S18, Ep4 Arlo Parks on the impossibility of perfection
Sep 27, 2023
auto_awesome
Arlo Parks, a singer, songwriter, and poet, discusses her failure to create a perfect piece of work, save others, and fit into societal expectations. She shares her love for Phoebe Bridgers and reflects on maintaining softness in a hard industry. She explores her experience in school, navigating through personalities, and finding solace in music. Arlo also talks about the emotional toll of being an empath and challenges assumptions while embracing identity. Additionally, she discusses her love for LA and favorite out-of-the-way hikes, as well as her favorite music and tattoos. The conversation delves into reflections on success and imposter syndrome.
People need to come to their own healing in their own time.
The pursuit of perfection can be limiting and exhausting.
Establishing boundaries and recognizing when taking on too much responsibility is necessary for emotional well-being.
Deep dives
Failure to Save People
Arlo Parks reflects on her tendency to try to save and help others, realizing that there are limits to what she can do and that people need to come to their own healing in their own time.
Failure to Fit into Assumptions
Arlo Parks discusses the challenge of not conforming to others' assumptions about her art and identity, whether it's about the genre of music she creates or the expectations placed upon her due to her appearance.
Failure to Create Undeniably Perfect Work
Arlo Parks embraces the notion that perfection is subjective and elusive, and instead focuses on creating work that is authentic and true to herself, recognizing that the pursuit of perfection can be limiting and exhausting.
Recognition of Imbalance in Energy
Arlo Parks acknowledges her inclination to give energy and support to others, often at the expense of her own emotional well-being. She reflects on the need to establish boundaries and recognize when she is taking on too much responsibility for others.
Embracing Identity and Defying Assumptions
Arlo Parks shares her journey of embracing her identity and defying others' assumptions by being true to herself and her creative vision. She highlights the importance of surrounding oneself with accepting and supportive communities.
Arlo Parks is a singer, songwriter and poet. Her debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams was released when she was just 21 and earned her two Grammy nominations, a BRIT Award and the Mercury Music Prize. Her second, My Soft Machine, came out earlier this year. This month also marks the publication of her first volume of poetry, The Magic Border, a collection of never-before-seen poems and song lyrics.
Parks joins me to talk about her faiure to create a perfect piece of work, her failure to save others, her failure to fit into what other people think of her - and why Phoebe Bridgers epitomises 'big brother energy'. I loved talking to this beautiful human - her thoughtfulness and her lyrical expression will soothe you and make you think.
Enjoy!