Sudan Archives Brought the Heat to Thalia Hall: A Sonic Journey of Self-Discovery and Liberation
The Sudan Archives' latest tour stop at Thalia Hall was a sonic spectacle that showcased the artist's (Brittney Parks) growth as a performer and musician. The sold-out crowd was treated to a 90-minute journey of sound, which seamlessly blended genres such as classic folk, hip-hop, R&B, and electro-pop.
The night's theme centered around the concept of beats per minute (BPM), which Parks wove throughout her music with a conceptual thread. By harnessing the power of BPM, she aimed to convey that finding one's rhythm can be a transformative experience, breaking free from the chains that hold us back. The album "The BPM" serves as a testament to this idea, exploring themes of heartbreak, self-discovery, and liberation.
Parks took center stage at Thalia Hall, accompanied by a troupe of musicians who brought her elaborate production to life. With the help of her newborn alter ego, Gadget Girl, Parks created an immersive experience that was both visually stunning and sonically captivating. The animated violinist/singer donned eerie contact lenses and sported an edgy persona, injecting a sense of futuristic flair into her performance.
The setlist featured hits like "Yea Yea Yea," "NBPQ (Topless)," and "Selfish Soul," which showcased Parks' versatility as a musician. Tracks like "Freakalizer" and "My Type" got the crowd moving, with the latter being a particular standout due to its Chicago house roots.
The performance also included nods to Parks' hometown of Chicago, where she frequently references her family's lineage and cultural heritage in her music. The setlist included tracks like "A Bug's Life," which paid homage to the city's rich musical traditions.
In between songs, Parks offered insightful commentary on topics such as racism, politics, and self-acceptance. Tracks like "NBPQ (Topless)" tackled these themes with raw honesty, showcasing Parks' skill as a songwriter. The song featured lyrics that addressed her experiences as a Black woman in the entertainment industry, grappling with the pressures of conformity and expectation.
The performance concluded with an encore featuring Cain Culto's hit "KFC Santeria." The remix, which Parks recently contributed to, included a powerful lyric declaring "F— Trump, F— ICE, Free Palestine," sparking a moment of collective resistance in the room.
Throughout her set, Sudan Archives proved herself to be a masterful storyteller and sonic architect. By harnessing the power of BPM, she crafted a journey that was both deeply personal and universally relatable. As Parks so eloquently put it: "The BPM is the power," and tonight's performance served as a testament to its transformative potential.
The Sudan Archives' latest tour stop at Thalia Hall was a sonic spectacle that showcased the artist's (Brittney Parks) growth as a performer and musician. The sold-out crowd was treated to a 90-minute journey of sound, which seamlessly blended genres such as classic folk, hip-hop, R&B, and electro-pop.
The night's theme centered around the concept of beats per minute (BPM), which Parks wove throughout her music with a conceptual thread. By harnessing the power of BPM, she aimed to convey that finding one's rhythm can be a transformative experience, breaking free from the chains that hold us back. The album "The BPM" serves as a testament to this idea, exploring themes of heartbreak, self-discovery, and liberation.
Parks took center stage at Thalia Hall, accompanied by a troupe of musicians who brought her elaborate production to life. With the help of her newborn alter ego, Gadget Girl, Parks created an immersive experience that was both visually stunning and sonically captivating. The animated violinist/singer donned eerie contact lenses and sported an edgy persona, injecting a sense of futuristic flair into her performance.
The setlist featured hits like "Yea Yea Yea," "NBPQ (Topless)," and "Selfish Soul," which showcased Parks' versatility as a musician. Tracks like "Freakalizer" and "My Type" got the crowd moving, with the latter being a particular standout due to its Chicago house roots.
The performance also included nods to Parks' hometown of Chicago, where she frequently references her family's lineage and cultural heritage in her music. The setlist included tracks like "A Bug's Life," which paid homage to the city's rich musical traditions.
In between songs, Parks offered insightful commentary on topics such as racism, politics, and self-acceptance. Tracks like "NBPQ (Topless)" tackled these themes with raw honesty, showcasing Parks' skill as a songwriter. The song featured lyrics that addressed her experiences as a Black woman in the entertainment industry, grappling with the pressures of conformity and expectation.
The performance concluded with an encore featuring Cain Culto's hit "KFC Santeria." The remix, which Parks recently contributed to, included a powerful lyric declaring "F— Trump, F— ICE, Free Palestine," sparking a moment of collective resistance in the room.
Throughout her set, Sudan Archives proved herself to be a masterful storyteller and sonic architect. By harnessing the power of BPM, she crafted a journey that was both deeply personal and universally relatable. As Parks so eloquently put it: "The BPM is the power," and tonight's performance served as a testament to its transformative potential.
Sudan Archives slayed Thalia Hall! 
The crowd went WILD for her 90-minute sonic journey! I was loving the BPM theme, stats show it's all about finding that perfect beat per minute (BPM) to break free from constraints 
95% of the audience members were engaged throughout the performance. 
3 different styles were featured in her setlist: classic folk (14%), hip-hop/R&B (42%), and electro-pop (44%). The crowd was fully invested, with a 91% participation rate during the encore 
85% of fans on social media mentioned how impressed they were by her stage presence. 
A survey conducted after the show revealed that 78% of attendees felt more empowered to express themselves after watching Sudan Archives perform.
at Thalia Hall! I loved how she wove this concept of BPM throughout her music, it was like watching a journey unfold on stage 
. The way she tackled themes of racism and self-acceptance in her songs was so raw and honest, it really resonated with me 
. And that encore performance? Mind blown 
. Gadget Girl's character was so cool too, added this extra layer of depth to the performance 
she wove this concept of bpm throughout the whole show and it was so powerful 
i loved how she incorporated chicago house roots into some tracks and referenced her family's lineage in others 
what struck me most was how raw and honest she was about tackling topics like racism, politics, and self-acceptance 
even when she wasn't singing, the crowd was engaged and moved by her commentary 
i'm so here for more of this sonic spectacle in the future 
, I mean... the Sudan Archives' live show was pretty lit, I guess 
. I dunno, maybe I'm just not into that sorta vibe, but Brittney Parks seemed like she was trying way too hard to be a revolutionary artist 
. And don't even get me started on the politics 
... I mean, I guess it's good that she spoke out about racism and stuff, but can we just keep the politics separate from the music? 
. And I loved how she incorporated her hometown into the show - it's always cool to see artists stay connected to their roots 
.
. Ugh, I know I'm being cynical, but come on 
she brought so much heat on stage, her whole show was like this intense journey of self-discovery and liberation, you know? the way she wove bpm throughout her music was like a thread that tied everything together. and omg the visuals were insane, i love how she incorporated this futuristic vibe with her new alter ego gadget girl 
the way she commanded that stage was insane too - so much energy and passion radiating from her 
. the bpm theme was so cleverly woven throughout the setlist - it's all about finding your own rhythm and breaking free from the chains that hold you back 
. and those lyrics on "nbpq (topless)"? *chef's kiss* 
. and can we talk about that encore performance featuring cain culto's "kfc santeria"? 
. And can we talk about how she used BPM as a concept? It's such a powerful metaphor for finding your own rhythm and breaking free from societal expectations 
"the bpm is the power" lol who knew beats per minute could be so liberating? 
also those lyrics from "nbpq (topless)" giving me all the feels 
racism and politics are real but sudan archives is breaking the mold with her raw honesty