Paradoxically, as Brittney Parks’ music has nudged towards the mainstream, an undertow of free expression has not only remained, but blossomed. Not in the sense of all out improvisation, but as Sudan Archives, there remains a sense of the unknown in each melody, rhythm, and word: what else with such a breadth of influences and artistry at one’s fingertips?
Starting out playing violin as a child, Parks discovered the power of rave whilst studying ethnomusicology, and began to produce her own compositions. Through an ever expanding series of singles, remixes, her debut album, and now, Natural Brown Prom Queen, her expansive repertoire just keeps scaling new summits. Personal issues regarding race, self-belief, and relationships, are rapped, spoken, and sung, against the ever shifting styles.
Retaining her early African influences, and applying an abundant knowledge of multiple instruments and production, when Parks repeatedly sings “I’m not average” on lead single NBPQ (Topless) we don’t need much persuading. This may be many things, but it’s definitely all Sudan Archives.
