In the late ‘60s, psychedelic rock reigned supreme. Bands like The Doors, Pink Floyd, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience thrilled audiences by crafting trippy songs and performing sets designed to titillate those who were high on LSD. The excesses of the ‘60s ended abruptly following several sobering events (Manson Murders, Altamont, etc.), and psychedelic music fell out of fashion.
Although a new type of psychedelia started creeping back into popular music in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, it wasn’t until Australian indie-rock outfit Tame Impala released their debut album, Innerspeaker, in 2010 and the even more impactful Lonerism in 2012 that psychedelic music had truly returned to the mainstream.
With those two albums, Tame Impala created a new style of psychedelia—one that influenced a multitude of musicians and spawned countless imitators.
A Psychedelic Revival In The 21st Century
There’s no question that Tame Impala’s remarkable, unexpected success led to an increase in the number of artists making neo-psychedelic music. Fellow Aussies Pond, Sugar Candy Mountain,Khruangbin, and Temples are just a few of the acts that followed suit.
The new wave of psychedelic sounds was very much in the vein of Tame Impala. Unlike the wild guitar solos and improvised jams that defined psychedelic rock of the 1960s, Tame Impala’s version of psychedelia is a breezier, more relaxed one.
And, boy, did it catch on! Kevin Parker, the dominant force behind the band, has become a producer in high demand, and not just with rock artists. Hip hop, R&B, and pop artists have called on him to produce their records and inject some of his magic touch into their projects.
Perhaps it was working with artists across many genres that led to a change in direction for Tame Impala. Whatever the influence, Parker’s band moved away from psychedelia and into a more eclectic style of pop on 2015’s Currents and 2020’s The Slow Rush, while still managing to sound like Tame Impala.
From Psychedelic Rock To Pop Stardom
Tame Impala’s influence wasn’t limited to neo-psychedelic acts—it spilled into the mainstream in a big way. Artists like Rihanna, Travis Scott, and Lady Gaga have adopted Kevin Parker’s psych-savvy sensibilities by sampling his songs, working with him directly in the studio, or covering his songs—like Rihanna did with “New Person, Same Old Mistakes.”
Parker’s ability to make swirling, atmospheric sounds with solid pop hooks made him one of the most sought-after producers of modern times. Travis Scott brought him in to help create the textures for Astroworld, Lady Gaga tapped his talents for Chromatica, and even Kanye West asked him to contribute to his record Ye.
Tame Impala has gone from being a small indie act with a cult following to a festival headliner. Parker’s imprint is everywhere now, and his band has become a pop sensation.
Recently, Tame Impala announced that they have a new album, Deadbeat, coming out on October 17, 2025.
