Tame Impala‘s Kevin Parker Emerges From Self-Imposed Isolation, Collaboration Fuels Creative Renaissance
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – after years largely operating as a solitary musical force, Kevin Parker, the creative engine behind Tame Impala, has revealed a collaborative spirit forged through unlikely friendships and high-profile projects. A recent profile details Parker’s journey from a fiercely independent producer to a sought-after collaborator, marked by pivotal relationships with Mark Ronson and a surprising connection to rihanna.
Parker first gained recognition crafting the psychedelic soundscapes of Tame Impala, initially recording and producing everything himself. His breakthrough album, Lonerism, released in 2012, charted in a dozen countries, but the process was intensely personal, even leading to restrictions on access during live performances for longtime collaborator, Lawrence.
A shared tour supporting MGMT and Kesha brought Parker into orbit with producer Mark ronson. The pair quickly bonded over technical details of music production, with Parker sharing a work-in-progress version of Lonerism.Following a Tame Impala performance at Brixton academy in October 2012, and a star-studded afterparty, the two conceived a project centered around funk music. “Kevin goes, ‘Man, we should do a project about the funk. No one’s really putting it down for the funk, and funk is kind of like a dirty word now,'” ronson recalled. “He’s like,’Let’s do some shit.'”
This collaboration culminated in a four-day recording session at Royal Studios in Memphis in 2014, while Tame Impala was still touring Lonerism. The work laid the foundation for ronson’s 2015 album, Uptown Special, featuring the hit “Uptown Funk.” Ronson believes their initial conversation inspired the song,and witnessed George Clinton’s enthusiastic reaction to their track ”Daffodils.” Ronson credits Parker with expanding his understanding of production through their work together, stating, “Kevin has said on a number of occasions that coming to work with us on Uptown Special was his first time ever collaborating…That’s like Jimi Hendrix saying, ‘Oh, yeah, that guy gave me my first guitar pick.’ I’ll fucking take it.”
Parker’s shift towards collaboration continued in 2016 with a surprise request from Rihanna’s camp. Jodie Regan,Tame Impala’s manager since before the band’s name was established,received a call from Jay Brown of Roc Nation requesting stems for Tame Impala’s Currents track,”New Person,Same Old Mistakes,” for inclusion on Rihanna’s Anti album. Parker immediately began working to fulfill the request, demonstrating a willingness to share his music and contribute to other artists’ visions.
These experiences mark a significant evolution for Parker, signaling a new chapter for Tame Impala and its enigmatic leader, one increasingly defined by connection and shared creativity.