Arlo Parks tells Apple Music his thoughts on the power of his music to move fans….
I really try to actively take the time to process this. I feel like I get this a lot in salons. When I just remember, for a second, that I’m standing right in front of thousands of people and they know who I am and some of them are crying, some of them have that euphoric moment. But I think it’s important to be actively present, especially when the pace of life is so fast and you’re always looking for the next record, the next idea. But I try and, in my journals and just in me, I think about what I’m building and I have a second to say to myself, “Yeah, I’m a little proud of myself.” I think I get drawn in sometimes when I start thinking about the story that inspired that song. I am a very sensitive person. So it’s really hard for me to set boundaries that way, but it can be kind of beautiful because even though it’s a song I’ve sung a thousand times, seeing that person live their moment reminds me that what we live together is really special. And some people only go to one or two shows a year, and that someone chose me, that’s really beautiful. So yeah. Try to put me in there.
Arlo Parks tells Apple Music about the artists who have “softly” inspired…
There was Mazzy Star, but there was also Objekt, this techno DJ. There was a bit of Madonna. There was a bit of MF Doom. Literally, it’s always everywhere and everyone says “Wait, what?”. And Jai Paul, Jai Paul too. Jai Paul is a big influence.
Arlo Parks tells Apple Music what drives his creative process…
I think the only thing that guides me is my taste, and my taste evolves, but there are certain things that are at the heart of what I do. It’s things like poetry and being inspired by a vast kaleidoscope of different things. I experimented with more electronic sounds. I guess I have, I feel like I have time now and I have a kind of wealth of collaborators that I really trust, but for me, yeah, I try not to too much think it. Because then I feel like I’m embarrassing myself and I’m like, “Wait, should I do this? Is that okay?”
Arlo Parks tells Apple Music how creating brings him peace…
I find peace in movement. I find peace in having a focus for my brain. I don’t find it restful to sit and stare at the ceiling. I mean, I don’t know if anyone does, but I need to find something that I feel like I can completely immerse myself in and almost obsess over. I think that’s what making music does for me. And also just exploring different creative avenues, be it film or theater, writing prose.
Arlo Parks tells Apple Music the story behind his song “Black Dog”…
He was one of my closest friends and we are still best friends now. And we met at school when we were about 13 in Spanish class, and she was just in that kind of deep pit in terms of mental health. And there was this real feeling of helplessness. I think that’s it, where it’s like you’d do anything to take this pain on yourself or try to work things out, but it’s like… I mean, it’s in the hook. Sometimes it’s for no reason. Sometimes it’s not like, “Okay, what’s causing this? Can we solve this problem? Can we have this conversation? Do you need water? Do you need food? Do you want to go to this place? But sometimes, even trying to address these elements, it’s like an inner turmoil.
