Sudan Archives brought the house down at Thalia Hall Thursday night with her "The BPM" tour stop. The conceptual album, which explores themes of heartbreak and empowerment through beats per minute, was performed with a level of performance art that rivalled rave culture.
Brittney Parks, aka Sudan Archives, is known for her wild stage presence, but this show took it to the next level. Her violin, usually a staple in her performances, was only used sparingly, making room for a sonic tapestry created by synths, vocal loops, drum machines and other programming wizardry.
The setlist featured a mix of dance tracks with obvious Chicago house roots, including "My Type" and "A Bug's Life," which showcased Parks' connection to her hometown. The night also included nods to local artists, such as Ciara, whose name was dropped in one of the songs on the album.
Parks used her music to make powerful statements about identity and politics, including a lyric from Cain Culto's song "KFC Santeria," which declared "F— Trump, F— ICE, Free Palestine." She also incorporated elements of Black History Month into the show, wishing everyone a happy month.
Through her music, Parks is unapologetically herself, embracing her uniqueness and refusing to be defined by external expectations. As she said during the encore, the beats per minute are what give us superhuman powers. It was clear that this was more than just a concert – it was an experience that will leave a lasting impact on those who were lucky enough to be there.
Brittney Parks, aka Sudan Archives, is known for her wild stage presence, but this show took it to the next level. Her violin, usually a staple in her performances, was only used sparingly, making room for a sonic tapestry created by synths, vocal loops, drum machines and other programming wizardry.
The setlist featured a mix of dance tracks with obvious Chicago house roots, including "My Type" and "A Bug's Life," which showcased Parks' connection to her hometown. The night also included nods to local artists, such as Ciara, whose name was dropped in one of the songs on the album.
Parks used her music to make powerful statements about identity and politics, including a lyric from Cain Culto's song "KFC Santeria," which declared "F— Trump, F— ICE, Free Palestine." She also incorporated elements of Black History Month into the show, wishing everyone a happy month.
Through her music, Parks is unapologetically herself, embracing her uniqueness and refusing to be defined by external expectations. As she said during the encore, the beats per minute are what give us superhuman powers. It was clear that this was more than just a concert – it was an experience that will leave a lasting impact on those who were lucky enough to be there.