Sound Bites: Matt Okine & Alex Dyson

Matt Okine and Alex Dyson are two of the country's most recognisable voices, making their name on triple j before going on to have great success on LiSTNR with their hit podcast Matt and Alex.

Keen to celebrate their long-running LiSTNR podcast, which has just got a fresh lick of paint, along with their love for Aussie music, the pair are bringing back their 5 Raves in 5 Days tour.

Kicking off this weekend, the lovable duo will be spinning their favourite tracks alongside some awesome special guests, including Ball Park Music, Vera Blue, Ladyhawke, Baker Boy, Montaigne, The Tullamarines and more.  

Ahead of their Adelaide rave at Jive on Sunday 1 November, we fired off some questions to Okine and Alex and found out their thoughts on UFOs, go-to karaoke songs and their most controversial music opinions.

At the heart of 5 Raves in 5 Days is a celebration of Australian music. What's the best Aussie dance track of all time?

Matt Okine: For some reason, the first track that came to mind is Gina G's '(Ooh Aah) Just A Little Bit'. Lol! No, but for real, I'm a big fan of Sonic Animation's 'Theophilus Thistler'.

Alex Dyson: Jeez, tough to go past Bag Raiders' 'Shooting Stars', but then you've got Cut Copy's 'Lights and Music', The Presets' 'My People'. Kylie was doing it early with 'Can’t Get You Out of My Head', or even the underrated 'Dust Me Selecta' by Gerling. Recent bolters like 'iPod Touch' from Ninajirachi or even 'Song Formerly Known As' by Regurgitator. And I haven't even gotten to the Flume's, Peking Duk's or our Nina Las Vegas/Anna Lunoe/Brux world domination. No joke, Aussie dance punches above its weight. 

You and Matt are both 10 years older than the first edition of 5 Raves in 5 Days. What's the biggest lesson you’ve learned over that time?

MO: That stretching MATTERS. Last time we raved this hard, I pulled my groin in the first five minutes and not in a good way!

AD: Stretching before raving is a big one after Matt pulled his groin muscle on night one of rave one in 2016. Also maybe slip in more chill rave tracks like 'Children' by Robert Miles to give your body a break. I've had two elbow reconstructions since the last tour, so I'm just hoping to get through unscathed. 

How should people of similar age to both of you prepare for your upcoming tour?

MO: Plan for the aftermath! Rest up. Take the week off work. Send the kids to the grandparents. Disconnect the modem. Turn off the phone. Watch reruns of Ally McBeal.

AD: Pay the babysitter for an extra hour, I reckon; when the parents get a taste for the mosh, it's going to be hard to let go. 

What's your favourite podcast besides your own?

MO: Casefile was the first ever podcast I listened to. But it was crazy because I didn't know that I had set it to play at 1.5x speed, so I kept thinking, "Man, this guy sounds like a chipmunk!" Then I figured out what was going on and changed my settings, and I'm still a fan to this day!

AD: I like Let's Talk About Sects and Toni and Ryan, who have graciously agreed to DJ at rave #5 in Melbourne. 

What's your go-to karaoke song?

MO: I have been known to perform one of the best renditions of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' of all time. Anyone who was at Casablanca nightclub in Brisbane on Thursday night in 2004 can attest!

AD: 'I Want It That Way' by Backstreet Boys. I don't even need to look at the lyrics.

Best album of 2026?

MO: Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light. I know I'm a little late, but I only joined the party in 2026. Back-to-back bangers!

AD: Tourist - Music is Invisible. He's in his rave era, and I'm lapping it up.

What's your favourite after-rave snack?

MO: New York Slice. Plain cheese. Two pieces. Lots of napkins.

AD: Box of Cheddar Shapes and a lot of electrolytes. (There's electrolytes in beer, isn't there?)

As two lads who love the Aussie music scene, which local artist or band is on the cusp of superstardom?

MO: There's an artist I saw at my local markets in Brisbane recently called Ruby Elizabeth. She's still in high school, but the songs she's already making are crazy good. Big things coming for sure!

AD: We're fortunate to have Birdland playing the Perth leg. They are triplets who just turned 18 and are still in Year 12, and they have more talent AND Instagram followers than us, so it's only up from here, I reckon. 

Do you believe in UFOs?

MO: I don't believe in the moon landing, but I believe in aliens. Does that make sense?

