Kevin Parker: The Songwriters

Kevin Parker: The Songwriters

Until 2015, Kevin Parker was best known as the singer and multi-instrumentalist behind Tame Impala’s dank, crunchy psych rock. But after that year’s international smash Currents saw Tame pivot into sun-baked disco and marathon dance motifs, Parker became one of the most sought-after writer/producers in commercial music. Mark Ronson got in first, landing Parker for his ubiquitous Uptown Special album before Currents had even come out. From there, Parker has lent his cosmic synth textures, close-to-the-heart songwriting and rich sense of sonic space to Rihanna’s drowsy 2016 slow jam “Same Ol’ Mistakes”, Lady Gaga’s roller-rink thumper “Perfect Illusion” from the same year and The Weeknd’s diffuse 2020 outlier “Repeat After Me (Interlude)”. Parker’s meticulous ear for both radiant hooks and vintage-sounding drums has also ushered him into rap’s inner circle, prompting distinctive features on tracks from Kanye West, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi and Theophilus London.

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