Born in Hammersmith, West London, Arlo Parks was discovered by Ali Raymond of Beatnik Creative – who later became her manager. She released her first single “Cola” after which she signed a record deal with Transgressive Records and released her debut EP Super Sad Generation. Some career highlights include two Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album for Collapsed In Sunbeams as well as being a supporting act for some of the biggest names in the industry; Billie Eilish, Harry Styles and Florence+The Machine.
Last night in Montreal, Arlo Parks brought the “My Soft Machine” tour supporting her sophomore album. The atmosphere crackled with electric anticipation as the audience gathered for an unforgettable evening. Beginning her set with “Bruiseless” and “Blades”, Arlo shared beautiful vocals accompanied by a 3-piece band playing along to the jazzy tunes. From the moment the first note resonated through the venue, it was clear that this concert would be nothing short of extraordinary. Parks hopped on the barricade to sing along to the lyrics of “Caroline” with the audience making the experience for the fans unique and intimate. Halfway through the show, Parks graced the crowd with her collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers “Pegasus” and followed with a few fan favourites songs from her first album such as “Hurt” and “Black Dog” which she dedicated to anyone who was going through a hard time. The 23-year-old then shared her heartfelt song “Hope” singing the lines “You’re not alone/ Like you think you are/ We all scars/ I know it’s hard/ You’re not alone” ending the magical night with “Softly” as the crowd swayed in unison, lost in the hypnotic melodies, and as the final chords faded into the night it became a testament to the transcendent power of live music.
Words and photos by Marjorie Hallé