Dance Mode!
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Parent | BBC Studios (via Demon Music Group) |
Dance Mode! represents the second soundtrack album released for the Australian animated series Bluey. It became available on 21 April 2023 via Demon Records. The majority of the compositions and performances were created by Joff Bush, the show's lead composer, supported by a group of collaborating musicians.
This soundtrack was distributed by Demon Music Group, a branch of BBC Studios, which holds worldwide music rights for the series. The album's main single, "Dance Mode," was initially released on 27 January 2023.
At the 2024 ARIA Music Awards, this album earned the accolade for Best Children's Album.
Background and composition
Joff Bush serves as the principal composer for Bluey, contributing approximately half of the music and overseeing additional composers such as David Barber. A graduate from Queensland Conservatorium, Bush established a connection with executive producer Daley Pearson during his studies and has prior experience working on productions including The Family Law and Australian Survivor. Each episode showcases a distinct musical genre, with Bush collaborating intimately with series creator Joe Brumm. Recordings frequently incorporate live instrumental performances. The practice of individually scoring every episode draws inspiration from the original music approach used in Charlie and Lola.
Bush also crafted the soundtrack for the show's first season, Bluey: The Album, which launched on 22 January 2021. This album debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking a milestone as Australia's first children's album to achieve this position. It received Best Children's Album honors at the 2021 ARIA Music Awards as well as an APRA Screen Music Award that same year.
The Dance Mode! collection features selections from the initial three seasons of Bluey. The album's opening tracks are characterized by energetic melodies, while its latter half presents softer, more introspective pieces. The title track "Dance Mode" is an energetic EDM-inspired number, whereas "Army" and "Grandad" highlight bluegrass influences through use of banjo and whistle instrumentation.
Release
In January 2023, it was revealed that the soundtrack named Dance Mode! would comprise 17 tracks and be issued later in the year. The lead single, "Dance Mode", premiered on 27 January 2023.
The full album was officially announced and opened for pre-orders on 27 January 2023. Its release followed on 21 April 2023 across multiple formats including CD, digital streaming services, and orange vinyl. Additionally, a limited-edition zoetrope vinyl picture disc was made available for Record Store Day on 22 April 2023.
Track listing
All tracks are composed and produced by Joff Bush unless otherwise specified.
Personnel
Joff Bush & The Bluey Music Team
- Joff Bush – guitars, melodica, percussion, accordion, keyboards, bass, vocals, organ, synthesizers, ukulele, Mellotron, piano
- Daniel O'Brien – piano, percussion, guitars, vocals
- Craig Parry – beats
- Stephen Peach – keyboards
- Marly Lüske – synthesizers, bass, percussion, guitar
- Jazz D'Arcy – vocals, guitars
- Meg Washington – vocals
- Pluto Jonze – guitars, piano, drums, bass, harmonica, vocals
Additional performers
- Andrew Scrivens – guitar, banjo
- Julia R. Anderson – drums
- Julian Schweitzer – drums
- Carolyn Morris – cor anglais, oboe
- Christopher Pearson – bass
- David Orr – guitars
- Rose Parker – vocals
- Joseph Roberts – clarinet, flute, saxophones
- Katherine Philp – cello
- Pru Montin – trumpet
- Robert Schultz – trumpet
- Youka Snell – violin & vocals
- Saul Burrows – banjo
- Anthony Garrett – drums
- Dave Murtough – trombone
- Thomas Melohn – guitar
- David Barber – guitar & bass
- Rowan Hamwood – flute, piccolo, tin whistle
- Joe Brumm – drums & vocals
- Tiptoe Giants (Meg Lipworth & Vee Couper) – vocals
- Justine Garcia de Heer, Erik Williamson, Layla Collie and others – additional vocals ("Cat Squad!")
Technical
- Marly Lüske – mixing and mastering
- Daniel O'Brien – assistant composer
- Erik Williamson & Rose Parker – recording and assistant engineering
- Uncle Stripe – sound design
- Costa Kassab & Joe Brumm – cover artwork
Charts
| Chart (2023) | Highest Ranking |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA Charts) | 7 |
| Scotland Albums | 18 |
| UK Albums | 87 |
| UK Independent Albums | 4 |
| UK Soundtrack Albums | 1 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard) | 51 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard) | 41 |
| US Kid Albums (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Soundtracks (Billboard) | 6 |