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LIVE GIG REVIEW: SUDAN ARCHIVES

Experiencing the self-proclaimed sex symbol at her sold-out tour close, the singer commands the stage with a striking performance in London's Electric Ballroom

In a sexy, sultry and stirring performance, Sudan Archives commands her loyal London crowd as impressively as she tickles the strings of her violin. Here, in the cramped, sold-out Electric Ballroom, the Cincinnati-born triple threat (Brittney Parks is singer, songwriter, violinist, rapper and producer all in one) teases the crowd. Between her minimal clothing and tantalising lyrics, Sudan Archives oozes sex; she is visually undressing her audience and fans wouldn’t have it any other way, vulgarity is her specialty.

This vulgarity is reflected not only in her performance on the final show of her tour, but also in the lyrics bellowed through the room.

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Her music is as if R&B was courting hip-hop while also taking part in a passionate love affair with West African fiddling style, and it truly brings Sudan Archives to the front runners as one of the most genre-bending artists of the year. Tonight’s setlist consists of tracks picked from both of her albums, Athena and Natural Brown Prom Queen, as well as from her self-titled EP.

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Making her way through her discography, it is evident how much Sudan’s music has adapted with her blooming career. Her early work almost sounds underdeveloped followed up by the complex, dominating more recent tracks.

 

Choosing to open the gig with Homemaker, the crowd seemed initially unsure of Sudan’s performance style (plenty of screamed profanities and traditional fiddle solos), yet within the next few tracks, the crowd warmed up to what was certainly not a gig for the faint of heart.

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By the time Sudan got around to singing Confess, arguably one of her most commercially successful songs, there was a huge amount of crowd interaction; whatever doubts existed previously, there was no question who owned the room.


Conducting the crowd as her personal orchestra, she is truly showcasing her love for the unexpected: turning a traditional fiddle tune into the sexy, raunchy song that is Freak. Swinging her ass-length platinum mullet wig, Sudan continues her upbeat, impressive vocal performance, but only after stopping to get into the crowd, start a mosh pit and actually get her breasts out.

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At times, like when she performs Loyal, her influence of Doja Cat is disgustingly apparent in both her musical and performing styles. Loyal (EDD) is another tune laced with influence, but this time, Beyonce’s Lemonade album plays teacher with the stark self-harmonies.

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It’s no surprise that the crowd asked for, no, demanded, an encore performance, and it’s even less of a surprise that Sudan delivered an amazing final performance. Slowing down tempo with FLUE, she uses her last opportunity to showcase her violin skills to full advantage, and much to the delight of her audience, she wraps with one of her most popular songs to date: Come Meh Way.

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If anything is to be said for the final show of Sudan Archives’ European tour, it’s that crowds can’t get enough. Although her next steps aren’t official, fans can almost certainly expect to see more of Brittney Parks in what is no doubt a prosperous career ahead. 

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