Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Our spring member drive has ended, but it's not too late to give. You have the power to help fund the essential journalism that keeps us all informed. Help us close the gap on our spring fundraising goal! GIVE NOW

Utah Band Making A Name For Themselves

The National Parks
The National Parks will be releasing their second album this spring.

Utah has a reputation for being packed with talent, with break-out artists like SHeDAISY, Imagine Dragons and Royal Bliss. Utahns don’t have to set their sights on Hollywood because, according to Isaac Halasima - a native Utahn and well-known music video director for Imagine Dragons hit video, "Gold" - Utah is making a name for itself in an industry known for its competition.

Having formed just two years ago, Provo's The National Parks say they’re already preparing to release their second album this spring. Oh, and did I mention, they’re doing this having been on tour and working full-time jobs while going to college?

“Yeah, it’s kind of been crazy," said Brady Parks, the lead singer. "Mostly we tour during the summers and so we don’t go to spring or summer term, so we can hit the road and part of keeping the band going while we’re in school; it gets pretty busy. It’s like having another full-time job.”

He said their fans might be surprised with their new album.

“This album is going to be a little bit different," Parks said. "We’ve shifted genres and gone into more indie-pop than the last album which was more indie-folk. We’ve added a lot of different instruments to make it a really full sound. We’ve gone bigger with this album and I think people will be a little bit surprised, in a good way, I hope.”

Parks said they’ve partnered up with a company to include their fans in the process of making this new album.

“We’ve teamed up with this company called Pledge Music," Parks said. "It gives fans an opportunity to see what’s going on during this whole process and if they want to donate they can do that to be a part of it, and there’s some really great things that we’ll be providing such as a private concert.”

Parks attributed the band's fast growing success to people who saw their vision and jumped in with both feet.

“We want to be able to touch people and help them through our music in some way," Parks said. "In the music industry, there is sometimes not a really great influence. It can be kind of dark at times and so we want to have music that really inspires and uplifts.”

Halasima and his peers said as long as Utah musicians maintain their strong work ethic and professionalism, coupled with talent, groups like The National Parks can find success in an underdog state.