National Park Radio - “Wander”

There is a short list of musical elements that will immediately pique our interest when it comes to songwriting; one of these happens to be male + female vocal harmonies. And though it is not completely necessary, what can oftentimes make them even more special is when they are delivered by a husband and wife duo. Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we would like to welcome National Park Radio to the blog.

This national touring indie-folk act comes to us by way of the Ozark Mountains, after forming in northern Arkansas back in 2013, upon the release of their debut EP. Since then, the group have recorded two albums and another EP, before presently finding themselves upon our doorstep with “Wander,” their first single of 2023.

“Wander” is a true gem of indie-folk craftsmanship, complete with a raw and exquisitely finger-plucked acoustic guitar and vocals that were forged for storytelling. The track initially begins with a powerfully emotional solo performance from founder Stefan Szabo. But thirty seconds later, we are joined by his wife, Kerrie, as well as some hints from the rhythm section. This track soon opens right up and immediately causes the listener to picture the cinematic vastness of the highlands in which it was conceived.

Around the two-minute mark, listeners are rewarded with a mighty bridge– remember those musical elements that pique our interest? Yeah, well, songs with bridges win major points around here– and this one does not disappoint. It is at this point that you realize that you’re not just listening to a song– this one takes you on a journey. And for those of you who couldn’t find the time to go on road trip across the seasonal landscape, all this will cost you is the press of the play button.

-TM