Local Austin band Woodward and Parker released new album

Sierra Martin | Managing Editor

AUSTIN – Local Austin band Woodward and Parker celebrated their new album release, Carriage House, on August 23, 2021.

Comprised of five band members, Woodward and Parker kicked off after some of the members found a shared passion for music while playing in the Jazz Band in college at Saint Edwards University in Austin, Texas.

Julian Losak, who plays the keyboard for the band, says their new album carries themes of nostalgia throughout each track. But the album wasn’t planned that way, as each artist shared their song ideas and writing, the collective sound took shape into an album looking back at the past but embarking on a new musical endeavor as a band.

Photo credited to Woodward and Parker. (Left to right) Kenny Phipps, Alan Ancira, Bennett Wipff, Julian Losak, Christian Fournier

Christian Fournier, drummer and vocalist for the band, describes Woodward and Parker as “Just guys being dudes.”

“We are just five good friends that like making music,” said Fournier. “We air on the side of DIY at almost every point of our music process. While making this first album, we tried to do everything ourselves.”

Woodward and Parker worked together to make their recording studio in the house shared by some of their band members. Instead of having to book studio time, they were able to record and produce everything themselves.

“That whole project was nuts,” said Kenny Phipps, lead guitarist for the band. “Christian described it to us at first last year when we all moved into this new place and we thought he was just insane.”

Alan Ancira, base player, said that their love for music encouraged them to take on the project. 

“I think having room to experiment creatively without having to worry about running out of (studio) time is something we all wanted,” said Ancira.

The band played their first live performance in late February of 2020, just weeks before COVID-19 put the world on lockdown. People who attended the concert described it as being energetic and memorable as one of the last live music experiences they would have for over a year. 

“A real part of our band is the pandemic, unfortunately, because when we started, that’s when the damage hit,” said vocalist and guitar player Bennett Wipff. “It’s always been our wall that we’ve hit. We gain all of this potential and then COVID gets worse.”

Photo credited to Woodward and Parker

Woodward and Parker had an album release party scheduled in late August. But due to increasing COVID-19 cases and restrictions in Austin, band members decided it would be best to reschedule it until local conditions improve.

But even with an event as life-altering as the pandemic, Woodward and Parker said they hadn’t used COVID as an excuse not to engage with their listening audience and have come up with creative ways to be able to tour once life returns to normal. 

To strum up excitement for their album release Woodward and Parker is also raffling off two Tame Impala tickets for their upcoming show in Austin.

Their new album, Carriage House, can be streamed on Apple Music and Spotify.