My Soft Machine

## **Singles from *My Soft Machine***

1. "Weightless"
Released: 18 January 2023
2. "Impurities"
Released: 1 March 2023
3. "Blades"
Released: 19 April 2023
4. "Pegasus"
Released: 10 May 2023

***My Soft Machine*** is the sophomore studio album by Arlo Parks, released by Transgressive Records on 26 May 2023. It was preceded by the four singles "Weightless", "Impurities", "Blades", and "Pegasus". She explained, "This record is life through my lens, through my body—the mid 20s anxiety, the substance abuse of friends around me, the viscera of being in love for the first time, navigating PTSD and grief and self sabotage and joy, moving through worlds with wonder and sensitivity—what it's like to be trapped in this particular body."

The record was inspired by photographers and films, with the title deriving from Joanna Hogg's 2019 semi-autobiographical film *The Souvenir*: 'We don't wanna just see life played out as is. We wanna see life as it is experienced, within this soft machine'. Parks embarked on a global tour in promotion, the Soft Machine Tour, which began on 14 June 2023 and will conclude on 28 September 2023.

## Synopsis

"Almost everyone that I love has been abused, and I am included," declares Arlo Parks with arresting honesty in the first lines of her second album *My Soft Machine*. Then, almost in the same breath, she adds, "The person I love is patient with me/She's feeding me cheese and I'm happy." It's an apt introduction to an album that both basks in the light—as Parks celebrates the affirming joy of falling deeply in love—and delves into darkness. "The core concept of the project is that this is reality and memory through my eyes, experienced within this body," Parks tells Apple Music. "From the loss of innocence to the reliving of trauma to the endless nights bursting through Koreatown to first kisses in dimly lit dive bars, this is about my life."

It's all told, of course, with the poetic, diary-entry lyricism that made *Collapsed in Sunbeams* so special—and which catapulted Parks to voice-of-a-generation status. Here, Parks also allows her indie-pop sound to unfurl, with embraces of synths, scuzzy guitars (see "Devotion", the album's most electrifying and unexpected moment), jazz, gorgeous harmonies (on the sweet, Phoebe Bridgers-guested "Pegasus"), electronic music and more. That came, she says, in part from the team she assembled for the album, who allowed her to be more "fluid" (*My Soft Machine* was worked on with names including BROCKHAMPTON producer Romil Hemnani, the prolific US songwriter/producer Ariel Rechtshaid, and Frank Ocean collaborator Baird). "The community that organically formed around the album is one of my favourite things about it," says Parks. "I think there is a confidence to the work. There is a looseness and an energy. There was a sense of sculpting that went beyond the more instinctive and immediate process of making album one. I am very proud of this."

## Background

The album was announced on 18 January 2023, along with the release of its lead single, "Weightless". Parks revealed to *Esquire* that the first demos were made "in the fall of 2020", before the release of *Collapsed in Sunbeams*. She continued, "There's this really interesting limbo when you finish a project and it hasn't yet come out—it feels like the most creatively freeing moment. You have no expectations. You have the confidence that you've created a body of work that you're proud of, and so much time has been put into chipping away at this thing that you just want complete freshness". She described it as working from a "completely blank slate", where she saw around 12-13 tracks that fit cohesively and decided it was time for an album. This was fully-realized while she was in the New York studio, Electric Lady. She informed *Variety* that these demos were for "Ghost" and "Room", followed by "Impurities" during the summer of 2021.

The sound was inspired by music she loved listening to, which would have a "warmth" to it, elaborating, "We laboured over sixteen mixes deep because it was so important to have that sense of warmth and to feel surrounded and like the arms of the music were around you. I always have loved music that made me feel that way". She noted that her favourite song at the time was "Puppy", her favourite to perform was "Devotion", and a song she listened to while writing and recording the record was Jai Paul's "Crush (Unfinished)". She added, "This record [Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones)] was the touchstone for my album. It's a patchwork quilt of references that meshes so perfectly to make something raw and unique. Jai Paul wears his influences on his sleeve in a way that really inspires me. The imperfections are perfect to me, the spirit of Prince in there, his voice all silky and romantic. I soaked in it for the whole 18 months."

In comparison to her previous album, Parks told *The Fader*, "With this record, I was looking more inwards and less from a character perspective, and I was actually in the room with people playing drums, banging on synths, resetting tape machines, having the ability to experiment and play and be a student of other people's processes, and also a lot more involved in the production and bringing in references that I'd always loved but hadn't yet put into my music. So it definitely feels a lot bigger, and I'm telling my truth, rather than the truth that I'm observing in others". She added sonically in its production work, she "wanted there to be a sense of urgency".

