Arlo Parks performs ‘Hope’ as she wins Breakthrough Artist at BRIT Awards: ‘A dream come true’
The 20-year-old Londoner reaffirmed her status as one of music's brightest queer stars at London's O2 Arena.
Words by Alastair James; pictures: John Marshall
Arlo Parks was named as the Breakthrough Artist at the BRIT Awards last night (11 May).
The 20-year-old singer-songwriter, who appeared on the cover of the Attitude 101 issue earlier this year, thanked her family and friends saying “dreams come true”.
Accepting the award at the ceremony at London’s O2 Arena Parks said: “I just want to say a big thank you to my family… to my friends, to everyone who’s uplifted me.”
“I didn’t expect any of this”
“This is a dream come true, I didn’t expect any of this. So anyone who’s out there, you know, dreams come true.”
“I’m living proof of that. So, thank you, thank you very much”.
Photography: John Marshall
Parks later took to the stage to perform ‘Hope’ from her celebrated debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams, released earlier this year.
Fans congratulated her on social media, with one saying Arlo was “a brilliant artist”.
Congrats Arlo Parks!! She’s wonderful and deserved best breakthrough artist in my opinion. She’s so sweet and a brilliant artist! 😊👏 But if Joel Corry doesn’t win something tonight I will riot. 🤞💕 #BRITs
— Siobhan 🇬🇬 (@slinehan1) May 11, 2021
Another described the album as “beautiful”.
“There was no big drama or ‘reveal’”
Arlo Parks spoke to Attitude last year about being a torch-bearer for young people today.
“I feel like I’m just talking about myself and my friends and the people around me,” she said.
“I’m kind of conflicted about it, because I don’t want to feel like I’m representing everybody who is 20 years old… [However], I do like the idea that I’m speaking to kids, younger people who maybe haven’t found an artist that they feel represented or understood by.”
Image: Alex Kurunis
Parks also discussed growing up in Hammersmith, West London with an accepting family.
“There was this openness, not just in terms of sexuality, but it was always like: we accept you. There was no big drama or ‘reveal’, I think it was mentioned in passing and it was accepted, and I kind of went along with my life,”
“Not many people I know can say they’ve had the same experience.”
Watch Arlo’s performance of ‘Hope’ at the BRIT Awards here.