Arlo Parks Shares Groove-Laden "Blades" Single from Second Album, Soft Machine

Arlo Parks has shared the latest single, "Blades," from her upcoming album, "My Soft Machine," via Transgressive Records. The track, which features nu-disco loops, synths, and soundscapes, was produced by Paul Epworth and written in what Arlo calls "the magic week," where she and Epworth produced three songs for the album in just five days.

In "Blades," Arlo tackles the collapse of a friendship and the struggle to find the courage to rebuild it. She explained that the song is inspired by a moment at a party when you see someone across the room whom you haven't seen in a while and have grown apart from. You feel the urge to approach them but are unsure if you should. Eventually, you muster the courage to do so, and that's the story of the song.

"I wanted to make something that I can dance to, finally, because I feel like my songs don't really have that quality in general," Arlo said of "Blades." "So, I took inspiration from bands like ESG, artists like Kaytranada, and a lot of the kind of 70s Zambian psychedelic rock that I love."

Arlo praised Epworth's production skills, saying, "Paul is just a wizard; he has this childlike spirit that I've always really loved, and he brought that to 'Blades.'" The track is the latest in a series of singles from the album, including "Weightless" and "Impurities," both of which featured on BBC Radio 1 and 6 Music's A Lists concurrently.

The success of these singles has seen Arlo Parks take to the stage for a performance on The Jonathan Ross Show and feature on the cover of The Guardian Film & Music, DORK, MusicWeek, and DIY. With the release of "Blades," anticipation for "My Soft Machine" is sure to build even further.

Overall, "Blades" is a stunning addition to Arlo Parks' discography, showcasing her unique sound and exceptional songwriting abilities. With each new release, she proves herself to be a rising star in the music industry, and we can't wait to see what else she has in store for us