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 <i>Currents</i> 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 <i>Uptown Special</i> album before <i>Currents</i> 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.