Photos and review by Jennie Book
@jenniebookphotography

A sold-out crowd packed The Fonda Theatre on February 20 expecting a concert, but what we got instead was equal parts music and theater: the digital, mythic universe of Sudan Archives showcasing her latest album, The BPM.

This show, the last of the tour, started with bird chirps and 8-bit tones, setting the scene for a night of layered tracks, with Sudan Archives (Brittney Parks) solo on stage, moving between laptop, sequencer, and firey violin. Across three albums now she’s been creating sounds that thread West African violin traditions through hip-hop beats and pop vocals. Her latest, The BPM, is largely an EDM record, and her strong, creative, talented, and feminine autonomy is its throughline.

When she first took the stage, the scene was quiet and dramatic, fans holding their breath to take it all in. She appeared through the fog in a sculpted bodysuit that changed appearance with the light, wearing glasses at first, but she peeled them off and throughout the night stared into the crowd with her white contact lenses to intense, startling effect. And at every moment she was a commanding, undeniable pop star.

She played a 20-song set, which started off with “DEAD,” drawing the bow of her violin from behind her back as she did many times during the night, so that by the end frayed hairs of it were broken and flying from her intense playing. She gave us “NBPQ (Topless)” where the crowd yelled lyrics back at her, then slowed it down a little for “Come Meh Way” where she really showcased her violin talents, and then for “A BUG’S LIFE” she brought a fan up on stage to dance, and the fan danced her heart out, turning the night truly interactive and communal.

Parks’ violin playing deserves specific mention because she’s really talented. She’s turned a classic analog instrument into a modern compliment to her machine-made beats, and combined with her voice and presence the whole package makes for a super dynamic show.

Guest appearances towards the end of the night added to the fun of the concert, with opener Cydnee With A C coming back out for a collaborative track, and then tour sometimes-opener Cain Culto brought his intensely played violin out for some dueling strings. For the last track of the night, “The BPM,” Parks jumped off the stage onto the barricade to sing part of the song, making fans on the rail super happy with that added dose of intimacy. Before the night ended, Parks thanked her crew, which is always a classy move.

This tour has ended, but stay up to date with all the latest at sudanarchives.com, and don’t miss the chance to see her live if she’s playing within three states of you.