Ocean Grove have never really been about fitting in. When people started asking them to define their sound, they took matters into their own hands.
“We found ourselves constantly stuck trying to describe what Ocean Grove was,” explains frontman Dale Tanner. “People wanted a genre—a neat little box—and we didn’t want to be in one. So, we came up with Oddworld Music.”
But Oddworld is more than just a label. It’s a concept, a dimension, and a shared experience between the band and their fans. “Oddworld isn’t just about the music,” says Tanner. “It’s about everything we do—our videos, our performances, even our merch. It’s a universe we’ve created together with our fans.”
That connection has long been central to Ocean Grove’s ethos. “When you come to an Ocean Grove show, one of the first things I say is, ‘Welcome to the Oddworld,’” Tanner says. “We’re not just another band, and we don’t want you to just listen. We want you to enter this world with an open mind and expect the unexpected.”
The Oddworld concept has been woven through their work for years, from lyrical nods to innovative merch drops. A standout moment was the release of the Oddworld 3000 sneakers alongside Up in the Air Forever. “Those shoes were your passport to the Oddworld,” Tanner recalls. “If you wore them to a show, you got front-of-line privileges. At our Melbourne gig, three fans showed up wearing them, and they got pulled straight to the front. It’s moments like that—where fantasy meets reality—that make this concept so exciting.”
Now, with their latest album, ODDWORLD, Ocean Grove has come full circle. “It’s the closest thing to a self-titled album we’ll ever do,” Tanner admits. “It encapsulates everything Ocean Grove has been and where we’re going. It’s weird, wacky, and wonderful—it’s everything good about our past, present, and future.”
Oddworld’s evolution to this point has been both intentional and organic. “We’ve always had the vision,” Tanner says, “but we’ve also let it unfold naturally. We didn’t know exactly how we’d get here, but now it feels like an ‘aha!’ moment—like Ocean Grove has truly arrived.”
Looking ahead, the band’s live shows remain at the core of what they do. “When we play live, it’s raw, visceral feedback,” Tanner explains. “You can see and feel how people respond, and it shapes where we go next.”
That connection has influenced the direction of ODDWORLD. “We realized the groove-heavy, nu-metal-inspired tracks were what resonated most with fans,” says Tanner. “So, we leaned into that for this album. We know these songs are going to translate live, and we’re so excited to see fans lose themselves in the Oddworld.”
For Ocean Grove, the Oddworld isn’t just a concept—it’s an ever-expanding universe. “This album feels like the closing of one door and the opening of another,” Tanner says. “It’s a foundation for what’s to come. And as long as we stay authentic and present, the Oddworld will keep growing in ways we can’t even predict.”
Long may we continue to lose ourselves in Oddworld.
