Arlo Parks - “Sophie”

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Vagabon, Portishead, SZA

Arlo Parks is a new entry to the blossoming alternative R&B genre, a teenager from London that finds unique range cushioned between neo-soul introspection and experimental turns across a pair of 2019 EPs Super Sad Generation and Sophie. She plays over tight, jazz-infused grooves, often using bass and drums as a steady backbone to create varied musical stories in the surrounding space. “Second Guessing” buds around a slightly psychedelic haze, a trip-hop throwback with a bedroom pop twist, followed by the slow, filtered funk of “George” that vibes like a 90s jam, but through a kind of sexy loneliness that feels very 2019. Acoustic whisperer “Angel’s Song” balances well with the trippy, dreamy “Paperbacks” - while Parks expresses a ton of range on these early works, there’s a consistent, lounge-like mood that shows a clear statement across a longer listen. While this sounds like experimental territory, Parks’ music is delicately delivered and accessible to classic and contemporary R&B ears. (Kevin McStravick)