Q&A: Violinist and singer Sudan Archives brings ‘fiddle soft punk’ to Glastonbury debut
PILTON, England (AP) — Brittney Denise Parks, better known as Sudan Archives, is an avant-garde violinist and singer-songwriter who describes her style as “fiddle soft punk.”
She made her debut last week Glastonbury Festival in the UK After a shaky start, the packed crowd danced around in the midday sun as she rapped and played violin in a corset of red leather belts and buckles, cowboy boots, bow strapped to her back like Robin Hood.
“At first my microphone didn’t work, so the audience thought: we can’t hear you. and I was like, really? They’re like, no! So once we figured that out, it was great!” she told The Associated Press backstage.
Now based in Los Angeles, Sudan Archives taught himself to play the violin as a child in Ohio. She has made waves with her exploration of non-western string traditions, unconventional pop and R&B tunes, and rap inspired by her collaborator and boyfriend, Nocando.
Her second breakthrough album “Natural Brown Prom Queen”, recorded in the couple’s home studio during the pandemic, was released in 2022. The track “Home Maker” then made Barack Obama’s favorite music of 2022 playlist.
The following interview has been shortened for brevity and clarity.
AP: What was your starting point with the violin?
Sudan Archive: I didn’t start with classical music, but I just loved violin music. So I just started trying to learn violin music. And there was an after-school program called Fiddle Club, so we learned a lot of Irish music and stuff, but when I moved to another school, there was no orchestra or any other after-school program. So I just taught myself more in church how to play by ear.
And since I didn’t really have an education, I didn’t really have the education and skills to go to college and go to school like that. But I actually started integrating electronic music with the violin. And I remember when they first started making electric violins, I bought my first electric violin and plugged it into guitar pedals. And I started making weird noises and making music.
AP: The violin does have a certain image, was that something you were aware of?
Sudan Archives: Yes, that was me. I think there’s a very western view of the violin everywhere. But there are so many other cultures that play the violin. But for some reason, when you think of violin, you might think of classical orchestra. But I had just arrived in Istanbul and just bought one of the first traditional violins from Turkey. And when I was in Ghana, I bought a Hausa violin. So basically I feel like my goal is to show the black roots of the violin.
AP: Why did you want to mix violin with rap?
Sudan Archives: I think it works because it hasn’t been done much yet and I really want to be unique. So I started dating my boyfriend and he’s a really good rapper. So I feel like when you’re around rappers something just clicked and I was like, “Wait a minute, maybe I should play the violin and rap too.”
AP: And what have people from the rap scene made of that and what have they made of you?
Sudan Archives: I think they like it. I feel like I consider myself soft punk. Like it’s not punk. It’s not crazy. I’m not going to smash my violin, but I could scream and rap. It’s like, a soft violin punk.
AP: Dates in Japan and Australia are coming up. Do you like to travel?
Sudan Archives: I like it. I don’t know why because sometimes I get bored and I just feel like when you travel a lot you just never get bored.
AP: Especially when you spend time in one place?
Sudan Archives: Yes. I make sure I have days off in really cool places. So I had three days off in Istanbul and I really wanted to stay there because they have a lot of stringed instruments. So if I’m having a bad day in Japan, I’m going to get a string instrument there.
AP: How many violins did you buy in total?
Sudan Archives: I probably have six.
AP: And do you use them all when you perform?
Sudan Archives: I don’t have enough money to say, “I have a violin technician. They carry all my violins” and I can only take one or maybe two if a friend comes over and then I let them take them on the plane.
AP: But one day, one day you’ll have the entourage.
Sudan Archives: One day I will have five violins on stage with different effects.
