DICE are on a roll

Perth indie-pop quartet DICE are set to release their highly anticipated sophomore album I Thought The Altitude Would Make It Worth The View on Friday, July 31. To celebrate, the band will be heading on tour in Australia, stopping at Astor Theatre on Friday, September 11 and Dunsborough Tavern on Saturday, September 12. After a massive few years of releases such as their debut album Midnight Zoo and headlines and festival slots all over the world, the band have been establishing a firm presence as one of Australia’s most promising indie acts. DARCY POTTER spoke to DICE guitarist Tom King about the new record, working with G Flip and life on the road in the lead-up to the album’s release.

Congratulations on the new album! How are you feeling about taking the new songs on the road?

Thank you! We’re so stoked to be hitting the road for the first time in what feels like forever. It’s probably the most excited we’ve ever been to go on tour, and we’ve got a brand new set that we’ve put months of thought and preparation into. There’s always been something really special about our live shows and how it connects us and our fans on a deeper level, and we’re so excited to experience this all over again. It also really feels like we’re taking the next step in our career with this show, and we can’t wait for you guys to see it live.

How has your songwriting and instrumentation developed on this new album compared to projects like Midnight Zoo and Wings?

Our new record definitely feels like the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ (that was Midnight Zoo). The songwriting and recording process was a very freeing experience where we were unapologetically DICE, and I feel like you can really feel and hear this throughout the whole album. We’ve picked the moments to go deep into the production, almost to a pop-song level like on COOLER, and we’ve also stripped it right back to the four of us in the room just jamming with cranked amps on songs like Echo and Daydream. This was a really fun learning experience that took us back to our roots and really grounded us and reminded us of who we are and why we started DICE in the first place.

Tell me about the process of working with G Flip. How did it come about, and what kind of influence did they have on the music?

G Flip actually reached out to us after seeing our set at triple j’s One Night Stand in 2024. They hit us up to come hang out at their studio in LA, and we worked on Loose Change and formed a demo that loosely represents what the song is now! G really pushed our limits of songwriting and made us think outside the box; this was the first writing session we did for the record, and everything we learnt in that room definitely shaped how we approached the next phase of our songwriting. It was so cool to hang out with someone who’s such an inspiration and icon in the Australian music scene!

What made you decide to record overseas this time around?

We’ve recorded almost all our music in South Western Australia, so it was really just wanting a change of scenery and good timing with being over in the States for the tour. It was a crazy experience recording in Studio 2 at East West Studios in Hollywood, where so many legends have been before us, and it definitely felt like we had stepped back in time! We’ve spent so much time overseas over the past 24 months that it only felt right to take all of that energy and everything we’ve learnt on the road and take it into the studio.

Do you have a favourite song on the upcoming record?

I think it’s too early to say, as it’s constantly changing from week to week, especially with the release of the singles and seeing everyone’s reaction to them! Personally I’m super excited for people to hear Footprints, especially live, as it’s a super-tight, refined version of what DICE has always been from day one: catchy melodies, grooving bass and drums and sparkly guitars.

How did you decide on your supports for the Australian album tour?

Mid-Drift are one of the coolest up-and-coming bands in the country at the moment. Their blend of surf-rock and R&B-influenced melodies creates this super groovy live sound that you can’t help but dance to. We’ve played a couple of shows with them over the last 24 months, and we’re so stoked to finally be playing a whole tour together. The lads from Ray and Paul (California, USA) actually supported us across the states last October, and we instantly clicked and became mates for life. We made a late-night (or maybe early-morning) promise to one day bring them to Australia, and we had to hold up our end of the deal! Their sound and vibe is going to do so well in Australia, and we can’t wait for you guys to experience it.

You’ve played at some of Australia’s largest festivals, such as Groovin’ the Moo and One Night Stand. Do you have a favourite festival slot you’ve played?

Groovin’ was definitely the most memorable festival we’ve played. We were actually filling in for BBNO$, who couldn’t make it last minute, and the festival organisers decided to throw us into the deep end with a 3pm time slot (rather than the expected shuffle around of set times and us playing at 11am). Ten minutes before we were about to take the stage, there was maybe 500 people in the crowd, and by the time our set was 30 seconds in, there was maybe 5,000-7,000 punters all dancing and singing along to our set. It was such a cool experience playing the big stage, and it was definitely our first taste of what was to come!

What’s next for DICE following the release of the album and the tour?

Hopefully lots more music and lots more touring! We love creating with each other, and having the privilege to share our art with others around the world is such an amazing feeling. We’re hoping to do some Asia touring in 2027 and reach some new markets!

DICE hit Astor Theatre on Friday, September 11 and Dunsborough Tavern on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Tickets are on sale now from ticketek.com.au and oztix.com.au