Interview: Dale Tanner of Ocean Groove Talks “ODDWORLD” – Spotlight Report
OCEAN GROVE has always gone about things in their own way. Enigmatic and evolutionary, the OG Collective’s unique and innovative approach to music has ensured enduring success, and fortified their reputation as one of Australia’s ‘most compelling bands of this generation’.
Encapsulating these elements and capturing OCEAN GROVE’s character is the ODDWORLD concept. A mantra coming to life, the band’s fourth studio album, to be released domestically on their own ODDWORLD label and worldwide via SharpTone Records on November 22, shares its name and ethic. Taking the time to talk with SPOTLIGHT REPORT, OCEAN GROVE’s Dale Tanner speaks to the experience of creating their “signature-defining” record, in the process realising their most authentic selves.
SR: Hi Dale! How, and more notably where, are you today?
DT: I’m actually on a park bench in rural Victoria! It’s a lovely sunny day by the river and, not really a public holiday I celebrate, I’m super appreciative for the day off; it’s good to be out in the sunshine.
SR: Of course, it’s been a mammoth twelve months or so for OCEAN GROVE, and, far from slowing the pace, 2024 is set to finish on a high note with the release of ODDWORLD. Distributed in Australia via your own record label of the same name and, globally, through SharpTone Records whom you also recently signed with, congratulations; how is the band feeling?
DT: Thank you for that wonderful wrap and very precise encapsulation of how much is going on in such a small amount of time. Put like that, you can see a lot of things are coinciding, energising the band in a way that I think, low-key, we kind of needed.
At this point in our lives and careers, this was the jab to the system which reinspired us all, to forge forward in an industry and world that’s so uncertain. Taking kicks, left, right and centre, where in so many ways our backs are up against the wall, the best response was to do something that would inspire us as artists, and I think that’s what we’ve done with ODDWORLD.
Capturing the essence of everything we’ve ever tried to do, this feels more authentic and more OCEAN GROVE than anything we’ve done before. We can hang our hat here; this is our legacy, underpinning OCEAN GROVE moving forward. All the experience and wisdom we’ve been able to channel into this album has been overwhelming in its positivity. Now it’s about releasing it into the universe and letting it play out as it will. That’s super exciting for me.
SR: ODDWORLD is an undeniably unique phrase coined by OCEAN GROVE, representing your character, it carries weight beyond words. A world view of sorts you’ve already said so much, however, not wishing to put words in your mouth, could you articulate what this moniker represents to you and the band?
DT: Beautifully said, it brings me so much joy that ODDWORLD as a concept has arrived. It’s a big part of what we were just talking about, these moments coinciding; ODDWORLD is the indicator of all that.
We’ll never name an album OCEAN GROVE, but ODDWORLD is essentially our self-titled and has been in the lexicon for years now. Hinted at, mentioned in lyrics and merch, it’s a manifesto of sorts, and we’ve created our own universal dimension, within which all OCEAN GROVE does is referenced by this point. Our music, art and videos, the live show even, can be captured in an idea of what we’re doing. It’s our way of not letting others pigeonhole or even describe what we do; it’s doing it ourselves.
It’s really nice we’re able to use that word in a concrete sense, in the album and record label, because it is synonymous. ODDWORLD is OCEAN GROVE and vice versa, so that’s where it began. Ever expanding, it grows in tangent with our fanbase, in symbiosis between band and audience, creating further the ODDWORLD in real time.
I welcome everyone to it, and every minute that we spend together adds to the evolution. Without this world, it might seem we’re just throwing ideas out there but having something to come back and refer to has been vital. It’s nice to give it a light and for people to understand that this is what ODDWORLD is.
SR: Speaking to it there, OCEAN GROVE’s strength of both maintaining and evolving a commitment to your own and shared vision is remarkable. Whilst some elements of the creative process have remained consistent since The Rhapsody Tapes era, this recording process appears to have had an aura of reconnection about it.
DT: Absolutely, and I think the fact that’s so palpable gladdens but doesn’t surprise me. We were very intentional with the writing of this album.
I think, first, we felt really confident bringing together the full band; as the ODDWORLD collective in the same room, writing together on something we’ve poured our heart and soul into, this was the beginning of our benchmark. Operating at full capacity, with all cylinders firing – Sam, our drummer and producer, Twiggy and myself is the image that publicly people have come to know and see, but we also have Matt Kopp (Running Touch), as well as our previous vocalist, Luke Holmes, who have been there throughout our history – this was the first in a really long time that we intentionally brought everyone together.
We got an Airbnb out in regional Victoria, a farmhouse with beautiful green rolling hills, ocean views and no distractions besides a table tennis table downstairs. A make-do studio set up on the second level, we hunkered down, all of us together as friends, mucking around like the days when it all began; we were teenagers again, injecting the essence of the mood of this album.
The starting point, we knew it was necessary to set ODDWORLD apart from everything else we’ve done. To create something that truly represents OCEAN GROVE, it had to come from the Collective, all five of us collaborating and having fun with it, trusting in the process and each other.
It was organic and the flow was invigorating, re-energising us as a band and as individual artists, forging forward knowing that we’ve created something that came from a place of freedom. There’s nothing contrived; it comes from a place of fulfilling dreams with so much more experience, wisdom and skill that we’ve honed in over the last 15 years to deliver something polished, professional and mature, representing OCEAN GROVE better than ever before.
SR: Unfortunately time to say goodbye, I wanted to end on a personal note – I’ve no doubt that despite all that’s preceded ODDWORLD, OCEAN GROVE are about to experience their greatest success. With so many amazing moments to draw upon, are there any in particular you’ll (pardon the pun) remember Up In The Air Forever?
DT: Thank you for your kind words and giving your beautiful take on what we’re putting out into the world. It makes it all worthwhile, knowing that this is the experience on the receiving end of what we’re doing.
For the most part, we derive so much joy, especially in the live part, from our fans having so much fun, and seeing how much we and I also enjoy ourselves on stage. Every artist will tell you there’s nothing like it, but personally a different version comes out; the child within me getting free reign, lost in the moment it takes over. There’s no stopping me and they’re the times that bring me the most joy – interacting with everyone, collectively feeling that goosebump moment. We’re there together and that gives me so much hope for the future, for the next generations coming forward.
Music was there for me like this from such a young age, it’s the reason I’m here today and why this album is coming out. You can trace it back to all these pivotal moments; the fact we get to share that influence for someone, let alone many other people, is so palpably powerful and an honour.
