Arlo Parks has shared a candid look at the musical influences that have defined her career, revealing a playlist that ranges from childhood anthems to deeply emotional tracks. While she admits to blasting Lady Gaga in the car, it is Portishead that brings her to tears.
Reflecting on her earliest musical memories, Parks cited Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” as the first song she fell in love with. She recalled being completely intoxicated by the opening lines during her youth.
Her first digital purchase came a few years later, when she was around ten or eleven. She described wandering through a park with headphones on, listening to Arctic Monkeys’ “Fake Tales of San Francisco” on her iPod Nano. The band’s storytelling and gritty character studies resonated with her, feeling authentic despite being set far from where she grew up.
I just assumed she only listened to indie stuff. Glad to see her range spans from 80s pop to trip-hop.
Wait, Lady Gaga in the car too? Never thought of that combo with Eurythmics and Portishead!
Portishead bringing her to tears is the most relatable thing I’ve read all week. True art hits deep.
Arctic Monkeys’ storytelling was such a huge influence on my teenage years too! So cool she chose ‘Fake Tales’.