Park grew up in Morrison, Colorado. He was exposed to the arts at an early age: his mother was a published poet, and his father was a doctor who enjoyed playing folk and blues records and the guitar at home. Park himself began to write songs in his early teens and played in bands starting in middle school. He moved to New York City to try and start a music career, but left after less than eight months for Los Angeles, working numerous odd jobs that ranged from clothing store retail clerk to karate teacher to support himself. In 2000, Park completed his first demo collection, now known as The Basement Tapes. He recorded the songs in the back of a store owned by a friend’s girlfriend since he did not have enough money to use a studio. Park befriended producer Dave Trumfio (Wilco, Earlimart) later that year. He and Trumfio wrote, recorded, and mixed material for Park’s debut album during the summer months of 2002. Singer/songwriter Tim Easton, pedal steel player Eric Heywood, and drummer Dave Kostiner joined them in the studio. During this time, Park also played live concerts as the opener for Julia Fordham, Gomez, Beth Orton, and Richard Buckner. He signed a deal with Hollywood Records in 2003, and Under the Unminding Skies EP was released that February. Park’s first studio album, Loneliness Knows My Name, followed in 2004. Disappointed by low sales, he later commented: “[Hollywood Records] had no idea what to do with me. They’re a pop label, so they were always trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.” He has since moved to Curb Appeal Records and released his second full-length album, Everyone’s in Everyone, while continuing to tour across the U.S. Park received moderate attention following airplay for “Life is a Song”, which was chosen as the final song on the series finale of the Fox teen drama The O.C. |
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