Folk-influenced male/female indie pop band The National Parks recently released their new album, A Mix For The End Of The World – Part 1. The first half of the Provo, UT-based quartet’s two-part independent digital-only project features the singles “UFO,” “Headlights” and “Summer Bird” as well as new track “Live Til We Die,” which they have also issued an official lyric video for.
“We are so excited to have our new album out in the world!” shares lead vocalist/guitarist Brady Parks. “This album is inspired by the times we are living in. The challenges can be overwhelming and all-consuming and it’s easy to feel lost and alone in all of it. This album is about finding joy in the moments of life with the people we love and seeing that through the ups and downs, life is good.”
A Mix For The End Of The World – Part 1 follows The National Parks’ critically acclaimed 2020 album Wildflower and continues to showcase the band’s sonic evolution and Brady’s deep and heartfelt songwriting. The 8-track collection, recorded at June Audio and produced and mixed by their longtime collaborator Scott Wiley, was inspired by love and life, and chronicles the fear, joy, uncertainty, and peace that life might look like at the end of the world. The National Parks — Brady Parks [guitar, vocals], Sydney Macfarlane [keys, vocals], Cam Brannelly [drums] and Megan Parks [violin] — first introduced the new collection this summer with the double release of “Headlights” and “Summer Bird.” The folk-tinged “Headlights,” with beautiful harmonies from Brady and Sydney, is a song about escaping chaos to be with the person you love most and trying to shut out the noise of the day for a minute to focus on the beauty of life. The track ended up sparking the inspiration for the rest of the songs featured on part 1 of the album. On “Summer Bird,” warm acoustic strumming and soft vocals soon opens up to a big chantable chorus of “I just want to fly away with you” amidst dreams of brighter days ahead. On A Mix For The End Of The World, The National Parks have perfected their signature style of blending folk/Americana and modern synths and drum sounds with big choruses you can’t help but chant along to, as evidenced on the cosmic love song and most recent single “UFO,” which was inspired by the first time Brady saw his now-wife, Megan.
Since emerging in 2013 with their introductory album Young, The National Parks have quietly grown into an independent phenomenon with roots embedded in blissful pop, cinematic electronics, organic orchestration, and rock energy. The four-piece has racked up over 150 million total streams, sold out headlining shows across the country, toured with Andy Grammer, Peter Bjorn and John and WILD, and performed at KAABOO Del Mar, SXSWand CMJ, while garnering praise and support from the likes of NPR, Paste, PopMatters, Relix, Atwood Magazine, Glide Magazine, Parade, and Substream Magazine and comparisons to The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, and The Head and The Heart. Their fourth full-length album, Wildflower, featuring the singles “Waiting For Lightning,” “Wildflower,” “Time” and “I Can Feel It,” elevated The National Parks to the next level and spawned The Wildflower Podcast. Look for A Mix For The End Of The World – Part 2 to follow in early 2022. You can connect with The National Parks via the following links. Photo credit: McKenna Chatterley.
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