‘I’d wander through the park all angsty listening to Arctic Monkeys’: Arlo Parks’ honest playlist

KUALA LUMPUR, 11 OCTOBER 2026 —

Arlo Parks has revealed the specific tracks that define her musical journey, from her childhood obsession with Arctic Monkeys to the songs that currently shape her daily routine and emotional landscape.

The interview provides a detailed look at Parks’ musical upbringing, tracing her earliest connections to sound back to her formative years. She recalled listening to Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics when she was very young, stating that she was "completely intoxicated" by the opening line of the track. This early exposure to synth-pop laid the groundwork for her later tastes, which expanded significantly during her pre-teen years.

Parks described a period when she was approximately 10 or 11 years old, where she would wear headphones and wander through local parks listening to Fake Tales of San Francisco by Arctic Monkeys.

She identified this as her first download on an iPod Nano, noting that she was drawn to the band’s storytelling, characters, and "gritty tableaux." Although the setting described in the song was far removed from where she grew up, Parks felt the narrative was "so real," a quality that established a lasting appreciation for lyrical depth in her own musical preferences.

Her musical education was further shaped by the records inherited from her uncle, who allowed her to select as many albums as could fit in her parents’ car when she was 12 or 13. Parks chose a diverse array of artists, including Sade, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash, D’Angelo, and Prince. While she admitted she does not typically perform karaoke, she indicated that if she did, she would select When Doves Cry by Prince.

She described the vocal performance as "almost unattainable," acknowledging that while she would approach the song with passion, she would likely not be able to replicate the original delivery. This eclectic mix of genres, ranging from jazz and hip-hop to R&B, reflects the broad scope of influences that have contributed to her artistic identity.

Parks also highlighted the role of her parents’ music collections in shaping her taste. Her father was an enthusiast of jazz, frequently listening to Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, and Duke Ellington, while her mother preferred French music alongside pop icons such as Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Janet Jackson. Parks cited Janet Jackson’s All for You as a reliable party track, recalling playing it in her dressing room for her crew.

She noted that the song’s effect was universal, with everyone "bopping," and praised Jackson’s voice for its ability to "soften people." This familial influence underscores the importance of domestic musical environments in cultivating an artist’s palate, providing a foundation of both classical and popular music traditions.

In discussing songs that evoke strong emotional responses, Parks identified several tracks that serve as emotional anchors. She mentioned Superstar by Jamelia as a song she inexplicably knows every lyric to, describing it as a "bubblegum pop" track that brings her happiness. Conversely, she pointed to Fourth of July by Sufjan Stevens as a song she must listen to with caution.

Parks explained that the track is "heartbreaking" and brings out "so much melancholy about grief and loss," plunging the listener into specific emotional spaces. Despite the pain associated with such memories, she stated that she does not avoid songs tied to painful experiences, suggesting a willingness to engage with difficult emotions through music.

The song that Parks credits with changing her life is House of Cards by Radiohead. She emphasized the "space" in the track and described Thom Yorke’s voice as "ethereal." Parks discovered the song a few years before writing her album Collapsed in Sunbeams, noting that it shares a similar minimalism with her own work.

This connection highlights the direct influence of Radiohead’s aesthetic on her compositional style, particularly in the use of silence and sparse arrangement. Additionally, she revealed that she secretly enjoys Starstruck by Lady Gaga, a song she "blasts shamelessly in the car." Parks defended her enjoyment of widely popular music, arguing that there must be something collective that draws people to such tracks, and she embraced the communal aspect of enjoying music that is broadly liked.

For daily motivation, Parks relies on I Care by Turnstile, a track she describes as "happy" and "heart open." She noted that the song makes her feel like she is 16, while the drumming serves as a practical cue to "get the coffee going and start the day." On the other end of the emotional spectrum, Glory Box by Portishead is the song that brings her to tears.

She specifically cited the live version from the Roseland theatre, pointing to the "little cracks" in Beth Gibbons’ voice as the element that causes her to cry. Parks described Gibbons as "baring herself to the audience," a vulnerability that resonates deeply with her.

Finally, she selected Sunday Morning by the Velvet Underground as the song she would want played at her funeral, describing it as "warm" and "soothing," offering a sense of a "new beginning" that is melancholy yet contains a "glimmer of hope."

Parks is currently promoting her new album, Ambiguous Desire, which is out now. She is set to tour the United Kingdom and Ireland from 17 to 26 October, with the tour commencing in Dublin. This upcoming schedule provides an opportunity for fans to experience her music live, following the personal revelations shared in the interview.

The tour dates and the release of the new album mark a significant phase in her career, building on the foundational influences and emotional depth she has detailed in her recent disclosures.

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