Australia’s toddler techno pioneer is celebrating 25 years of one of the world’s beloved cartoon shows.
Multi-platinum and ARIA-nominated DJ and producer Lenny Pearce will bring the Reef Rave tour to Geelong this weekend, paying homage to a quarter of a century of SpongeBob SquarePants.
Pearce originally shot to fame as a member of dance and music group Justice Crew and is now a well-known performer in the Australian electronic music scene.
However, 18 months ago Pearce’s career took an unexpected turn when he began to create remixes for his infant daughter.
“She was three months old at the time, so I wanted to remix nursery rhymes that she knew, but that could also play in clubs,” Pearce said.
“So I did that, I was posting on TikTok and Instagram and they started to go super viral.”
Pearce swiftly became Australia’s number one proponent of rave music for young children, releasing a slew of music under the banner of Toddler Techno.
It’s music that kids love and parents and other family members can also enjoy.
“There’s no real science to it; if I can enjoy something with my daughter, it’s as simple a connection as that,” Pearce said.
“With toddlers, they like music and things that they’re familiar with. And if you’re having fun, they have fun too.”
Pearce has worked with the Children’s Hospital Foundation over the past year on various events, and $1 from every ticket on the Reef Rave tour will be donated to the charity.
Lenny Pearce’s Reef Rave is at Geelong Arts Centre for two shows on Sunday, March 2. Visit geelongartscentre.org.au for tickets and more information.
Matt Hewson