U.K. singer-songwriter Arlo Parks on touring and her greatest travel adventures

What’s your earliest travel memory?

Going to the south of France. My parents used to drive straight down from London to Nice, sometimes in one 17-hour road trip. We’d listen to my dad’s audiobooks and watch cartoons in the back. I remember spending time in different parts of the south, going through olive trees and to the ocean. I was at my bookworm peak, so I’d always go out to a field or tuck myself away in a corner of the house to read.

Do you have a favourite place in the world?

São Paulo in Brazil. I loved wandering the streets, getting lost, exploring street markets. I went dancing in clubs with these little local bands of 70-year-old men who’d been playing in jazz outfits since they were 20. They had everyone dancing in the streets, it was really special. I have Brazilian ancestry, so I felt like I was home in a way.

Where is your favourite venue to play in?

So far, The Greek Theatre in LA. It’s open air, tucked away and surrounded by beautiful trees. I supported my friend [American singer-songwriter] Clairo there and it felt like a really community-focused, playful atmosphere in a beautiful location.

What’s been your greatest travel adventure?

Going to Japan. I had a show in Tokyo and took a bit of time to go to the Mitake Valley, an hour away by bullet train, to immerse myself in nature, and went swimming in a river and in rock pools. I grew up loving Studio Ghibli films and the quaint ancient architecture they have in the Japanese countryside, so I felt like I was in a movie.

Do you like travelling in the UK, too?

The British countryside has some of the most amazing views and I find I’m really creative when I’m in that space. I’ve spent time in the Cotswolds, going for long walks. I went to a creative retreat in Stroud at a property called Lypiatt Park. It’s owned by a sculptor [Daniel Chadwick] and has an amazing sculpture garden.

What’s your favourite park?

I love Prospect Park in New York. I’m a big fan of a picnic, bringing a little portable speaker, and — not too obnoxiously loud — playing some ambient music. But Hampstead Heath is my favourite. The Heath with a little stop at a pub afterwards is my perfect way to spend time.

You took a break in 2022 after experiencing burnout from months of touring. Did you travel anywhere to recuperate?

I went home to Los Angeles. I wanted to ground myself, so I was cooking, going out to the mountains and to the desert. I spent a lot of time in Joshua Tree National Park — there are a lot of people making music out there. I love going to Big Sur on the coast and up to the redwood forests in Northern California. I love the fact that in California you can go to the ocean, then to Mammoth Lakes, then to the desert. It has such diverse geography.

(Related: Arlo Parks sings about her own mental health. Now, she’s working to improve ours too.)

Is there a bucket-list experience you’d love to have?

I’d like to go on a big trek or have a transformative, month-long trip of solitude in the Himalayas in Nepal. There’s something about that intense, alpine landscape that’s always appealed to me — about being alone with the elements and your thoughts.