# Arlo Parks

Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho (born 9 August 2000), 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

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

## Career
### 2018–2019: Super Sad Generation and Sophie

Parks chose her stage name as a distinctive personal pseudonym, inspired by King Krule and Frank Ocean. 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. She made her solo debut when she released the song "Cola" through Beatnik Records in November 2018, and announced the release of her debut EP, Super Sad Generation. 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." By November 2019, the song had amassed over three million streams on Spotify.
Following the release of "Cola", Parks signed to Transgressive Records. She released the title track of her upcoming EP, Super Sad Generation, in January 2019. 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." Her third single, "Romantic Garbage", was released in March 2019, before the release of the full four-track EP, Super Sad Generation in early April 2019. The EP was recorded in her home in South West London and an Airbnb in the Angel district of London with producer and co-writer Gianluca Buccellati.
Parks performed her first-ever gig at The Great Escape in Brighton in May 2019, then went on to perform on the BBC Music Introducing stage at Glastonbury Festival in late June 2019, as well as at Latitude Festival in July 2019. She embarked on her first tour supporting Jordan Rakei on the UK leg of his tour in September 2019. Throughout the last half of 2019 Parks released the songs "George", "Second Guessing", "Sophie", and "Angel's Song" ahead of her second EP, Sophie. 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."

### 2020–2022: Collapsed in Sunbeams

Parks embarked on her first headlining tour of Europe in February and March 2020, 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, the latter of which became BBC Radio 1's Tune of the Week. Parks made the front cover of NME in late July 2020. 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. Parks and Moses Boyd made the front cover of Music Week for the publication's indie takeover special following the AIM Awards ceremony. Parks released her debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, on 29 January 2021. The album title comes from the book On Beauty by Zadie Smith, whose writing Parks has said she admires.
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....
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, Billie Eilish and Clairo.
On 25 June 2022, Parks performed a 53-minute set on The Park Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2022, before joining Phoebe Bridgers later in the day to perform "Graceland Too".
During Glastonbury, Parks was selected as a guest for the CBeebies Bedtime Story, reading Once Upon a Rhythm by James Carter.
In September 2022, she cancelled her tour dates in the United States, citing mental health concerns.

### 2023–present: My Soft Machine

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. This was followed by singles "Impurities," released 1 March 2023, and "Blades" released 19 April 2023. 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." Parks toured South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand in the months following the release of her new album. On 13 June 2023, Parks announced the upcoming release of her debut poetry book ,The Magic Border, on 12 September 2023. She began her European tour on 5 September 2023 in Dublin.
In March 2024, Parks received writing credits for the song "YA YA," performed by Beyoncé on the album Cowboy Carter.

## Personal life

Parks is bisexual and is based in Los Angeles. She was educated at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith and completed her A Levels in early 2019 at Ashbourne College. 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."
Parks began dating the singer Ashnikko in December 2021. They split in early 2024, with Ashnikko referencing the breakup in her debut performance of her upcoming song "Itty Bitty" while opening for Billie Eilish in December 2024.
Parks has named Elliott Smith, Sylvia Plath, Radiohead and Joni Mitchell as among her influences.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Details | UK | AUS | AUT | BEL (FL) | FRA | GER | IRE | NLD | NZ | US Heat | Certifications |
| 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 | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | 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 | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album/EP |
| Title | Year | UK Sales | UK Indie | BEL (FL) Tip | CAN Rock | ICE | JPN Over. | NZ Hot | SCO | SWI Air | US AAA | Album/EP |
| "Cola" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Super Sad Generation |
| "Super Sad Generation" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | Super Sad Generation |
| "Romantic Garbage" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Super Sad Generation |
| "George" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sophie |
| "Second Guessing" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sophie |
| "Sophie" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sophie |
| "Angel's Song" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sophie |
| "Eugene" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Collapsed in Sunbeams |
| "Black Dog" | 2020 | 64 | — | 44 | — | 4 | — | — | 92 | — | — | Collapsed in Sunbeams |
| "Hurt" | 2020 | — | — | 44 | — | 38 | — | — | — | — | 13 | Collapsed in Sunbeams |
| "Green Eyes" (featuring Clairo) | 2020 | — | — | 45 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 77 | — | Collapsed in Sunbeams |
| "Caroline" | 2020 | 86 | 35 | 46 | — | 13 | 18 | — | — | 89 | — | Collapsed in Sunbeams |
| "Hope" | 2021 | — | 46 | 42 | — | — | — | 31 | — | — | 27 | Collapsed in Sunbeams |
| "Too Good" | 2021 | — | — | — | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Collapsed in Sunbeams |
| "Softly" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | 27 | Non-album single |
| "Weightless" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | 11 | My Soft Machine |
| "Impurities" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | My Soft Machine |
| "Blades" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | — | — | My Soft Machine |
| "Pegasus" (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | My Soft Machine |
| "Devotion" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | My Soft Machine |
| "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released. |||||||||||||

