When Ocean Alley lands at Denver’s Mission Ballroom on October 15, it won’t just be another stop on tour, it’ll be a celebration of everything the band has built over the last decade. The show marks their long-awaited Colorado return, bringing the warmth and soul of their fifth studio album Love Balloon to life for the first time on U.S. soil.

The Australian six-piece, known for their sun-soaked blend of psychedelic rock, funk, and laid-back grooves, has spent the past few years evolving into one of the world’s most compelling live bands. Their breakout hit “Confidence” went 6x Platinum in Australia and has since reemerged globally, reminding fans why Ocean Alley’s music feels timeless. But with Love Balloon, released September 19, the band is pushing further, diving into what they call “the river of love”; a space that’s joyful, unpredictable, and deeply human.

Recorded with legendary producer Nick DiDia (Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against the Machine), Love Balloon strips back the layers of their sound for something more organic and raw. The band experimented with new textures, from disco grooves to country undertones and lush harmonies, while staying grounded in their signature warmth and honesty. “We wanted to have a vibrant album that people could get excited listening to, whilst also addressing a core concept like love,” they explain. “It’s a complex and deep emotion with many facets, and we thought we could do it justice by really diving into what it means to us.”

That emotional depth comes through both in the studio and on stage, where the band’s chemistry is undeniable. After ten years together, they’ve grown not only as artists but as six best mates who trust each other completely. “We trust each other on stage to play the best we can and recover if we fumble,” they said. “We stick through it all because there’s nothing else we’d rather be doing.”

For Colorado fans, the Mission Ballroom show will be a rare chance to experience Love Balloon in full bloom with a blend of the band’s signature warmth with the introspective spirit of this new era. As they put it best, “We want people to come away from the record feeling like they didn’t know they needed to hear it until now.”

We caught up with Ocean Alley to talk about the making of Love Balloon, their creative process, and what makes playing in Colorado so special. Check out our conversation below and enjoy!

[Rooster]: Love Balloon marks your fifth album. Coming off Low Altitude Living, what felt different about the way you approached this record?

[Ocean Alley]: We definitely came at this record with a more thoughtful approach. We’ve experienced so many things in our life together as a band and as individuals, so there’s a maturity within the songs that is a reflection of those experiences  

The album digs into “the river of love”; all its highs, lows, and unpredictability. Why was it important for you to explore that theme now?

We wanted to have a vibrant album that people could get excited listening to, whilst also addressing a core concept like love. However we didn’t want to get bogged down on the “surface level” feeling like a lot of love songs/records. It’s a complex and deep emotion with many facets, we thought we could do it justice by really diving into what it means to us.

You brought in Nick DiDia, who’s worked with legends like Springsteen and Rage Against the Machine. What kind of influence did he have on shaping this stripped-back, more organic sound?

Having someone as skilled and insightful as Nick working with us is one of the most exciting milestones I feel we’ve reached as a band. His level of knowledge mixed with a laid back, go-with-the-flow attitude, resonated with us more than we could have hoped. He allowed us to explore all the concepts we wanted to in such an encouraging environment, but also being a guiding hand when we would feel overwhelmed. He is a true champion in the industry. The result being a fully organic and introspective album which we couldn’t be more proud of.

There’s a lot of new color in this record like disco grooves, congas, and even country influences. Were there any experiments in the studio that surprised you most once you heard them back?

We were very keen on incorporating new elements into this record. Percussion was an obvious choice on a bunch of tracks as it really filled spaces which sounded like it lacked something. A not so obvious choice for us however was the use of a female backing vocalist in a couple of songs. Baden and myself  (Lach) have always been strong together in that area, him doing lead vocals and myself the backup/harmony. This time around it just needed that extra bit more. When we were listening back to those parts we weren’t sure what it needed until Nick (DiDia) gave the genius suggestion of adding the female vocals as an extra complimentary layer, it brought those songs to life!

You’ve always had a knack for blending influences, from CCR to Tame Impala. Were there any left-field inspirations this time around that fans might be surprised by?

When you are always listening to music, whether it be new or old, it influences your songwriting no matter how much or how little you think about it. There will always be elements of our favourite artists that bleed into our music, and we may not ever realise it. Our fans and listeners usually have a sharper ear or more imaginative take on it than we can describe ourselves. That’s the beauty of music, everyone hears it a little differently.

Fans know you for massive hits like “Confidence,” which has gone 6x Platinum in Australia and now resurfaces globally every few years. How do you balance honoring those big tracks with pushing forward into new creative territory?

For us, it’s always about pushing forward. We’re so appreciative of everyone who has shown love and support for those big tracks, indeed it’s hard to imagine where we might be without the success we received from them, but we always have our eyes set on the future. Artists and musicians who can’t (or won’t) evolve can easily find themselves stuck in an eddy of repeating ideas and concepts. It’s important to be grateful of your works that get you to where you are now, but it should never define you.

The track “Drenched” came together on the very last day in the studio. Do those spontaneous, off-the-cuff moments feel different when you’re performing them live compared to the songs you’ve labored over?

Honestly Its hard to tell if it really feels different on stage when performing those ones that just fall together, but it certainly is a different feeling when you’re in the studio writing them. There’s an instinctual quality to ideas like that, like they were sitting out there in the universe waiting to be written. Perhaps that’s translated when we perform them live, perhaps it’s more obvious than we think. 

You’re playing Denver’s Mission Ballroom on October 15. What is it about Colorado crowds that makes you excited to bring the Love Balloon tour here?

Denver is such a wonderfully unique city, and the people are much the same.  Maybe it’s the mountain air but everyone exudes this open minded, adventurous spirit, and are so keen to just get involved with our live shows. Were very excited to bring the new era of Love Balloon to all Coloradians

After a decade together, you’re six best mates who’ve grown up alongside your fans. How does that bond show up in the music and on stage?

I think the most obvious and important thing would be trust. We trust each other on stage to play the best we can and recover if we fumble, we trust each other to make intelligent creative decisions in the studio and to leave our egos at the door. It’s been a long road with many highs and lows but we stick through it all because there’s nothing else we would rather be doing. No one can push our buttons or make us laugh like we can as a band. That all boils down to being as reliable and as understanding as we can be with each other

If you could sum up what you want people to feel after listening to Love Balloon from start to finish, what would it be?

We want people to come away from listening to the record feeling like they didn’t know they needed to hear it until now. To anyone that has felt any amount of love in any capacity, there is something in this album for you. Keep your mind and your heart open and you’ll find it. But most importantly enjoy! Tap your feet, move your body, Love Balloon is best enjoyed in the sun with family/friend’s  and a cold beverage in hand.

Cover Photo Credit / Kane Lehanneur