Tame Impala’s highly anticipated fifth studio album “Deadbeat” will arrive on October 17, 2025, marking Kevin Parker’s first full-length release in over five years since 2020’s “The Slow Rush.” The Australian multi-instrumentalist officially announced the album on September 4, 2025, revealing a 12-track collection that draws deep inspiration from Australia’s bush doof culture and the Western Australia rave scene, signaling a bold new direction for the acclaimed psychedelic rock project.
The Evolution from The Slow Rush to Deadbeat
The journey toward “Deadbeat” began years before its announcement, with Parker hinting at the album’s existence as early as 2020. During promotion for “The Slow Rush” in February 2020, Parker mentioned that the next record wouldn’t take as long to complete, expressing that he had a “flourish of ideas” ready to explore. By February 2022, he reconfirmed his commitment to releasing new music sooner than his typical pattern, telling interviewers he would have “another Tame Impala album done sooner than what has been the pattern for me.”
According to Parker, actual work on “Deadbeat” began around 2023, representing a two-year creative process that would ultimately result in his most adventurous sonic exploration yet. The album was conceived in various locations over several years but was primarily recorded between Parker’s hometown of Fremantle and his Wave House studio in Injidup, Western Australia, during the first half of 2025. These locations, far from the commercial music hubs of Sydney or Melbourne, provided the perfect environment for Parker to experiment with sounds inspired by Australia’s underground electronic music culture.
Tracklist Reveals Album’s Sonic Journey
The complete “Deadbeat” tracklist, revealed in September 2025, offers insight into the album’s thematic direction. The 12 tracks are:
- My Old Ways
- No Reply
- Dracula
- Loser
- Oblivion
- Not My World
- Piece of Heaven
- Obsolete
- Ethereal Connection
- See You on Monday (You’re Lost)
- Afterthought
- End of Summer
Track titles like “Oblivion,” “Not My World,” and “Obsolete” suggest themes of introspection, melancholy, and transformation, while songs such as “Piece of Heaven” and “Ethereal Connection” hint at the lush psychedelic textures Parker has become known for throughout his career. The darker edge suggested by titles like “Dracula” and the self-deprecating “Loser” indicate Parker’s willingness to explore more complex emotional territory.
Singles Chart Parker’s New Direction
The rollout of “Deadbeat” began mysteriously with cryptic social media posts and hidden messages. On July 13, 2025, Parker posted an Instagram photo showing a school board with thirteen tracks listed in table format, sending fans into speculation overdrive. Five days later, on July 18, an unnamed 12-inch vinyl listing appeared on the Tame Impala webstore for pre-order, building anticipation without revealing specific details.
“End of Summer,” the album’s first official single, was released on July 25, 2025, after Parker had premiered it during a DJ set in Barcelona in early June. The seven-minute track immediately signaled a new direction for Tame Impala, with its extended runtime allowing Parker to explore gradual builds and hypnotic repetitions more commonly associated with electronic dance music than indie rock. The song draws inspiration from the acid house music scene of the 1980s and 1990s, incorporating elements that would have sounded at home in the UK’s Second Summer of Love.
The second single, “Loser,” arrived on September 3, 2025, accompanied by a music video directed by Julian Kristofski and starring Joe Keery, known for his role in “Stranger Things” and his own musical project Djo. The collaboration with Keery adds cultural cache to the release, bridging the gap between mainstream entertainment and alternative music. Posters advertising the single’s release date had appeared mysteriously in several cities, including Los Angeles and New York City, maintaining the air of intrigue surrounding the album.
“Dracula,” the third single from “Deadbeat,” continues to showcase Parker’s evolution, though specific release details remain limited. Additionally, a track believed to be “Ethereal Connection” was released as an untitled B-side for the 12-inch vinyl of “End of Summer,” available exclusively through the artist’s website in limited quantities.
Bush Doof Culture and Musical Innovation
The album’s inspiration from bush doof culture represents a significant creative pivot for Parker. Bush doofs are underground electronic music gatherings held in remote Australian bushland settings, combining elements of rave culture with Australia’s unique outdoor environment. Promotional statements describe “Deadbeat” as “deeply inspired by bush doof culture and the Western Australia rave scene,” effectively recasting Tame Impala as “a kind of future primitive rave act.”