## Title

Parks explained in an interview:

>
> [The film] *The Souvenir* talks about how we don't want to see life as it's played out, we want to see life as its experienced in this soft machine. I interpret that as the soft machine is the body, the brain and how it's much more exciting to create work that comes from a subjective place that's seeing through someone's eyes and heart and the details of the memories that they remember… Soft, obviously being an exploration of that sense of tenderness and gentleness and compassion, juxtaposed with the machine, that conjures up images of steel and coldness and something inhuman that has no thought or soul — it captured the fact that this is an album of light and shade. It's about numbness but also being hypersensitive, and even extroversion versus deep introversion and community versus solitude. I think it just captures a lot of those contrasts really nicely.
>
>
>
>

## Critical reception

*My Soft Machine* received a score of 75 out of 100 at review aggregator Metacritic based on fifteen critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. *Rolling Stone* praised, "Parks has a skill for inviting listeners not only into her mind, but into her immediate environment, and the effects bring her racing emotions right to the forefront" and concluded, "[Her] second album shows her hyper-real point of view, seizing on details in a way to figure out her place in the world, one where she can feel pure joy while bracing herself and her loved ones against life's slings and arrows." *Pitchfork* was more critical, writing, "Frustratingly, these adrenaline spikes of desire are often muted by hazy, Vaseline-coated arrangements [...] The few deviations from the dreamy production are hit and miss."

Thomas Smith of *NME* remarked, "the follow-up record, is indebted to similar topics: trauma, mental wellbeing and mindfulness." They noted how it "takes more risks" and felt "the big set-pieces are left wanting" but conceded, "there's ample to consider, decode and treasure from an artist who consistently makes poring over the lyric sheet line-by-line as much fun as the finished product". *PopMatters* was less impressed, opining, "In terms of production approaches [...] lack[s] the inventive folk, lounge-jazz, and trip-hop textures that informed *Sunbeams*' multifaceted aesthetic." They summarized it as "over reliant on predictable sonics and vague melodies" and "unfolds respectably, proficiently, even likably, yet not particularly memorably". *The Independent* said, "*My Soft Machine* is a punchier, poppier outing for Parks but the record shares a lot in common with its predecessor". *Exclaim!* highlighted the song "Pegasus" as a standout track and believed the album as a whole "captures the tragedy of romantic bliss becoming a persistent wound". They finished, "Despite a few moments spent in the doldrums, Park's heartfelt lyricism and serene instrumentals navigate the complexities of love and healing, reminding listeners of the ongoing process of finding wholeness. This is essential listening for anyone looking to repair their relationship with themselves more than anyone else".

## Personnel

* Arlo Parks – writer (all tracks), producer (1, 8, 12), engineer (1, 12)
* David Wrench – mixing (all tracks)
* Matt Colton – mastering (all tracks)
* Carter Langwriter – writer, additional production (2)
* Al Hug – writer, producer, engineer (2)
* Romil Hemnani – writer, producer, engineer (2-3, 7)
* Baird – writer (3, 7); producer, engineer (3, 7-8)
* Paul Epworth – writer (3-7, 12); producer (4-6); addition production (3, 7-8, 12)
* Riley MacIntyre – engineer (3-8, 12)
* Chiara Ferracuti – assistant engineer (3-8, 12)
* Luke Pickering – engineer (4-6)
* Phoebe Bridgers – vocals (7)
* Ariel Rechtshaid – writer, producer (9-10); engineer (9-11)
* Josiah Sherman – writer (9-11)
* Buddy Ross – producer, engineer (9-11)
* Dom Maker – writer (11)