AD: No, but a friend told me the other day they know someone who claimed they got abducted. Was fascinating; they got lifted out of their kid's bedroom into the ship apparently and the aliens had to speak English for them. Wild times! 

The Rolling Stones or The Beatles?

MO: The Beatles. I'm a boyband fan at heart.

AD: Beatles. Although Mick Jagger is more of an inspiration in the dance move space. 

If a movie were made about your lives, who would play each of you?

MO: They already made a movie about our lives. It's called Rush Hour. But they made Alex Dyson Asian for some reason.

AD: Denzel Washington and Willem Dafoe. You have to guess who would play who though… 

What's the best hangover cure after a night raving?

MO: An ice-cold can of Coke, a bacon and egg roll and a good lie-down. Then a midday beer. Sorted.

AD: Yellow Gatorade and some fresh watermelon.

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Is AI going to be the end of humanity?

MO: No. AI will save us, and I have never said a bad word about it (I'm assuming AI will read this btw).

AD: It will hopefully reveal that the grind of creativity is the point of creativity. But yes, it will probably lead to another "unprecedented" world event, and I'm tired, boss. 

What's your guilty pleasure album?

MO: I can never go past listening to Drake's Take Care. 'Over My Dead Body' is one of the best songs of all time, and you can't change my mind!

AD: Madonna's Ray of Light has some belters.

Weirdest rider request?

MO: Let's just say, I'm very particular about my soy milk.

AD: Mine's boring. It's a fruit platter. BUT I did hear the year that Kanye played Splendour, his person came before and told the promoters the couch in his green room wasn't white enough. This was literally on the night of his gig, so some poor person had to rush out and find a really white couch at short notice at night, near Byron, then somehow get it back to the headliner's tent. They amazingly managed to do it, then Kanye turned up, but instead of going in the green room, he got dropped straight at the stage from his limo, then got off stage and left straight away and didn't even go in the green room. So yeah, that was weird. 

What's your most controversial music opinion?

MO: I am Australia’s most underrated rapper.

AD: Playing air-bagpipes is better than playing the air-guitar. Try it out on 'You're the Voice' and tell me I’m wrong. 

Best live artist you've ever seen?

MO: Hilltop Hoods at Big Day Out in 2005 was absolutely all-time. The promoters had totally underestimated their popularity and put them in a little side tent in the afternoon. The place was absolutely heaving! I've been a fan ever since.

AD: Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine truly has the most amazing voice. As does Matt Corby. Best live show... maybe Foo Fighters at the Manning Bar, just because of the smallness of the venue compared to the largeness of the songs. 

Who are your four dream dinner guests?

MO: My Dad, my daughter, my sister, my partner. But if any of them can't make it, I'll invite Obama.

AD: Nathan Fielder, Jacinda Ardern, Conan O'Brien and Tina Fey.

What album have you listened to the most?

MO: The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free. Was an absolute pleasure to see Mike Skinner perform it from start to finish recently. I could've cried!

AD: Coldplay – Rush of Blood to the Head. 

What's your favourite movie one-liner?

MO: "Don’t make me laugh… ha ha ha" – Danny Zuko in Grease. 

AD: "I can't believe it, I'm losing to a rug…" – The Genie in Aladdin

Have you ever cried at a gig? If so, what gig and why?

MO: Not quite. But I have been so wasted that I thought the bass was going to make my heart stop. Does that count?

AD: Yeah, a few times. Most recently at Rod Laver Arena when Yothu Yindi came out and sang 'Treaty' on the day it was signed with the Victorian government. So many setbacks, and the joy in the room was palpable. Happy tears, and I really hope that isn't taken away from the community. 

What's the last great book you read?

MO: I read The Bee Sting while I was filming Mother and Son and was hooked! I couldn’t wrap my head around the ending. I literally gasped!!

AD: Human Kind by Rutger Bregman. It argues (successfully, in my opinion) that humans are inherently good and fills you with a bit of optimism. 

What song would you have played at your funeral?

MO: Probably one of my own. I’ll do anything for a few more streams. 

AD: Sandstorm done at a slow tempo by a string quartet. 

Catch Matt & Alex's 5 Raves in 5 Days at Adelaide's Jive on Sunday 1 November. Tickets on sale at moshtix.com.au.