Album of the Week: Arlo Parks, 'Collapsed In Sunbeams'

After being longlisted on the BBC's Sound of 2020, Arlo Parks went from an artist to discover last year to a must listen in 2021. With the upcoming release of her debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams, Parks captures the sonic heartbeat of downtempo from the 90s with a new distinct voice that will make your ears do a doubletake.

Heavy on songs of love and despair, Arlo Parks brings her emotions forward on the new album. Her debut begins with an open-hearted spoken word passage backed by cinematic sounds that lead you into one of her early singles, "Hurt." That combination of poetry and music lures you into her world that oscillates between songs that describe dreams of the future and reflections on the past.

While those early releases are highlights of her debut, Collapsed in Sunbeams doesn't skip a beat from the catchy "Too Good" to the subdued vibe on "For Violet." As one of the most anticipated releases of the new year, a deluxe edition is out this Friday with extra versions of songs from the new album and a "lo fi lounge" version of her first single, "Cola."

Although the pandemic delayed the world discovering her brilliance, the music makes Parks breakout success undeniable.