Tame Impala's Kevin Parker Confronts Social Awkwardness in Disco-Infused New Album

In his latest album 'Deadbeat', released in October 2025, Tame Impala's Kevin Parker confronts his social and emotional struggles through a captivating blend of intimate piano-driven confessions and euphoric disco-inspired production.

The 39-year-old Aussie musician, who has risen to mainstream success over the past 20 years as a pop producer for artists like Rihanna and The Weeknd, opens up about his difficult childhood and ongoing battle with social anxiety. Parker was frank in a recent GQ interview about being shunted between homes as his parents split and reconciled, leading him and his brother to live in an outhouse for an extended period during their teens.

This personal history has clearly shaped the raw, soulful piano hooks that anchor 'Deadbeat', which the artist then elevates into wider, production-heavy tracks. The album's opening track "My Old Ways" sets the tone, with Parker bashing out a hypnotic melody beneath a quavering falsetto as he beats himself up over unspecified "bad habits." The intimate rehearsal room vibe then swells into a euphoric dance track, as vintage synths and a thumping beat join the mix.

Throughout the album, Parker unpacks his social insecurities and emotional struggles, from the melancholy self-reflection of "No Reply" to the strutting funk of "Loser." Yet the music remains consistently engaging, with the piano-driven hooks bobbing to the surface like "lava lamp bubbles" amid the trancey production.