Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker Discusses “‘Cause I’m a Man” In Cover Story Outtake
Under the Radar's Issue 53 Out Now; Currents Due Out July 17
May 15, 2015 Tame Impala
Tame Impala‘s upcoming third album, Currents, is due out July 17. The Australian band are on the cover of Under the Radar‘s current print magazine. Pick up a copy now to read the first interview with Tame Impala frontman Kevin Parker about Currents. The digital version of the magazine (for iPads/iPhones) also contains a bonus Q&A with Parker, sections of the interview not found in the print cover story. Below is an excerpt from that Q&A (conducted by Matt Fink), in which Parker talks about the inspiration behind Currents’ second single, “‘Cause I’m a Man” (which you can also stream below). The interview was conducted while Parker was putting the finishing touches on the album.
Tame Impala are currently on a U.S. tour and those dates are below too.
Matt Fink (Under the Radar): “‘Cause I’m a Man”-that one seems to be a departure, too. I haven’t really heard a Tame Impala song that has that sort of sexy creep to it.
Kevin Parker: It’s meant to be kind of sassy and tongue-in-cheek to some degree. It’s meant to sound kind of sexy, but I don’t know if that’s how it comes across, with its laid-back beat. I’m really putting myself out there vocally more than I have before. I usually bury my vocals and sing quite ethereally and stick in a laser beam melody washed in reverb. I just love that dreamy, silvery vocal sound. But here I just forced myself to put myself out there and really try something more than what I would feel comfortable doing with a vocal performance. I was like, “Fuck it, man. Just do it.”
It sounds a bit like Prince to me, with those sensual vocals and soulful guitar licks.
Ah, cool! That’s good. It’s good to hear that, because I have no perspective on this! I finished the song, and I think it sounds a particular way. It’s good to hear you say it’s a sensual soulful thing.
Listening to it, I was wondering if the lyrics are intended to be apologetic. The tone also seems a bit defiant.
It is, but it’s also apologetic. When I say it’s tongue-in-cheek, I’m not saying it’s insincere. The apology is sincere, but the excuse of saying, “Oh, it’s because I’m a man” is the tongue-in-cheek bit. I hope people don’t see it as a sexist in any way. That would upset me, but I wouldn’t put it past people to interpret it like that, because people have wack interpretations of things sometimes.
Currents Tracklisting:
1. Let It Happen
2. Nangs
3. The Moment
4. Yes I’m Changing
5. Eventually
6. Gossip
7. The Less I know The Better
8. Past Life
9. Disciples
10. Cause I’m a Man
11. Reality In Motion
12. Love/Paranoia
13. New Person, Same Old Mistakes
Tame Impala Tour Dates:
Fri May 15 - Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL - SOLD OUT
Sat May 16 - The LC Pavilion - Columbus, OH
Mon May 18 - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Royal Oak, MI
Tues May 19 - Massey Hall - Toronto, ON - SOLD OUT
Wed May 20 - Metropolis - Montreal, QC - SOLD OUT
Thurs May 21 - Metropolis - Montreal, QC - SOLD OUT
Fri May 22 - Boston Calling Festival - Boston, MA
Mon May 25 - Sasquatch! Festival - George, WA
Tues May 26 - Malkin Bowl - Vancouver, BC - SOLD OUT
Wed May 27 - Roseland Theater - Portland, OR - SOLD OUT
Fri May 29 - The Depot - Salt Lake City, UT
Sat May 30 - Ogden Theatre - Denver, CO - SOLD OUT
Sun May 31 - Uptown Theater - Kansas City, MS
Mon Jun 1 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MS
Wed Jun 3 - Stage AE - Pittsburgh, PA
Thurs Jun 4 - House Of Blues - Cleveland, OH
Fri Jun 5 - Bunbury Music Festival - Cincinnati, OH
Fri Jun 7 - Governor’s Ball Festival - NYC, NY
Sat Jun 6 - Echostage - Washington D.C
Fri Jul 24 - Splendour In The Grass - Byron Bay, Australia
Fri Jul 31 - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL
Fri Aug 7 - Outside Lands Festival - San Francisco, CA
Thurs Aug 20 - Paredes de Coura - Viana Do Castelo, Portugal
Fri Aug 21 - Lowlands Festival - Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Tue Aug 25 - Mojotic - Sestri Levante, Italy
Wed Aug 26 - Rock In Roma - Rome, Italy
Fri Aug 28 - Teatro Romano - Verona, Italy
Sat Aug 29 - Zurich Openair Festival - Zurich, Switzerland
Sun Aug 30 - Rock En Seine - Paris, France
Sat Sep 5 - End of the Road Festival - Gardenstown, UK
Sun Sep 6 - Electric Picnic - Dublin, Ireland
Tues Sep 8 - Barrowland - Glasgow, Scotland
Wed Sep 9 - Olympia - Liverpool, UK
Thurs Sep 10 - Bestival - Isle of Wight, UK
Sat Sep 12 - Lollapalooza - Berlin, Germany
Fri Oct 2 - Austin City Limits - Austin, TX
Fri Oct 9 - Austin City Limits - Austin, TX
Current Issue
Issue #72
Apr 19, 2024 Issue #72 - The ‘90s Issue with The Cardigans and Thurston Moore
Most Recent
- 12 Best Songs of the Week: Charly Bliss, Jessica Pratt, The WAEVE, Hamish Hawk, and More (News) —
- John Carpenter on ‘Lost Themes IV: Noir’ (Interview) —
- Thomas Powers (of The Naked & Famous) Shares New Single, “Empty Voices” feat. Julien Baker (News) —
- illuminati hotties Shares Video for New Song “Can’t Be Still” and Announces New Tour Dates (News) —
- Jordan Lindley Shares New Single “Sometime Someday” (News) —
Comments
Submit your comment
There are no comments for this entry yet.