In the world of music, few stories are as inspiring as that of Parks Department the indie alt-folk band led by Woody Thomas. Their journey from a group of park rangers to a full-fledged band is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. This is the story of how Woody Thomas turned his love for music into a reality, despite the challenges of a day job and the pressures of adulthood.
The band’s debut album, released last week, is a collection of songs that reflect the bildungsroman of growing up, navigating relationships, and finding one’s place in the world. Woody Thomas’s journey is one that many can relate to, as he balanced a soul-sucking 9-5 job with his passion for music. His story is a reminder that creativity should not be crowded out by the demands of daily life.
From Park Ranger to Musician
Woody Thomas’s journey began in 2026 when he was working as a park ranger in New York City. With long hours and empty parks, he found himself yearning for something more. It was during this time that he decided to start a band with his coworkers, naming it Parks Department as a nod to their shared profession.
Over the years, the band evolved from a rag-tag group of rangers to a crew of musicians and friends Woody met along the way. Today, they play as an 8-piece band, but their debut album is a product of that initial period when Woody was experiencing the futility and frustration of doing work that felt meaningless.
The Making of the Debut Album
The debut album is a collection of songs rooted in friendship and freedom, a response to the questions and crises that accompany growing up. Woody Thomas provided a deep-dive into the album’s 10 songs, offering insights into the creative process behind each track.
Switchback
The first track, Switchback is a clear-cut relationship song that tells the story of Woody’s on-again, off-again relationship with his girlfriend. The song was recorded in his mom’s basement in Connecticut, with Dalton, the band’s drummer, bringing the song to life with his dynamics and feel.
Towel
Towel is about feeling artistic teenage dreams begin to buckle in the face of adulthood. It’s a tribute to the kind of friendship that can come from making art together, regardless of any measurable success. The song features lyrics that are a big shoutout to Woody’s good friend Adam, who does all the art for the band.
Boston
Boston is a song about a hometown friend who had moved to Boston after grad school and was going through early-adulthood ennui. It’s one of the first songs Woody wrote within the style that became Parks Department. The song features a Wurlitzer part recorded by Michael, the band’s keyboardist, in a studio in Ditmas Park.
Money Tree
Money Tree is a love song written about a year into dating Woody’s girlfriend. The song is about being upended in a partner’s absence after starting to build a life together. It’s one of the songs that took the most versions to get right, with Dalton figuring out the drums in Woody’s mom’s basement.
Ma Chérie
Ma Chérie is a fairly sexy song about the inevitable decline of sexiness in long-term relationships. It’s one of the songs that was written as it was being recorded, featuring a drum machine and synths courtesy of Woody’s Roland JX-3P.
Soot
Soot is the only breakup song on the record, written during Woody’s break with his girlfriend. It’s a song about the loss of youth and the specific creative life Woody had imagined for himself. The song features singing bowls, plucked violin, organs, space echo, tons of layers of feedback guitars, handpan, many layers of drums, and plenty of miscellaneous other stuff.
Plastic Sheets
Plastic Sheets is a series of vignettes largely about feeling aimless and spiritually crushed in the city. The song features a Wurlitzer played by Michael and electric guitar played by Ryan. It’s a song about the horrors of plastic sheets and the dangers of weed-induced psychosis.
Sunday
Sunday is a song about the dynamic Woody had with another phenomenally talented singer he had met. It’s a song about the issues that can arise when people are projecting their own respective desires onto a shared project. The song features Spencer Inch on drums and Robin Buyer on engineering and tracking.
The Future of Parks Department
As Parks Department continues to grow and evolve, their debut album serves as a testament to their journey and the power of passion and perseverance. Woody Thomas’s story is one that inspires us all to fight for our dreams, no matter the challenges we face.
