Sudan Archives is Brittney Parks, a Cincinnati-born, Los Angeles-based American singer, violinist, and producer who folds Sudanese and Sahelian fiddle techniques into contemporary R&B and electronic production. Natural Brown Prom Queen (2022) is the one to start with, then rewind to Athena (2019) on Stones Throw. Find Sudan Archives vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Brittney Denise Parks, performing as Sudan Archives, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 28, 1994. She has been based in Los Angeles since the mid-2010s. She launched her recording career in 2017 with Stones Throw Records releases. She is widely cited as one of the most distinctive contemporary R&B artists, with integration of her foundational violin work (Sudanese / Sahel-influenced fiddle techniques studied) into contemporary R&B and electronic production. Her 2019 debut Athena received critical attention. Her 2022 follow-up Natural Brown Prom Queen continued her trajectory.
Sudan Archives's sound combines R&B, neo-soul, alternative R&B, contemporary R&B, electronic, indie pop, world music, and experimental pop with her distinctive vocal delivery, virtuosic violin work (integration of Sudanese and Sahelian fiddle techniques alongside contemporary R&B), atmospheric production approaches, and lyrical content addressing identity, romance, and personal experience.
Stones Throw Records pressings of the Sudan Archives catalog have been issued in color variant editions and limited deluxe pressings.
Listeners new to Sudan Archives typically start with Natural Brown Prom Queen (2022) or Athena (2019).
