Arlo Parks’ New LP: A Dance to a New Beat

Arlo ⁤Parks Explores Dance Music on New Album Ambiguous Desire

Arlo Parks is embracing the⁣ energy of the dance floor ⁤on her⁣ third album, Ambiguous ⁤Desire, set for release April 3 via⁤ Transgressive. The 12-track project is introduced by the bass-driven single ‍”2SIDED,” a song about the uncertainty of reciprocated feelings.

The “2SIDED” music video, directed by Molly Burdett, offers a visual accompaniment to the track. Parks, who grew up in London and ⁤now lives in Los ‍Angeles, described the song’s initial sound as “a rough animal.” She explained ⁢to SPIN, “I thought, how do I slightly tame this to make it not absolutely ⁤obliterating on the ears? ⁢But I think it was important for it to feel slightly looming. There’s somthing a bit foreboding about it, but in a way that then explodes into this more euphoric, heart-on-sleeve feeling of being a teenager and how those first feelings rip you apart. You do feel like it’s the end of the world, ‍in a kind of beautiful ⁢way.”

While Parks has hinted at electronic influences ‍before,⁣ Ambiguous Desire fully commits to the sound, thanks in‍ part to collaborator Baird, a producer known for his work with ‍Brockhampton and Kevin Abstract. Baird also joined Parks for ⁣three intimate preview shows in London, New York, and Los angeles late last year. Parks’ longtime collaborator Paul Epworth produced three songs on the album: “Get Go,” “Nightswimming,” and “What if ⁢I Say It?”

Parks described the album’s sonic shift as⁤ a return to ⁣basics.”So much of it was me and Baird in Ableton having those ⁢happy accidents and going back to the basics,” she said. The album draws ‍inspiration from U.K. electronic pioneers like Underworld, Massive Attack, and ⁤Burial, aiming for drum patterns between 100 and 120 BPM that⁤ feel⁢ both unique and nostalgic.