Global Courant
Breadcrumb Trail links
PMN Life PMN Entertainment
Author of the article:
The associated press
Louis Dixon
Published on July 02, 2023 • read for 3 minutes
Violinist and singer Brittney Denise Parks, better known as Sudan Archives, appears in a promotional photo. Photo by Obidi Nzeribe /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Article content
PILTON, England (AP)–Brittney Denise Parks, better known as Sudan Archives, is an avant-garde violinist and singer-songwriter who describes her style as “fiddle soft punk.”
Advertisement 2
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
Exclusive articles from Conrad Black, Barbara Kay, Rex Murphy and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that can be viewed, shared, and commented on on any device. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times crossword. Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES
Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.
Exclusive articles from Conrad Black, Barbara Kay, Rex Murphy and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that can be viewed, shared, and commented on on any device. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times crossword. Support local journalism.
REGISTER FOR MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles every month. Receive email updates from your favorite authors.
Article content
Last week she made her debut at the Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom. After a shaky start, the packed crowd danced around in the midday sun as she rapped and played the violin in a corset of red leather belts and buckles, cowboy boots, bow strapped to her back like Robin Hood.
“At first my microphone didn’t work, so the audience thought: we can’t hear you. and I was like, really? They’re like, no! So once we figured that out, it was great!” she told The Associated Press backstage.
Sudan Archives, now based in Los Angeles, taught herself to play the violin as a child in Ohio. She has made waves with her exploration of non-western string traditions, unconventional pop and R&B tunes, and rap inspired by her collaborator and boyfriend, Nocando.
Article content
Ad 3
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Her second breakthrough album “Natural Brown Prom Queen”, recorded at the couple’s home studio during the pandemic, was released in 2022. The song “Home Maker” subsequently became Barack Obama’s favorite music of 2022.
The following interview has been shortened for brevity and clarity.
AP: What was your starting point with the violin?
Sudan Archive: I didn’t start with classical music, but I just loved violin music. So I just started trying to learn violin music. And there was an after-school program called Fiddle Club, so we learned a lot of Irish music and stuff, but when I moved to another school, there was no orchestra or any other after-school program. So I just taught myself more in church how to play by ear.
Ad 4
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
And since I didn’t really have an education, I didn’t really have the education and skills to go to college and go to school like that. But I actually started integrating electronic music with the violin. And I remember when they first started making electric violins, I bought my first electric violin and plugged it into guitar pedals. And I started making weird noises and making music.
AP: The violin does have a certain image, was that something you were aware of?
Sudan Archives: Yes, that was me. I think there’s a very western view of the violin everywhere. But there are so many other cultures that play the violin. But for some reason, when you think of violin, you might think of classical orchestra. But I had just arrived in Istanbul and just bought one of the first traditional violins from Turkey. And when I was in Ghana, I bought a Hausa violin. So basically I feel like my goal is to show the black roots of the violin.
Ad 5
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
AP: Why did you want to mix violin with rap?
Sudan Archives: I think it works because it hasn’t been done much yet and I really want to be unique. So I started dating my boyfriend and he’s a really good rapper. So I feel like when you’re around rappers something just clicked and I was like, “Wait a minute, maybe I should play the violin and rap too.”
AP: And what have people from the rap scene made of that and what have they made of you?
Sudan Archives: I think they like it. I feel like I consider myself soft punk. Like it’s not punk. It’s not crazy. I’m not going to smash my violin, but I could scream and rap. It’s like, a soft violin punk.
AP: Dates in Japan and Australia are coming up. Do you like to travel?
Sudan Archives: I like it. I don’t know why because sometimes I get bored and I just feel like when you travel a lot you just never get bored.
Ad 6
This ad hasn’t loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
AP: Especially when you spend time in one place?
Sudan Archives: Yes. I make sure I have days off in really cool places. So I had three days off in Istanbul and I really wanted to stay there because they have a lot of stringed instruments. So if I’m having a bad day in Japan, I’m going to get a string instrument there.
AP: How many violins did you buy in total?
Sudan Archives: I probably have six.
AP: And do you use them all when you perform?
Sudan Archives: I don’t have enough money to say, “I have a violin technician. They carry all my violins” and I can only take one or maybe two if a friend comes over and then I let them take them on the plane.
AP: But one day, one day you’ll have the entourage.
Sudan Archives: One day I will have five violins on stage with different effects.
Article content
Share this article on your social network
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a vibrant yet civilized forum for discussion and encourages all readers to share their thoughts on our articles. It can take up to an hour for comments to appear on the site. We ask that you keep your comments relevant and respectful. We’ve enabled email notifications: you will now receive an email when you receive a reply to your comment, when there’s an update to a comment thread you follow, or when a user you follow makes a comment. For more information and details on customizing your email settings, visit our Community Guidelines.