This influence manifests in what’s being described as “wickedly potent club-psych explorations” that serve as vehicles for some of Parker’s “most direct, brain-wormy songwriting to date.” The album reportedly features a distinct minimalism and crunch, with timbres and textures that add an entirely new dimension to the Tame Impala sound. Parker has embraced spontaneity in the recording process, a notable departure for an artist known for his meticulous perfectionism. This newfound approach has resulted in a richer, more playful vocal range than ever before.
Lyrical Themes and Artistic Vision
Lyrically, “Deadbeat” explores what promotional materials describe as “the emotional minutiae of everyday life,” marking a shift from the macro examination of time that characterized “The Slow Rush.” The album channels themes of self-deprecation and personal struggle, with press releases colorfully describing the narrative voice as “an endless bummer, a self-deprecating fuck-up stuck in a negative feedback loop when he should have long had his shit together.”
This raw honesty extends to explorations of “self-medication in lieu of self-care,” themes that resonate with contemporary discussions about mental health and coping mechanisms. By setting these introspective, sometimes dark themes against euphoric, dance-floor-ready production, Parker creates a compelling tension that mirrors the duality of rave culture itself.
Label Change and Industry Impact
“Deadbeat” marks a significant change in Tame Impala’s business arrangements, as it will be the project’s first release through Columbia Records, ending a years-long relationship with Modular Recordings and Universal Music. The album will be distributed globally through Columbia Records, with Modular Recordings and Island Records also involved in the release strategy. This new partnership with the Sony Music machine suggests increased resources for promotion and distribution, potentially exposing Parker’s new sound to an even wider audience.
The album is available for pre-order in multiple formats, including webstore exclusive vinyl color variants, an Urban Outfitters exclusive color vinyl, and an Indie Record Store exclusive color vinyl. Limited numbered cassettes are being sold exclusively through Brooklyn Vegan and Alternative Press, catering to collectors and fans of physical media.
Tour Plans and Live Performance Evolution
While Tame Impala is not currently on an extensive tour, Parker has scheduled select performances to support “Deadbeat.” A U.S. tour in support of the album will launch on October 27 in New York City. Additionally, Parker will serve as a special guest DJ for Justice’s Australian arena tour in December 2025, allowing him to showcase his electronic music influences in a live setting during the southern hemisphere summer.
These performances promise to demonstrate how Parker plans to translate the album’s rave-influenced sound to live venues, potentially requiring a complete reimagining of the traditional Tame Impala concert experience. The DJ sets, in particular, offer insight into Parker’s growing interest in electronic music performance and his ability to bridge the gap between rock and dance music cultures.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Tame Impala’s Deadbeat album releasing?
Tame Impala’s fifth studio album “Deadbeat” officially releases on October 17, 2025. The album is available for pre-order now through Columbia Records in various formats including exclusive vinyl variants, cassettes, and digital downloads.
How many songs are on the Deadbeat album?
The album contains 12 tracks with titles including “My Old Ways,” “No Reply,” “Dracula,” “Loser,” “Oblivion,” “Not My World,” “Piece of Heaven,” “Obsolete,” “Ethereal Connection,” “See You on Monday (You’re Lost),” “Afterthought,” and “End of Summer.”
What singles have been released from Deadbeat?
Three singles have been released: “End of Summer” on July 25, 2025, “Loser” on September 3, 2025 featuring a music video with Joe Keery, and “Dracula.” An additional track believed to be “Ethereal Connection” was released as a B-side to “End of Summer.”
Where was Deadbeat recorded?
The album was recorded between Kevin Parker’s hometown of Fremantle and his Wave House studio in Injidup, Western Australia during the first half of 2025. Work on the album began around 2023 according to Parker.
What inspired the sound of Deadbeat?
The album is deeply inspired by bush doof culture and the Western Australia rave scene. Parker describes it as featuring “wickedly potent club-psych explorations” with influences from acid house music of the 1980s and 1990s.
Is Tame Impala touring for Deadbeat?
Yes, Tame Impala will launch a U.S. tour starting October 27, 2025 in New York City. Parker will also perform as a special guest DJ for Justice’s Australian arena tour in December 2025.