The 18 year old London talent Arlo Parks has just released her 5-track debut EP SOPHIE. It’s a delightfully easy listen, but it also encompasses a diversity of pop, indie, acoustic and R&B songs. ‘Paperbacks’ is the final track of the EP, bringing the the record to a perfect end. Parks is a Portishead fan, and this comes as no surprise when listening to the brilliantly lazy trip-hop beats which open the song. An indie guitar melody follows, along with Parks’ distinctively husky voice. Reverberated backing vocals and trumpets give this song an uplifting emotionality. With only an opening verse, Parks’ sings the repeated line, as she reminisces: "Cider with the guys, having sex in the sky, I think I hate you but I don’t know why". It's a wonderfully catchy melody that you can’t get enough of. Arlo Parks is a unique talent, who uses innovation as much as reworking familiar sounds to produce something very special. Take a listen to ‘Paperbacks’ now. -Ellie Rose-Davies