## Gallery

Videos
* Trailer
* Apple Music Interview

Promotional
Twitter banner"Blades" lyrics**@arloparks**: "pls enjoy the impromptu post sushi shoot showing off the new merch! As you know I basically live in band merch, it becomes something to sweat in, skate in, write in, fight in, get drenched in - I want you to live some life in these pieces"
* 24 February 2023
* Twitter
**@arloparks**: "pls enjoy the impromptu post sushi shoot showing off the new merch! As you know I basically live in band merch, it becomes something to sweat in, skate in, write in, fight in, get drenched in - I want you to live some life in these pieces"
* 24 February 2023
* Twitter
**@arloparks**: "pls enjoy the impromptu post sushi shoot showing off the new merch! As you know I basically live in band merch, it becomes something to sweat in, skate in, write in, fight in, get drenched in - I want you to live some life in these pieces"
* 24 February 2023
* Twitter
**@arloparks**: "pls enjoy the impromptu post sushi shoot showing off the new merch! As you know I basically live in band merch, it becomes something to sweat in, skate in, write in, fight in, get drenched in - I want you to live some life in these pieces"
* 24 February 2023
* Twitter
**@arloparks**: "My Soft Machine in my hands for the first time…I nearly cried….it suddenly made everything a lot more real and scary but also a lot more beautiful - been neckdeep in rehearsals, eating sweet potatoes by the kilo and listening to Nine Inch Nails only -"
* 21 March 2023
* Twitter
**@residentmusic**: "We've been lucky enough to steal a snippet of time from @arloparks ' busy diary to get our copies of her latest album personalised!✍️💙"
* 3 May 2023
* Twitter
**@arloparks**: "Reporting live from Sao Paulo to remind you that My Soft Machine is out next weeeeek! 12 tracks that I poured my little life and soul into, which you can pre-save on my @spotify countdown page now - truly cannot wait to share this with you 🪁🪁🪁"
* 19 May 2023
* Twitter
**@arloparks**: "My Soft Machine is finally out. I'm giddy, I'm crying, I'm grinning, I'm throwing myself around this apartment, I'm on fire, I'm terrified, I'm feeling everything right now. Thank you to my dear friends who made this with me and who loved me whilst I was making it."
* 26 May 2023
* Twitter
**@arloparks**: "Okay y'all - release week announcement - we're launching a limited edition alt artwork vinyl, it's a pretty translucent orange, there are only 500 copies world wide, it's only available on my official webstore - snap it up or regret it!!!"
* 28 May 2023
* Twitter
*Softest Machine* bonus CD*My Softest Machine* Dolby
Events
Pop-Up ShopAlbum Release Pop-UpMy Soft Machine Tour (Europe)My Soft Machine Tour (Japan)My Soft Machine Tour (Australia)My Soft Machine (UK Events)
Merchandise
MerchandiseCDCassetteTransparent Violet vinylBlack vinylWhite vinylOrange vinylGreen vinyl"Splatter" vinyl"Splatter" vinylAssai Obi vinylPurple cassette (Limited edition)Transparent Orange vinyl (Exclusive Alternative Artwork)Bonus CDA5 art cardPosterSleeveFriendship braceletFriendship braceletFriendship braceletBlack canvas tote bagBlack hoodiePale pink hoodieEcru t-shirtBlack long-sleeveVinyl + CD + PosterVinyl + Cassette + PosterVinyl + CD + Friendship BraceletVinyl + Cassette + Friendship BraceletVinyl + CD + Cassette + Bracelet + PosterVinyl + Signed Art CardBox set
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Shafer, Ellise (31 May 2023). "Arlo Parks on Collaborating With Phoebe Bridgers and How Writing Her New Album Was Like Speaking to a 'Best Friend or Therapist'". *Variety*.
2. ↑ "Arlo Parks - My Soft Machine". *YouTube*. 18 January 2023.
3. ↑ Spanos, Brittany (18 January 2023). "Arlo Parks Lets the World in on Her 'Joy and Pain and Confusion'". *Rolling Stone*.
4. ↑ McNeal, Bria (26 May 2023). "Arlo Parks Is Ready to Bare Her Soul. Again.". *Esquire*.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 McCarthy, Neive (30 May 2023). "Arlo Parks: "I Wanted to Explore Sounds That Felt a Bit More Abrasive"". *Dork*.
6. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (18 January 2023). "Arlo Parks Announces Album and European Tour Dates, Shares Video for New Song "Weightless": Watch". *Pitchfork*.
7. ↑ Chelosky, Danielle (23 May 2023). "Arlo Parks' New Album 'My Soft Machine': Everything We Know So Far Including the Release Date and Tracklist". *UpRoxx*.
8. ↑ Giannini, Melissa (30 May 2023). "Arlo Parks Shares the Soundtrack to Her Life". *Elle*.
9. ↑ Renshaw, David (25 May 2023). "Arlo Parks Just Wants to Give You Some Relief". *The Fader*.
10. ↑ Johnston, Maura (26 May 2023). "Arlo Parks Invites Us Into Her Rich Inner World on 'My Soft Machine'". *Rolling Stone*.
11. ↑ Snapes, Laura (31 May 2023). "*My Soft Machine* by Arlo Parks". *Pitchfork*.
12. ↑ Smith, Thomas (26 May 2023). "Arlo Parks – 'My Soft Machine' Review: A Subtle Step Forward". *NME*.
13. ↑ Amen, John (23 May 2023). "Slump with 'My Soft Machine'". *PopMatters*.
14. ↑ Nugent, Annabel (25 May 2023). "Arlo Parks, *My Soft Machine* Review: A Loved-up and Sometimes Surprising Follow-up from the Mercury Prize Winner". *The Independent*.
15. ↑ Singh, Vijai (24 May 2023). "Arlo Parks Doesn't Turn from the Pain on 'My Soft Machine'". *Exclaim!*

Template:Arlo Parks