Tame Impala‘s Kevin Parker has recalled the “wave of panic” he experienced as he escaped a Californian wildfire in November.
The muso, who lost a stack of musical equipment to the blaze, escaped a home he was renting in Malibu, leaving with only his laptop and a beloved Hofner guitar.
Now, in an interview with Seven West Media, Parker has revealed he lost around $40,000 of equipment in the blaze, but was lucky to escape in time after waking up at 10am following a late night in his makeshift studio.
“I usually sleep a bit later, so it’s quite lucky that I woke up when I did,” Parker said.
“I didn’t know where else to go… At least I knew I could jump in the water.
“I stood and watched the flames burning the hillside for an hour.”
The home Parker evacuated was left completely destroyed, with “a smouldering chimney, ash and debris”, according to Seven West Media. 98 civilians and six firefighters were killed in the wildfires.
Parker had been working on new music for the highly anticipated follow-up to his 2015 album Currents, which he is now working on at his home in South Fremantle.
Parker’s Tame Impala project is due to headline California’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April, but he said that hasn’t put a deadline on his recording efforts.
He also reportedly said his recent collaborations with Lady Gaga, Travis Scott and Mark Ronson could influence the album.
Parker is expected to release a new Tame Impala album later this year. Back in December, Mark Ronson teased some “mind-blowing” new Tame Impala music was on the way.
