English singer-songwriter Arlo Parks is back in DC better than ever — with her sophomore album, a new poetry book, and a handful of impressive song collaborations on her resume since her debut concert in The District in 2021. And at her show on March 22 at a sold-out 9:30 Club, she told the audience how much of a better place she is in since her last visit to DC and how she wants everyone in the audience to know they are loved and safe at her shows.

Parks is on tour promoting her second record, My Soft Machine, which came out just under a year ago. The record features a soft vibe that blends indie pop, folk, and R&B with her poetic, elegant lyrics. It’s no surprise, though, considering she just released her debut poetry book, The Magic Border: Poetry and Fragments from My Soft Machine. Whether her words are on stage or bound in a book, they are impactful.