#### As featured artist

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album/EP |
| Title | Year | BEL (WA) | Album/EP |
| "Sangria" (Easy Life featuring Arlo Parks) | 2020 | — | Junk Food |
| "Sunrise" (Michelle featuring Arlo Parks) | 2020 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Tangerine" (Glass Animals featuring Arlo Parks) | 2020 | — | Non-album singles |
| "—" 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" | 2020 | Future Utopia | 12 Questions |
| "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) |
| "Cola" | 2018 | Ruby Brown and Leo Taylor |
| "Super Sad Generation" | 2019 | Molly Burdett |
| "George" | 2019 | Molly Burdett |
| "Second Guessing" | 2019 | 33bound |
| "Sophie" | 2019 | Molly Burdett |
| "Sangria" (with Easy Life) | 2019 | Greg Barth |
| "Angel's Song" | 2019 | Ruby Brown |
| "Eugene" | 2020 | The Coyle-Larner Brothers |
| "Black Dog" | 2020 | Molly Burdett |
| "Hurt" | 2020 | Molly Burdett |
| "Green Eyes" | 2020 | Louis Bhose |
| "Hope" | 2021 | Molly Burdett |
| "Too Good" | 2021 | Bedroom |
| "Softly" | 2022 | Zhang and Knight |
| "Weightless" | 2023 | Marc Oller |
| "Impurities" | 2023 | Jak Payne |
| "Blades" | 2023 | Bedroom |
| "Pegasus" (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) | 2023 | Bedroom |

## Awards and nominations

| Organization | Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2019 | One to Watch | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2020 | One to Watch | Arlo Parks | Won |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2021 | UK Independent Breakthrough | Arlo Parks | Won |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2021 | Best Live (Streamed) Act | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2021 | PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2021 | Best Independent Album | Collapsed in Sunbeams | Won |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2021 | Best Independent Track | "Hope" | Nominated |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2021 | Best Independent Video | "Hope" | Nominated |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2022 | Best Independent Video | "Softly" | Nominated |
| AIM Independent Music Awards | 2022 | PPL Award for Most Played New Independent Artist | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| BBC | 2020 | Sound of 2020 | Arlo Parks | Longlisted |
| BBC | 2020 | Introducing Artist of the Year | Arlo Parks | Won |
| BBC | 2020 | Hottest Record of the Year | "Black Dog" | Shortlisted |
| UK Music Video Awards | 2020 | Best R&B/Soul Video – Newcomer | "Black Dog" | Nominated |
| UK Music Video Awards | 2021 | Best Pop Video - UK | "Hope" | Nominated |
| UK Music Video Awards | 2022 | Best Pop Video - UK | "Softly" | Nominated |
| UK Music Video Awards | 2022 | Best Production Design in a Video | "Softly" | Nominated |
| BRIT Awards | 2021 | Album of the Year | Collapsed in Sunbeams | Nominated |
| BRIT Awards | 2021 | Best British Female Solo Artist | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| BRIT Awards | 2021 | Best New Artist | Arlo Parks | Won |
| Denmark GAFFA Awards | 2022 | Best Foreign New Act | Arlo Parks | Pending |
| Denmark GAFFA Awards | 2022 | Best Foreign Solo Act | Arlo Parks | Pending |
| Denmark GAFFA Awards | 2022 | 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 |
| MOBO Awards | 2021 | Best Newcomer | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| MOBO Awards | 2021 | Best Female Act | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| Music Week Awards | 2021 | PR Campaign | Arlo Parks | 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 | 2022 | Best New Artist | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| Grammy Awards | 2022 | Best Alternative Music Album | Collapsed in Sunbeams | Nominated |
| NME Awards | 2022 | Best Solo Act in the World | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| NME Awards | 2022 | Best Solo Act from the UK | Arlo Parks | Nominated |
| Libera Awards | 2022 | Record of the Year | Collapsed in Sunbeams | Nominated |
| Libera Awards | 2022 | Best Pop Record | Collapsed in Sunbeams | Won |