Diver City returns with second album, Dance Silly

Kristy Lee Peters and Matt Okine’s children’s music collaboration project, Diver City, is dropping its second album, Dance Silly, since its debut last year.

Matt Okine and Kristy Lee Peters are back with their music project, Diver City.

It’s not often we look to kids for sound advice, but it’s hard to think of a better time to do something they do best.

As stress levels rise and plans for 2021 continue to implode, taking a moment to dance like nobody’s watching could be a sure fix for the Covid blues.

Enter producer Kristy Lee Peters and comedian Matt Okine, whose children’s music collaboration project, Diver City, has entertained children with their infectious and educational tunes since its debut last year.

“There’s something so liberating about writing kids’ music,” Peters said. “Creating the world of Diver City with Matt is such a special and unique experience and to be able to bring some other musician mates along for the ride this time makes it extra fun.”

The pair’s second album, Dance Silly, is set to drop on August 27 via ABC Kids. With 15 new tracks, including Sad Spaghetti, Love is Love (Rainbow Family) and Straight Hair Curly Hair, Dance Silly features collaborations with some of Australia’s biggest names in music, including Peking Duk’s Adam Hyde, electro legends Art Vs Science and singer-songwriter Andy Bull.

“What I found with all of the collaborators is that no matter who you are and what you do … there’s a different person that comes out when you become a parent,” Okine said. “It’s that playfulness and silliness that you only show to your own child … and when you talk to the artists that contributed to the album, they’ve all embraced that silly side and it fits perfectly.”

After launching last year, their debut album, Welcome To Diver City, received widespread play across ABC Kids and earned them an ARIA Award nomination for Best Children’s Album.

Now, the former Triple J colleagues have used their new album and accompanying videos aimed at preschoolers and early school-age children to take risks, evolve their sound and most importantly, be silly.

“It’s so easy to be cynical, especially at the moment,” Okine said. “But we’re all just trying to have fun and that’s what I love about it.”

As to whether Dance Silly will live up to expectations, Okine and Peters said they have received the nod of approval from their biggest critics, their kids.

“I remember when I first played my daughter Dance Silly. She was obsessed and when I showed her the video she was copying the dance moves,” Peters said.

Okine added: “My daughter Sofia is genuinely obsessed, to the point where it’s driving me crazy. It’s wild, but it’s such a good thing.”

Dance Silly is set for release on August 27 via ABC Kids