Arlo Parks is a singer-songwriter and poet from south London. She was longlisted for the BBC Sound of 2020 awards, a poll of music critics.
In this video, Arlo talks about her experience of taking her first steps into the music industry, she talks about her background, her inspirations, and gives advice to aspiring musicians who want to become professionals in the music industry.
An Interview with Arlo Parks
Arlo: I'm Arlo Parks, I am a musician, artist, poet from London. I've been doing music professionally now for about two years and I've just announced my debut album coming out in January.
What is it about live music that is so important to you?
I just wanted to say, from the perspective of somebody who hasn't been performing that long, something that I've really found is that idea of everyone being in one space experiencing something at the same time, leaving behind their peripheral anxieties and just being present in a moment for one hour alongside strangers as a viewer, and then whilst performing, having that human connection, having those songs that you wrote in your bedroom or in the studio in a very private space, connecting to real human beings and having that tangible effect on their lives is the best part of performing, it's the most electrifying thing.
What were your first steps into the live scene?
I think the first… I'm casting my mind back, I think I must have been sixteen or so, there was this venue in Richmond, I think, called The Basement Door where a lot of people from West London would just play. We were just kids, there was no sound check, no-one knew what they were doing, I didn't know what reverb was, I didn't know what anything was. I would just turn up and just sing and I think those kind of gigs where you just asked few friends down there and there are ten people in the room and just making those first few steps into the idea… because it is quite a jump, you write songs in the private space of your own home… writing is one process and then actually being in front of people and performing and having to engage an audience was something that takes practice.
What advice would you give to young artists playing their first gig?
Enjoy the time when you can be in a space where you can experiment and, experiment just as a performer and enjoy being in front of a few close friends or a few people, enjoy that kind of intimate energy.
What inspired you growing up?
I feel like, you know, I was inspired by a lot of things growing up. While I was younger my dad would play a lot of Jazz, and at school I met up with a few people who were rapping and people who were producing music and then that kind of inspired me to get started and produce my own beats on Garage Band. And then it was artists like Syd from The Internet and King Krule, Frank Ocean, who are just very unique and trusting their tastes and I think I wanted to express myself authentically as they were doing.
What did you study at school?
I did English, History and Biology at A-level. Weirdly, at school I wasn't really involved in the arts, it was very much something I did outside of school. But a lot of the people that I met, the people around me who wanted to be directors, or painters, or musicians, I really fell into that crowd of creatives and it kind of pushed me to experiment and to see music as something that was a viable career option.
What is your advice for young upcoming artists?
Just practise, just like, actually start making music and honing your craft. I feel like putting time into actually experimenting and discovering what your tastes are and what direction you want to put yourself to is really important. Enjoy this time where you are yet to be discovered, the world is your oyster, you can do whatever you like, so I think putting time into practice is going to take you far.
Just practise, just actually start making music and honing your craft.
Arlo has been working as a professional singer-songwriter for two years with her debut album releasing in January 2021.
When it comes to performing live music, Arlo says the most electrifying thing is seeing songs that she's written in her bedroom or studio affect people on a personal level, and having a tangible effect on their lives.
Arlo talks about the venue she used to visit with her friends aged 16 allowing her to practise performing to her peers and gaining confidence in the process. It is important in her view to remember to enjoy the moment, to enjoy time where you can experiment with your performance amongst your peers and close friends
Inspiration comes from various places. Arlo was influenced by her father's taste in music growing up, discovering artists on the internet as well as seeing the music that some of her peers at school were creating, which encouraged her to create her own
Arlo's advice to aspiring singers and musicians is to practise and experiment with their craft to help discover their direction
What to expect if you want to be a singer-songwriter
What will I get paid? Your income will depend on how successful you become and how much paid work you secure. Remember, a record deal doesn't necessarily guarantee success and success doesn't necessarily mean fame.Where will I work? Initially, you'll probably work a lot from home or the recording studio. You will need to travel nationally or internationally to perform.What are the working hours like? You'll choose your writing hours. Gigs are normally at night and can end very late. On tour, there will be a lot of early mornings and travel.
What qualifications do you need to be singer-songwriter?
What qualifications do I need? None in particular – passion, experience and dedication is more important, although musical knowledge and performance skills could be beneficial.
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