Rick Rubin
In addition to being a podcast host, Frederick Jay “Rick” Rubin is an American record producer and former co-president of Columbia Records. Along with Russell Simmons, he is the co-founder…
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Arlo Parks is one of the most compelling voices of her generation. Born in London, the 22-year-old snagged the Best New Artist trophy at the Brit Awards in 2021 in part because of her breakout single “Eugene,” about an unrequited crush. Arlo’s songwriting is a vivid exploration of the euphoria and heartbreak that comes with being young and in love.
This month, Arlo Parks will release her sophomore record, called “My Soft Machine.” She collaborated with producers who worked with Brockhampton, SZA and Frank Ocean. The album unpacks the anxiety of feeling lost in your 20s, and navigating the uncertainty of life with grace.
On this week’s episode, Justin Richmond talks with Arlo about how seeing Black creators pushing the boundaries of popular music inspires her. She also explains how taking long drives around LA shaped the sound of her new album, and how she first started writing songs at just seven years old.
Plus, we’ll hear Arlo play three of her singles live from the Village Studios in Los Angeles.
You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Arlo Parks songs HERE.
The Hosts
Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell is president and co-founder of Pushkin Industries. He is a journalist, a speaker, and the author of six New York Times bestsellers including The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers,…
Justin Richmond
Justin Richmond is producer and co-host of the music podcast Broken Record with writer Malcolm Gladwell, New York Times editor Bruce Headlam, and music producer—and Def Jam co-founder—Rick Rubin. Justin…
Bruce Headlam
Bruce Headlam is one of the co-creators of the music podcast Broken Record. He worked at The New York Times for 19 years, including two years running the 50-person Video…
