music

March 1, 2026

‘I never had those deep chats in the smoking area’: Arlo Parks on embracing late night life with her hedonistic new album

In her teens, the Mercury prize-winning musician was stuck on tour buses when she should have been on the dancefloor. Now she is throwing herself into club culture – and living on her own terms

‘I never had those deep chats in the smoking area’: Arlo Parks on embracing late night life with her hedonistic new album

TL;DR

  • Arlo Parks's third album, 'Ambiguous Desire,' heavily features electronic music genres like house, techno, and UK garage, a departure from her earlier alt-pop sound.
  • The album was heavily influenced by Parks's immersion in New York's club scene and her desire to live a more spontaneous life after experiencing burnout.
  • Parks frequented clubs like Basement and Nowadays in Queens, drawing inspiration from the history of New York nightlife and literary works on club culture.
  • The album explores themes of queer desire, connection, and the liberating experience of nightlife, with songs like 'Jetta' and 'Heaven' capturing ecstatic feelings.
  • Collaborations include Sampha on 'Senses,' and the album reflects Parks's artistic repositioning while acknowledging her past work and fan connection.

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