“In art people are, in general, moved by honesty, and feel less alone when they feel like someone is telling a genuine, real story that they can connect to. My aim has always been to help others with my work, and I’m glad that it’s reaching more and more people.”

For the cover of Rollacoaster, singer-songwriter Arlo Parks reflects on her time in lockdown, from reading poetry, practising guitar and taking part in surprisingly fun family workouts, to finishing her upcoming debut album. Inspired by reading through old journals, she explains that the crux of the record is “about the situations and the conversations and the people that have made me who I am today.”

Looking back on her journey so far, she tells us how she first got into music and how she turned it from a private dream to signing a record deal on the day of her last A-Level exam. Now, having played Glastonbury, supported the likes of Loyle Carner and counted Billie Eilish amongst her fans, Parks ruminates on her hopes for the album, the future of the music industry and the importance of normalising conversations around mental health.

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