing"
"Sophie"
"Angel's Song"
"Eugene" 2020 Collapsed in Sunbeams
"Black Dog" 64 44 4 92
"Hurt" 44 38 13
"Green Eyes"
(featuring Clairo)
45 2 77
"Caroline" 86 35 46 13 18 89
"Hope" 2021 46 42 31 27
"Too Good" 48
"Softly" 2022 16 27 non-album single
"Weightless" 2023 13 11 My Soft Machine
"Impurities"
"Blades" 7
"Pegasus"
(featuring Phoebe Bridgers)
"Devotion" 14
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.

As Featured Artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album/EP
BEL
(WA)

"Sangria"
(Easy Life featuring Arlo Parks)
2020 Junk Food
"Sunrise"
(Michelle featuring Arlo Parks)
Non-album singles
"Tangerine"
(Glass Animals featuring Arlo Parks)
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released.

Promotional Singles

Title Year Album/EP
"Creep" 2020 Non-album single

Guest Appearances

Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"What Matters Most?" 2020 Future Utopia 12 Questions
"Stranger in the Night"
"Quilt of Steam" 2023 Del Water Gap I Miss You Already + I Haven't Left Yet
"Breathe" 2024 Khalid Sincere

Music Videos

Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Cola" 2018 Ruby Brown and Leo Taylor
"Super Sad Generation" 2019 Molly Burdett
"George"
"Second Guessing" 33bound
"Sophie" Molly Burdett
"Sangria"
(with Easy Life)
Greg Barth
"Angel's Song" Ruby Brown
"Eugene" 2020 The Coyle-Larner Brothers
"Black Dog" Molly Burdett
"Hurt"
"Green Eyes" Louis Bhose
"Hope" 2021 Molly Burdett
"Too Good" Bedroom
"Softly" 2022 Zhang and Knight
"Weightless" 2023 Marc Oller
"Impurities" Jak Payne
"Blades" Bedroom
"Pegasus"
(featuring Phoebe Bridgers)
Bedroom

Awards and Nominations

Organization Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
AIM Independent Music Awards 2019 One to Watch Arlo Parks Nominated
2020 Won
2021 UK Independent Breakthrough Won
Best Live (Streamed) Act Nominated
PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist Nominated
Best Independent Album Collapsed in Sunbeams Won
Best Independent Track "Hope" Nominated
Best Independent Video Nominated
2022 "Softly" Nominated
PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist Arlo Parks Nominated
BBC 2020 Sound of 2020 Longlisted
Introducing Artist of the Year Won
Hottest Record of the Year "Black Dog" Shortlisted
UK Music Video Awards 2020 Best R&B/Soul Video – Newcomer Nominated
2021 Best Pop Video - UK "Hope" Nominated
2022 "Softly" Nominated
Best Production Design in a Video Nominated
BRIT Awards 2021 Album of the Year Collapsed in Sunbeams Nominated
Best British Female Solo Artist Arlo Parks Nominated
Best New Artist Won
Denmark GAFFA Awards 2022 Best Foreign New Act Pending
Best Foreign Solo Act Pending
Best Foreign Album Collapsed in Sunbeams Pending
Music Managers Forum 2021 Breakthrough Artist & Manager Arlo Parks and Ali Raymond Won
BET Awards 2021 Best New International Act Arlo Parks Nominated
Mercury Prize 2021 Album of the Year Collapsed in Sunbeams Won
Ivor Novello Award 2021 Best Song Musically and Lyrically Black Dog Nominated
MOBO Awards 2021 Album of the Year Collapsed in the Sunbeams Nominated
Best Newcomer Arlo Parks Nominated
Best Female Act Nominated
Music Week Awards 2021 PR Campaign Pending
Music Video Festival 2021 Revelation in Direction "Too Good" Nominated
BMI London Awards 2021 Impact Award Arlo Parks Won
GLAAD Media Awards 2022 Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist Collapsed in Sunbeams Nominated
Grammy Awards Best New Artist Arlo Parks Nominated
Best Alternative Music Album Collapsed in Sunbeams Nominated
NME Awards Best Solo Act in the World Arlo Parks Nominated
Best Solo Act from the UK Nominated
Libera Awards Record of the Year Collapsed in Sunbeams Nominated
Best Pop Record Won
Berlin Music Video Awards Best Concept SOFTLY Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Arlo Parks para niños

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