The soundtrack for DJ Lenny Pearce’s life after his daughter’s birth was full of monotonous children’s music, so he decided to put a new spin on it.
“I’m never a hater on anything, but I felt some of the kids’ music was boring,” said Pearce in a phone interview. “It’s just so repetitive and wasn’t exciting. So, I was just like, ‘I’m gonna see if I can make this sound cool,’ as a funny skit for TikTok. That’s how it all started.”
Pearce took his song mixing techniques and produced a techno version of “Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes,” which quickly went viral and set the stage for his baby-centered raves. The Australian DJ will kick off the second leg of his Toddler Techno tour at the House of Blues Anaheim on Oct. 10, and include SOMA San Diego on Oct. 12 and The Novo in Los Angeles on Nov. 23.
Parents are strongly encouraged to pack snacks, water, and bring some ear muffs for their little ones to experience their first rave as a family in an immersive environment tailored to children. Attendees can also expect kid-friendly activities, including hair braiding, glow-in-the-dark face painting, accessory booths, photo booths, and giant inflatable mascots on the dance floor.
“Most people already come dressed up, but if they want to touch up their braids, they can, and from what I remember as a kid, I loved face painting,” Pearce said. “I’m super excited, but also kind of anxious to see how it goes. I’m a perfectionist when it comes to my music and my performance, so I’m just constantly trying to add to the show to make it better.”
Pearce’s musical career didn’t start with crafting the soundtracks for baby raves. He was part of Justice Crew, a 10-person breakdancing group that won “Australia’s Got Talent” in 2010, which then pivoted to a boy band image, topping the charts in his home country with hits like “Boom Boom.”
Part of Pearce’s role in his crew was to DJ, which led him down the path of production and ultimately to his departure from the group to focus on that pursuit. He spent the next few years refining his production skills and uploading his music to streaming platforms, with the hope of catching the ear of record labels.
In 2022, his daughter Mila was born, and he became a stay-at-home dad, where he continued to make music but had his hands full for most of the day. While spending time with his daughter, he was more exposed to the music she was consuming, and his producer’s mind sparked the idea that these nursery rhymes could use an EDM infusion. He uploaded the song on social media and found that parents were enjoying it just as much as the kids.
“I’d been in the industry for a long time trying to push myself as a DJ, and then for this to go from zero to a hundred in a year is crazy,” he said. “This just connected so organically, and that’s the key. Don’t push something. You have to put the effort in and go with the flow. If it’s working this way, then keep going that way.”
Pearce believes that striking a balance between what kids can pick up and what their parents might enjoy has been effective in his music production style. He said he tests all of his music on his daughter before sharing it with the world, and ensures that the classic children’s lyrics remain recognizable enough. Another essential element is matching EDM’s bass drops and sonic bangers with the unwavering energy of toddlers.
“Kids are more energetic than we usually are, so it would make sense that their music is also energetic,” he said.
In addition to his toddler techno remixes, Pearce also spent some time in the studio with another children’s favorite, The Wiggles. Part of the Wiggles connection was that his identical twin brother, John Pearce, is a current member of the Australian kids group. Both brothers were also part of Justice Crew before finding their space in the children’s music space.
As Lenny was coming up with ideas to spin classics like “Wheels on the Bus,” the blue wiggle (Anthony Field) slid into his DMs and asked him if he’d be up for remixing an entire Wiggles album. The result was “The Wiggles Soundsystem: Rave of Innocence,” released in April last year, featuring 14 classics by the group with an EDM drive.
“I’m very grateful to have that opportunity to work with The Wiggles in that way, and it all happened at the same time as this was starting, when I was trying to make music for myself, and then all this content on TikTok,” he said.
Pearce’s shows often feature a diverse group of parents (some of whom are former ravers) and children coming together to enjoy music and dance. The spirit, in essence, is identical to the “PLUR” (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) ethos that is at the core of dance culture. He said his shows are a good opportunity for like-minded families to also mingle in between the glow sticks and heavy bass.
“Speaking for myself as a parent, I refrain from going out because our lives revolve around the kids,” he said. “They become maniacs if they miss their naps or food. However, if there were an event like this one, where kids could also see their parents having a good time, that would make it even more exciting. When they all come together like this and everyone’s having fun, as opposed to just going to a kids’ show, it’s such a wholesome thing. I hope families come out and create core memories. That’s what it’s about, because kids grow up so fast.”
Lenny Pearce
When: 5 p.m. Oct. 10
Where: House of Blues Anaheim, 400 Disney Way #337, Anaheim.
Tickets: Tickets start at $65 at Ticketmaster.com.
Also: 2 p.m. Oct. 12 at SOMA San Diego, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd, San Diego. Tickets are $47.10 at Ticketsweb.com; 2 p.m. Nov. 23 at The Novo, 800 W. Olympic Blvd a335, Los Angeles. Tickets start at $64 at Ticketmaster.com.