Artist Profile: Sudan Archives
Sunda Archives, the artistic project of Brittney Denise Parks, stands as one of the boldest contemporary voices in genre-defying music today. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Parks is a self-taught violinist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer whose music is as cosmically adventurous as her journey from church choirs and Irish jigs to the forefront of experimental R&B and electronic sound. Her fascination with the violin began in fourth grade, inspired by both Western and Northeast African fiddle traditions, which she later explored deeply while studying ethnomusicology in Los Angeles. Rather than limiting her instrument to classical conventions, Parks explores the "Blackness of the violin," showcasing its wild, rhythmic power within Black and African diasporic cultures.
As Sunda Archives, she signed with Stones Throw Records in 2017 and has released notable EPs and two studio albums: Athena (2019) and Natural Brown Prom Queen (2022), earning critical acclaim and winning two Libera Awards in 2023. Parks’ innovative approach blends folk, hip-hop, R&B, and electronic beat-making into a mesmerizing loop-driven style, often described as post-genre. Her influences stretch from Ghanaian hillside signs to Czech violinists, Drake, Soulja Boy, jellyfish imagery, and the Los Angeles underground scene, freely interweaving the historical and the modern. Notable tracks such as "Confessions" and "Black Vivaldi Sonata" exemplify her ability to balance serene violin melodies with bold, experimental electronics.
Live, Sunda Archives delivers performances that are both soulful and intellectually daring, marked by a sense of freedom and visionary futurism. Unafraid of defying expectations placed on Black artists—particularly labeling and genre constraints—Parks insists on artistic authenticity, calling herself a folk artist at heart even while producing hypnotic club beats and R&B records. Her mission is to inspire, nurture creative ideas, and help both herself and her listeners transcend boundaries through music. With a growing profile and a rigorous commitment to her craft, Sunda Archives continues to shape and redefine what strings, voice, and modern production can achieve.