Image via Tame Impala’s Facebook Page
New music from Tame Impala appears to be on the way, with Kevin Parker giving fans a preview of fresh material during a DJ set in Barcelona – marking an exciting return for the project as it approaches a major milestone.
Parker, who formed the Tame Impala project in Perth, Australia in 2007, gave his dedicated fans a taste of new music while in Spain over the weekend. Having made an unannounced appearance at Primavera Sound on Friday (June 6), Parker performed a surprise DJ set the following night at Barcelona’s Nitsa Club.
It was during this latter set that Parker turned his focus to previously unheard material. “You guys want to hear a new song? You want to hear a new Tame Impala song?” he asked the crowd.
“You’re going to be the first ones to hear it, you realize? There’s no going back from this point on, you realize?” he added. “Alright, let’s do it; get comfortable.”
The resulting tune was somewhat removed from what dedicated fans may have expected from the project, maintaining many of the dreamy, psychedelic rock influences that have become synonymous with Parker’s music, although adding club-ready beats into the mix seems like a natural evolution for an artist who has consistently pushed boundaries throughout his career.
This preview comes at a particularly significant time for Tame Impala, as the project’s breakthrough album Currents celebrates its 10th anniversary. Originally released on July 17, 2015, Currents served as Parker’s commercial breakthrough, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and transforming Tame Impala from a cult psychedelic act into a global phenomenon. The album’s electronic-influenced sound marked a dramatic departure from the guitar-heavy approach of earlier releases, proving Parker’s willingness to reinvent his sound – a trait that appears to continue with this latest preview.
The trajectory from Currents to now has been remarkable. The album spawned hits like ‘Let It Happen’ and ‘The Less I Know the Better’, establishing Parker as one of modern music’s most innovative producers. This success was followed by 2020’s The Slow Rush, which peaked one position higher at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, cementing Tame Impala’s status as a major force in contemporary music.
As it stands, it’s been five years since the last full-length release from Tame Impala. The Slow Rush became the project’s fourth studio record in February 2020, building on the electronic foundations laid by Currents while exploring themes of time and personal growth. In the intervening years, Parker has remained remarkably busy across diverse projects, showcasing the versatility that has defined his career arc. In 2023, his second album Lonerism received a tenth anniversary reissue, and was followed by the release of the track ‘Journey to the Real World’ for the Barbie soundtrack.
Tame Impala has also been credited with remixes of songs from Crowded House and Elvis Presley, and appeared as a guest artist on cuts from Diana Ross and Gorillaz; collaborations that demonstrate Parker’s evolution from indie darling to sought-after collaborator across genres.
In 2024, Parker served as a producer and guest musician for Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism album, and also appeared as a guest artist on two tracks from French outfit Justice’s Hyperdrama album. One of those collaborations, ‘Neverender’, saw Parker win his first Grammy for best dance/electronic recording in 2025 – a career milestone that reflects his journey from bedroom producer to Grammy-winning artist.
This career progression, from the lo-fi psych-rock of early Tame Impala releases to Grammy-winning electronic collaborations, suggests that the new material previewed in Barcelona represents the next logical step in Parker’s artistic evolution. As Currents reaches its 10th anniversary, it appears Parker is once again ready to surprise fans and push Tame Impala into uncharted territory.
