Arlo Parks, British singer-songwriter and poet released her twelve-track album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, on January 29, 2021. This is Parks’ first full length album, following various singles and EPs. For an artist at the age of just twenty years old, this is beyond impressive. Collapsed in Sunbeams is an R&B/Soul album with a consistent sound and energy throughout every song.
Collapsed in Sunbeams starts with Parks’ title-song, “Collapsed in Sunbeams,” which is a 55-second-long poem with a calm instrumental in the background of her voice. She does a great job of intertwining her musical and poetic compositions into one coherent album. There are eleven songs following this poetic introduction.
Of all of the songs on Collapsed in Sunbeams, my favorites are easily “Hurt,” “Hope,” and “Green Eyes.” “Hurt” is a slow, but catchy song about getting through pain. In an NME article, Parks said “’Hurt’ surrounds the possibility of healing from pain and the temporary nature of suffering. It is supposed to uplift and comfort those going through hard times.” Written during the COVID-19 lockdown and a hard, unprecedented year in 2020, songs like “Hurt” make this album even more relatable. I would definitely say this is a song for any occasion – a chill get-together with friends, a long drive, a study session, etc.
Next, “Hope” is also synonymous with the idea of the COVID-19 lockdown. In an Apple Music interview, Parks shared that this track “explores the universal idea of being stuck inside, feeling depressed, isolated and alone, and being ashamed of feeling that way, too.” She has a beautiful way of bringing everyone together in this song with her calm voice and lyrics like “You’re not alone like you think you are; We all have scars; I know it’s hard.” While some of the tracks on Collapsed in Sunbeams are written about emotional situations, they have a way of being beautiful and optimistic.
“Green Eyes” is full of warm instrumentals and follows a story of self-acceptance and discovery. Parks stated in an Apple Music interview that she “was really inspired by Frank Ocean here – particularly ‘Futura Free’ [from 2016’s ‘Blonde’].” If you’re an avid Frank Ocean listener, like I am, you can definitely hear that connection when listening to “Green Eyes.” This track tells the poetic and painful story of falling in love with someone and then feeling rejected when the people around the person you love do not accept your relationship, causing the relationship to fall apart after two months – in her case. Whether this story specifically is relatable to you or not, I think this song can still teach every listener that it is okay to follow your heart, no matter what outside voices are saying.
If you’re looking for an album that paints and tells different, poetic stories in each song, or an album with beautiful, warm, and catchy energy, I highly recommend giving Collapsed in Sunbeams a listen. After getting to know this album, I am excited to hear Parks music and poetry going forward.
Kate Brooks
