The Magic Border

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What to expect

‘An embrace of a book’ Florence Welch

‘Poetry was my place, my little clearing in the forest, where I could quietly put everything I was holding. I’m not sure what gave me the courage to open up that space to you, but here I am, doing it.’

The Magic Border is the debut book from Mercury Prize-winning musician and poet Arlo Parks, combining never-before-seen poetry, song lyrics and beautiful, intimate images from collaborator, photographer Daniyel Lowden.

Featuring twenty original poems, alongside an exclusive artist’s statement and the complete lyrics from her sophomore album My Soft Machine, this vital collection explores the queer experience, blackness, grief, trauma and love through the eyes of the remarkable young musician.

The Magic Border allows readers rare insight into her creative process and beautifully showcases the full breadth of Arlo’s singular artistry.

‘Arlo Parks pulls beauty around her as a war tactic, and she shares the spoils with us’ Katie Gavin, MUNA

‘There’s as much music in Arlo’s poetry as there is poetry in her music’ Lucy Dacus

Critics Review

  • ‘The most tender and tactile collection. Arlo Parks writes poetry you can taste … An embrace of a book’ Florence Welch

    ‘Arlo Parks pulls beauty around her as a war tactic, and she shares the spoils with us. I am grateful and invigorated’ Katie Gavin, MUNA

    ‘There’s as much music in Arlo’s poetry as there is poetry in her music. How nice to find her same reassuring warmth, eloquence, and softness in another medium as she finds new ways to capture the fierce love and noticing she has for life and the people she adores’ Lucy Dacus

    ‘Dream-like, song-like, Arlo Parks’ sumptuous poems pierce us with their directness of emotion, keen images, and seductive rhythms. As rich and sharp as photographs, The Magic Border is sexy and startling; these songs penetrate the heart’ Richie Hofmann, author of A Hundred Lovers

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