Sudan Archives Shares New Video For NBPQ (TOPLESS), New Album and Tour
“Beyond its narrative sharpness, beyond its thematic generosity, the achievement of Natural Brown Prom Queen is, to me, not just in how it will summon you towards movement, but also the many ways it does that summoning, the many eras and sonic landscapes it calls to in order to do that work.”
– AUTHOR AND POET HANIF ABDURRAQIB ON NATURAL BROWN PROM QUEEN
Ahead of the release of her upcoming album Natural Brown Prom Queen (out September 9 via Stones Throw), Sudan Archives shares a fantastical new video for her most recent single NBPQ (Topless). Directed by Augusta YR, the clip underpins Sudan’s repeated lyrical refrain that she is “not average” via bizarre, psychedelic visuals that play out like a Lynchian Alice in Wonderland. Sudan’s magic shines through at every turn, whether she’s standing confidently in a teacup, emerging in miniature from her own hairdo, or lying on a sofa next to a masked figure holding a goat.
A song the singer/producer/violinist describes as “my autobiography,” NBPQ (Topless) was released to praise from The New York Times, Fader, Stereogum, The Guardian and FLOOD, the overarching sentiment of “NBPQ (Topless)” is redemption and freedom as Sudan rejoices in her own uniqueness.
Last month was rife with landmarks for Sudan as she continues to lay the groundwork for Natural Brown Prom Queen. She was named as a member of YouTube Music’s Foundry Class of 2022, an honour placing her among other influential genre-spanning names such as Babytron, Obongjayar and Genesis Owusu. Sudan also guested on Hrishikesh Hirway’s Song Exploder podcast where she gave an insightful deep dive into the writing and recording of Selfish Soul, demonstrating how far her production and writing chops have grown since her 2019 debut Athena.
From first listen, it’s immediately apparent that Natural Brown Prom Queen is Sudan’s most ambitious work to date, its sounds ranging from the disco-influenced R&B of Home Maker (named Best New Track by Pitchfork), to Afrocentric anthem Selfish Soul (named a Song You Need by The Fader), hip-hop banger OMG Britt, the wild ride of NBPQ (Topless) and ballad Homesick (Gorgeous & Arrogant). Sudan is unafraid to be vulnerable, tender and open about her insecurities. But the record is also about finding pleasure – after all, this is the artist who played violin upside-down on a pole in a music video.
On Natural Brown Prom Queen, Sudan Archives invites you to join in and embrace that shared joy – and the response to advance singles Home Maker, Selfish Soul and NBPQ (Topless) (including accolades from the New York Times, The Fader, FLOOD Magazine, Pitchfork, Stereogum, BET, Uproxx, NYLON and more) demonstrates that people are ready for it.
Sudan is performing at festivals this summer in the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. Following the album’s release she will embark on the Homecoming Tour, her first headline run since the tour for her 2019 album Athena. Tickets are on sale now – full dates below.
Natural Brown Prom Queen track list
Natural Brown Prom Queen track list
1. Home Maker
2. NBPQ (Topless)
3. Is This Real? (Can You Hear Yourself?)
4. Ciara
5. Selfish Soul
6. Loyal (EDD)
7. OMG BRITT
8. ChevyS10
9. Copycat (Broken Notions)
10. It’s Already Done
11. FLUE
12. TDLY (Homegrown Land)
13. Do Your Thing (Refreshing Springs)
14. Freakalizer
15. Homesick (Gorgeous & Arrogant)
16. Milk Me
17. Yellow Brick Road
18. #513
UK & Europe
Aug 19-21 – Hamburg, DE – MS Dockville Festival
Aug 23 – Leeds, UK – Belgrave Music Hall
Aug 25 – London, UK – All Points East
Aug 26 – Stockholm, SE – Popaganda Festival
Aug 26-28 – Darmstadt, DE – Golden Leaves Festival
Aug 28 – Edinburgh, UK – Connect Festival
Aug 30 – Brighton, UK – Patterns
Sep 1 – Salisbury, UK – End of the Road Festival
Sep 3 – Bristol, UK – FORWARDS Festival
Homecoming Tour – North America
Sept 24 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
Sept 25 – Santa Barbara, CA – Soho Music Club
Sept 26 – Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s
Sept 27 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
Sep 29 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Sept 30 – Vancouver, BC – Fortune
Oct 1 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
Oct 4 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
Oct 5 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
Oct 7 – Toronto, ON – Axis
Oct 8 – Ottawa, ON – Bronson
Oct 10 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
Oct 11 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
Oct 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere (The Hall)
Oct 14 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
Oct 15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Sound Series Block Party
Oct 17 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
Oct 18 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
Oct 19 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
Oct 21 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
Homecoming Tour – Europe & UK
4 Nov – Milan, Italy – Circolo Magnolia
5 Nov – Zurich, Switzerland – Moods
6 Nov – Munich, Germany – Ampere
8 Nov – Vienna, Austria – Grelle Forelle
9 Nov – Prague, Czech Republic – Futurum Music Bar
10 Nov – Warsaw, Poland – Hybrydy
12 Nov – Copenhagen, Denmark – Hotel Cecil
13 Nov – Berlin, Germany – Metropol
15 Nov – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso Noord
17 Nov – Brussels, Belgium – Orangerie
18 Nov – Paris, France – Pitchfork Music Festival
21 Nov – Dublin, Ireland – Whelan’s
24 Nov – Manchester, UK – Band on the Wall
25 Nov – Barcelona, Spain – La 2 de Apolo
NEW SINGLE – NBPQ (TOPLESS)
– OUT NOW
NEW ALBUM – NATURAL BROWN PROM QUEEN PRE-ORDER
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