Arlo Parks

Where They’re From: London, UK

Who They Are: Winning the UK’s prestigious Mercury Prize on her sophomore album Collapsed in Sunbeams, Arlo Parks presents songs about deep themes like loneliness and alienation — and deeper still themes of addiction and suicide — in a manner that is moving and empathetic, but also radiant and uplifting. Named an XPN Artist to Watch in December of 2020, Parks doesn’t take the more common approach of starting with a sad idea, singing about it in a jubilant way, creating a false dichotomy — her’s is a much more nuanced approach where difficult topics are broached, the difficulty is acknowledged, and Parks works through to a place of healing and serenity.

Years Active: 2018-present

Essential Albums: Collapsed In Sunbeams (2021)