Kevin Parker has opened up about his hopes for a 2019 Tame Impala album during a new interview, as well as his thoughts on Arctic Monkeys and why he’s now started wearing shoes onstage.
Speaking with Matt Wilkinson on Apple Music’s Beats 1, Parker said he is now very focused on creating a new Tame Impala album, which he hopes to release at least part of in the next 12 months.
“I’m always working… I’m pretty certain now that another Tame Impala album is my main priority, definitely,” Parker said.
“I think now I’ve felt that calling. It’s like a calling from beyond.”
When asked if we’d hear a new Tame Impala album around this time next year, Parker said, “I would very much hope so. I’d be really disappointed if there wasn’t something out by then.
“I love playing the songs live — I love playing Currents songs, I love playing Lonerism songs and everything — but I think I’m ready to play some other songs live.
“All the instinctual things are there. You know when a bear knows that it’s time to hibernate? When birds fly north or whatever. How do they know? They just feel it.”
Asked if he’ll be playing any of his new songs live, Parker said that isn’t really his thing.
“I like the first time people here it is the recorded glory — the premeditated thing that I’ve spent two years on, rather than us just being half drunk, bashing it out on stage… hitting clanger notes and stuff,” he said.
Speaking about Arctic Monkeys’ new album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino — which features Tame Impala band member Cameron Avery — Parker said he would “absolutely” be receptive to possibly collaborating with the group if he was asked by frontman Alex Turner.
(UPDATE 08/08/18: Arctic Monkeys Say They’re Open To Collaborating With Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker)
Confirming a rumour that he is now wearing shoes during some of his performances (instead of not wearing anything on his feet like he normally does), Parker said he once had “a bit of a scare” which helped him change his ways.
“It’s true — can confirm…. It’s always been just sort of like [to] control the pedals. I’m trying to do less of that,” he said.
“It’s actually since I’ve been walking out the front [of stages]… I think I had a bit of a scare once.”
Parker also addressed his project with Mark Ronson and SZA, which he hopes will eventually “see the light of day”.
Listen to the full interview, below.
Tame Impala fans gathered to “worship” Parker at Splendour In The Grass over the weekend, and the footage of the pilgrimage is incredible.
Parker released his latest Tame Impala album, Currents, in 2015.
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