Tame Impala’s Julien Barbagallo Releases New EP
Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Press
Who is Tame Impala‘s Julien Barbagallo?
The only non-Australian member of Tame Impala mastermind Kevin Parker’s live band, the French drummer joined the group in 2012.
Becoming familiar with Kevin Parker during a stay in Paris – a formative period where Parker recorded portions of second album Lonerism – Julien was recruited as Tame Impala’s drummer and backing vocalist in 2012.
Recording solo as Barbagallo Julien has released three albums and three EPs since joining Tame.
The most recent of these is TARABUST.
His solo work is something he views as quite apart from Tame Impala.
“They are two completely different careers,” he once shared. ” [In] Tame Impala I am simply a drummer. [In] Barbagallo I am a drummer and singer, I compose and I record. So this is my project 100% and I am equally invested in it but let’s say that my work within the two projects is relatively different. I may have a little more responsibility with my own thing.”
Foremost amongst Julien Barbagallo’s influences ’70s prog-rock, French pop, ’90s Brit-pop, the Beatles, the Flaming Lips and French electronic duo Air.
On TARABUST Julien combines these social currents into his own hypnotic blend of psychedelic folk-rock.
As with his other recent releases, Barbegllo also elects to sing in French rather than English.
“It felt dishonest to use English instead of French,” he once shared of this decision, “I just find that there is still a lot to do in French and in music… And I find it fascinating to be part of this current which tries to explore new territories of a language.”
TAME IMPALA – 2020 TOUR DATES
03/13/20 – San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center* CANCELED
03/19/20 – Mexico City, MEX @ Foro Sol $ CANCELED
03/21/20 – Monterrey, MEX @ Pal Norte $ CANCELED
05/23/20 – London, UK @ All Points East – Victoria Park
05/29/20 – Chicago, IL @ United Center#
05/30/20 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum#
05/31/20 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena#
06/02/20 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena#
06/03/20 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre#
06/06/20 – Washington, DC @ Capital One Arena#
06/08/20 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center#
06/09/20 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena#
06/11/20 – Miami, FL @ AmericanAirlines Arena#
06/12/20 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center#
07/17/20 – Minneapolis, MN @ Xcel Energy Center#
07/19/20 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center#
07/20/20 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center#
07/21/20 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center#
07/23/20 – Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center#
07/24/20 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center#
07/25/20 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center#
07/28/20 – Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena#
07/30/20 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center#
08/01/20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena#
08/03/20 – Portland, OR @ MODA Center#
08/05/20 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena#
08/07/20 – George, WA @ The Gorge Amphiteathre#
* w/ Clairo
$ w/ MGMT
# w/ Perfume Genius
