Sudan Archives is the moniker of Brittney Denise Parks, a visionary violinist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and now based in Los Angeles. Teaching herself violin by ear as a child, she was less interested in classical traditions than in discovering how the instrument could be pushed into new territory. Inspired by African fiddlers she discovered on YouTube, as well as the church and club sounds she grew up around, she began to reimagine the violin not as an orchestral instrument but as something that could drive rhythm, energy, and modern experimentation. At 19, she relocated to LA, where she immersed herself in beat-making, looping, and DIY production—developing the singular sound that has defined her career.
Her earliest releases, the Sudan Archives (2017) and Sink (2018) EPs on Stones Throw Records, established her as a fresh voice in experimental R&B and electronic music. But it was her debut album Athena (2019) that marked a breakthrough: a bold, genre-defying record that showcased her virtuoso violin playing alongside intricate production and intimate lyricism. Critics praised her ability to weave together sounds from multiple traditions into something that felt wholly new.
With her second album Natural Brown Prom Queen (2022), Sudan Archives expanded her palette even further, blending infectious hooks and club-ready rhythms with themes of identity, home, and Black womanhood. The record was met with critical acclaim and earned her two Libera Awards, including Best R&B Record. By this point, she had firmly established herself as one of the most inventive artists of her generation, praised for redefining the possibilities of the violin in contemporary music.
In 2025, she unveiled The BPM, her most ambitious and dance-driven project to date. Embracing the sounds of Detroit techno, Chicago house, and global club culture, the record also introduced a new alter-ego—“Gadget Girl”—a persona that reflects her technologically savvy, self-sufficient artistry. True to form, Sudan Archives continued to handle nearly every aspect of her music herself, from songwriting and production to live performance, underscoring her fierce independence.
Across her career, Sudan Archives has become known for more than her records alone—her live shows are electric, visceral experiences that highlight her boundary-breaking artistry. Whether looping violins into hypnotic rhythms, dropping beats that fill dance floors, or commanding the stage with her magnetic presence, she transforms the instrument into something unexpected: a party, a statement, and a force of liberation.
Sudan Archives stands today as one of music’s most original voices—a Black woman artist who has carved out space where virtuosity meets experimentation, and where tradition collides with the future. Her story is one of constant reinvention, innovation, and a refusal to be confined by genre or expectation.