This announcement follows Sudan Archives’ electrifying return to the spotlight, fresh from her last visit in 2023. Known for redefining the violin as a weapon of rhythm and soul, she steps into a new era with the release of new album The BPM and a tour that mirrors its energy. This time, she brings her spellbinding blend of strings, beats, and boundary-breaking performance back to Australian audiences.
As Sudan Archives, Brittney Parks first emerged onto the scene as a self taught avant-garde violinist, channelling sounds through loop pedals. She has combined left-field strains of R&B, hip-hop, and experimental electronic music with hypnotic string loops and the fiddling style of West Africa.
After bursting onto the scene in 2017 with “Come Meh Way”, she masterfully bridged the gap between her early glitchy, avant-garde compositions and timeless songwriting for her debut album Athena. The album drew inspiration from divine Black feminine power, being described as a “boundary-defying R&B innovator” by The New York Times.
Now, she’s at the top of her game. She’s released three singles so far this year, each one stronger than the last, off of her upcoming sophomore LP Natural Brown Prom Queen. Due out September 9, the album is by no means a straight forward pop project, but it contains some of her catchiest, lushest, most joyful songs to date — surprising, given the fact that she recorded, arranged, and edited them in her basement during deep lockdown. This is also her most personal project, taking in race, womanhood, and the fiercely loyal, loving relationships at the heart of her life with her family, friends, and partner. On Natural Brown Prom Queen, Sudan Archives invites you to join in and embrace shared joy.