Arlo Parks has released a warming new single ‘Hope’ – the final instalment before her debut album ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ arrives Friday 29th. Reminiscent of Corinne Bailey Rae’s style of charm and affability, Parks’ new track addresses all too pertinent topics of combatting loneliness and isolation in today’s climate. “You’re not alone/ Like you think you are/ We all scars/ I know it’s hard/ You’re not alone”, she sings in the chorus, providing tender reassurance to whoever may need it.
“The song surrounds isolation, being present in your pain and knowing that you’re not the only one on the planet feeling low,” Parks said of the song. “I think especially in times like these it’s important to focus on the inevitability that things will get better.”
Accompanying the track is a touching music video directed by Molly Burdett, depicting a young female protagonist who initially suffers from her isolation but overcomes the pain through convivial time spent with Parks herself, ultimately offering her a shoulder to cry on before the two of them return to jovial times on an empty beach. Parks added: “I think there’s something so powerful about the saturated, filmic textures, the human portraits and depictions of euphoria.”
Tweeting a clip from the video, she said: “Hope + its video are out now on all platforms!! Acting has always been a secret dream of mine and this was a beautiful challenge. This is a story of acceptance, friendship & working through trauma. I hope you love it, it’s my favourite song on the record”
‘Hope’ – which premiered on BBC Radio 1 as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record In The World last night – follows a string of singles released by Parks in 2020, including ‘Caroline’, ‘Green Eyes’ and ‘Hurt’. The Hammersmith born singer embarked on her first headline tour over February/March of last year, but could not complete the full schedule as a result of the coronavirus. Instead, Parks dedicated her time to writing and recording, as well as performing ‘Hurt’ on the COLORS Youtube show in August, amassing over 800,000 views. Parks will make her US TV debut tonight, performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
You can see the tracklist for Arlo Parks’ debut album below:
1. Collapsed In Sunbeams
2. Hurt
3. Too Good
4. Hope
5. Caroline
6. Black Dog
7. Green Eyes
8. Just Go
9. For Violet
10. Eugene
11. Bluish
12. Portra 400
