Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker Opens Up About Love of DJing: “It’s Such a Thrill”

The psych-rock icon revealed his deep appreciation for DJ culture ahead of a support slot for French electronic music icons Justice.

Kevin Parker, fans of whom know as Tame Impala, is no stranger to reinvention, and his latest evolution is placing him behind the decks.

In a recent interview with RUSSH Magazine, Parker opened up about his love of DJing, describing the craft as a thrill unlike anything else. “DJing is a real rush for me,” he said. “When you’re in a band, you’re just one of the guys. It’s not all resting on you.”

His comments arrive in the wake of a rare DJ set within Mexico City’s stunning Parque Quetzalcóatl, where he teamed up with acclaimed events collective Cercle.

Parker’s crossover into DJing underscores a long-running theme in his career: defying genre boundaries and subverting expectations. For an artist who once admitted he “wasn’t really into dancing,” his embrace of DJ culture feels like a full-circle moment. The producer who made rock sound hypnotic is now turning the dancefloor into his next canvas.

“Even though people see DJing as quite easy, there’s a responsibility that you have to keep the music going and to make it immense,” Parker added. “There’s a lot riding on it, which is why it’s such a thrill. I love it so much. I love how nervous it makes me.”

The conversation comes at a fitting time as Parker prepares to DJ in support of French electronic music icons Justice, bridging two worlds that have long influenced his work. While Tame Impala built its reputation on psychedelic rock and lush, introspective soundscapes, Parker has never hidden his fascination with dance music and rave culture. That passion fully blooms on his latest album, last month’s Deadbeat, which infuses his signature psych-pop with pulsing beats and club-ready rhythms.

You can listen to Deadbeat below.