Sudan Archives

Sudan Archives is a vibrant violinist, singer, and songwriter known for her unique fusion of classic violin with electronic dance music. In this chat, she dives into her latest album, The BPM, revealing its club influences and punchy beats. She shares stories from her childhood, the impact of her church upbringing on her artistry, and her journey from Cincinnati to LA's experimental scene. Sudan also discusses the creative process behind her music, her twin sister's support on tour, and her ongoing quest for mastery in violin craftsmanship.

Sudan Archives is a singer, songwriter, producer, and violinist. She grew up in Cincinnati before moving to LA. Her music has been called "viscerally gorgeous" by The Guardian, and "stunning" by Pitchfork, who gave her in ‘Best New Music.’ This year, she’s releasing her second album, and one of the tracks on it is "Selfish Soul." She told me the idea for this song started when she asked her boyfriend, James (who is the rapper Nocando) to shave her head. Cutting off her hair made her reflect on her whole hair story, from experiences she had as a kid, to the cultural and racial issues that have historically surrounded Black women's hair. For more, visit songexploder.net/sudan-archives.