Parker Twomey on “Betty White Lightning” and His Hand-Me-Down Guitar

Photo credit: Sam Tippets

Tell us about your tour vehicle.

We’ve been touring in a bus when I’m on the road with Paul Cauthen. Before that, a Ford Econoline, “Betty White Lighting.” She’s nearing 200,000 miles. I’ll likely get an Econoline or something in that vein soon.

How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?

I’m big on staying healthy on the road… Or at least attempting to, haha. It can be hard when you’re living in close quarters with 8 other guys. Lots of salads, carrot juice, emergen-c packs, vitamin D pills, and things of that nature.

How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?

Typically I’ll go through two pairs on a month-long tour. Some people change their strings religiously, but I tend to let them build character over a week or so. A pack of strings is like $10.

Where do you rehearse?

I converted my garage into a recording studio with my dad years ago, which seconds as my rehearsal space. We call it “Owl Haus Studios.” The studio’s got Christmas lights hanging from the ceilings with owl figurines all over the place. Smells of incense. It’s definitely a vibe. I’ve got a lot of great memories there, recording demos and hashing out songs with my dad on drums.

What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?

When I was probably 7 or 8, my dad and his friends were jamming and recording a song in our old house one night. I wandered into their session and took the vocal mic. I quickly dreamed up a melody and some lyrics, and we cut my vocal track. The song was called “99th Century”, and the hook was “I wanna live in the 99th Century with no aliens or bugs.” Haha.

Describe your first gig.

I actually can’t remember my first gig. I was 10 when I began to take music seriously and started playing out as soon as I started writing songs. I was playing around Deep Ellum and local coffee shops at that time. I also played in the church band growing up and remember leading the congregation for the first time. That was a pretty defined memory for me at that age. Before I took the stage, my dad gave me his “Martin DC16-GTE” acoustic guitar, with a nice handwritten note. That moment engrained itself into me, and that guitar is still my favorite.

What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?

The beautiful thing about pursuing your soul-level passion is that work hardly feels like work. I’ve been lucky to make enough money doing what I’ve loved; while not having to work a job that doesn’t inspire me. I worked at Modern Electric Recording Studios throughout high school, and as soon as I graduated, I joined Paul’s band. I have so many special memories of those two times in my life. It wouldn’t be fair to compare them to each other. It’s been one cherished experience to the next.

How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?

My income has been on an upward trajectory since I started making money in my early teen years, and I expect it to continue on that trajectory. In 5-10 years, I hope to see millions; whether from music, acting, clothing, or whatever. I’m intensely creative and have a lot of ideas. I’ll figure it out… I shoot for the stars and hold myself to high standards. But, I’m not driven by money. I’m driven by passion, and I’m a firm believer that when you follow your inner genius and passion that fulfills you the most, money will follow if you make the right decisions along the way.

What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?

That there’s just as much value in playing for 30 people a night as there is playing for 30 thousand. It’s all perspective and what you make of it. It’s important to cherish each step of the way, as it’s a step we must take for a reason. We might as well enjoy all aspects of our journey upwards; I find it’s much more fulfilling that way, at least.

Equal parts country-folk songwriter and Americana road warrior Parker Twomey makes timeless music for the modern world. It’s a rootsy sound that blurs the lines between genre and generation, created by an old soul who’s still in his early 20s. With his solo debut, All This Life, Twomey opens the doors to his coming-of-age experience, writing candidly about the romance, regret, and reflection that comes with a life largely spent on the move.

Years before he launched his career touring alongside country singer Paul Cauthen, Twomey was raised by artistic parents in Dallas. He began playing music at ten years old, receiving his first guitar lessons from his dad and his first piano tutorials from his grandmother. By his early teens, he wrote his own songs and attended the city’s prestigious art school, Booker T. Washington High School, where icons like Norah Jones once cut their teeth.

During his final two years at Booker T. Washington, Twomey would finish his afternoon classes before heading to Modern Electric Sound Recorders. The place was a beloved hub of Dallas’ music community — a thriving studio where Leon Bridges, Jonathan Tyler, and the Texas Gentlemen had all recorded albums — and Twomey quickly became a regular. Impressed with his abilities as an instrumentalist and harmony singer, Paul Cauthen — a larger-than-life Texan who’d recorded multiple records at Modern Electric — extended an offer for Twomey to join his touring band.

All This Life features appearances from a number of Twomey’s personal heroes. Matt Pence, who previously performed with Centro-Matic, pulls triple-duty as the album’s co-producer, engineer, and drummer. Beau Bedford, one of Modern Electric’s ringleaders, serves as co-producer and multi-instrumentalist, while members of the Texas Gentlemen and the Grand Ole Opry’s house band all contribute to the album’s southern swirl.

Connect with Twomey online and on the road.