Welcome to the Evolving Folks Project’s “Evolved Woman of the Week” profile. Each week, we will highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved person, famous and non-famous alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to violinist, singer, and songwriter Sudan Archives.
Born Brittany Denise Park, but better known by her stage name Sudan Archives is a musician who independently writes, performs, and produces her own music, showcasing her skills as a violinist and vocalist. Archives’ sound creatively combines Sudanese fiddlers, R&B, experimental electronic music, and beat-making. She is a self-taught violinist whose music blends folk and electronic sounds, that shows her varied musical inspirations.
She signed with Stones Throw Records in 2017. While growing up in Cincinnati, Sudan Archives would “mess around with instruments” and began playing the violin in fourth grade, learning it by ear. Upon learning about the violin style of Northeast Africa, she realized the instrument’s potential. She blended the violin with African beats, creating a fusion of folk and electronic music. Sudan Archives moved to Los Angeles at 19 to study music technology. During that time she further developed her at-home style.
Archives unveiled “Home Maker” on March 16, 2022; it was her first new track in three years and the debut single from her second studio album, titled Natural Brown Prom Queen. Pitchfork chose it as a Best New Track. It characterized it as Archives’ “most approachable yet, a swaggering statement of intent with all the idiosyncratic charm that makes her music so memorable”. Archives also performed as the headlining act at the Stones Throw showcase at South by Southwest the next day.
Critics widely praised “Natural Brown Prom Queen,” which came out on September 9, 2022. In 2023, Sudan Archives won two Libera Awards, for Best Breakthrough Artist/Release and Best R&B Record.
Archives has a twin sister named Cat, and they were once in a pop group together called N2. These days Archives lives in Los Angeles and has been in a relationship with James McCall, also known as Nocando and All City Jimmy, since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Her and McCall collaborated on a home studio in her basement, which is where she created her second album, Natural Brown Prom Queen.
Here is Sudan Archives about the influence of African violinists on her music.
“The way they played it differed from classical music. I resonated with the style.”
We at the Evolving Folks Project wish Sudan Archives more continued success as an independent artist and performer. Today, we honor Sudan Archives as our Evolved Woman of the Week.
Evolving Folks Project 