Sudan Archives (Brittney Parks) is a violinist, singer, and producer who blends violin/fiddle traditions with contemporary Black underground music, which she calls Orchestral Black Dance Music.
Her third album, THE BPM, embraces themes of self-will, rhythm as power, technology, romance, mental illness, and self-love. It was Executive Produced by Parks with Ben Dickey, alongside Eric Terhune, James McCall IV, her twin sister, touring band, Detroit cousins, and others. Chicago’s Black chamber collective D-Composed contributed strings.
Personas continue to shape her work:
Athena (2019) – classical goddess
Natural Brown Prom Queen (2022) – Britt, Cincinnati teen dreamer
THE BPM (2025) – Gadget Girl, a persona celebrating freedom through technology.
Tracks like “MY TYPE” explore sexuality and friendship, while “A COMPUTER LOVE” wrestles with societal expectations of marriage and family. “MS PAC MAN” takes a playful, irreverent turn. Much of the album draws on collaborative improvisation, highlighting Parks’ role as both artist and conductor of her creative circle.
THE BPM FAMILY includes: Taylor Henderson, Catherine Parks, Eric Terhune, Damon Terrell, Ben Dickey, James McCall IV, Kafari, Ghalani of Greenwood, Dexter Story, Zep, Jeremy Zumo Kollie, Red Charon, and Richard Lawrence
