In this week’s dance music roundup, the maestro Kaytranada unveiled his fourth studio album Ain’t No Damn Way, a body of work he describes as crafted “purely for your gym sessions, dance routines, study playlists, and devoted beat enthusiasts.”
We chatted with Sophie Ellis-Bextor about her forthcoming album and the unexpected resurgence of her 2001 anthem “Murder on the Dancefloor.” “Because of ‘Murder,’ I essentially composed a dream wishlist,” she reveals, “and seized the opportunity to collaborate with artists who might otherwise have been unavailable.”
Disco icon Gloria Gaynor was selected as a 2025 Kennedy Center honoree. Pundit Ana Navarro publicly urged her to refuse the accolade, arguing, “Gaynor is a sovereign talent deserving of every accolade, yet I hope she won’t accept an award from someone who has consistently undermined the rights and narratives of women, communities of color, and the LGBTQ+ community.”
Elsewhere, Charli XCX lauded Addison Rae in a recent Billboard cover feature; Burning Man’s CEO provided a financial update ahead of this month’s Nevada festival; Mau P and Seth Troxler are headlining Day Zero 2026; Bob Moses announced their fourth LP arriving this autumn; Demi Lovato stormed back onto the dance charts with “Fast”; and Meduza, Nightmares on Wax, and Booka Shade were confirmed for Iceland’s Eclipse Festival, timed with next August’s total solar eclipse.
Finally, here are this week’s standout dance tracks.
-
Ape Drums & Jamiie, “111”
Major Lazer’s Ape Drums continues his hot streak, fresh off producing BLACKPINK’s “Jump,” now teaming with Berlin’s Jamiie on “111.” This track simmers with Afro-tech rhythms and inventive sonic textures, demanding attentive listening through quality headphones. Stretching nearly four minutes, “111” unfolds luxuriously and has already earned dancefloor spins from luminaries like Black Coffee, Steve Angello, and Damian Lazarus.
“111” is now available on VOD. Stream it here.
-
TEED, “Desire/The Echo”
Formerly known as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Orlando Higginbottom now goes by TEED, marking this new chapter with twin singles. “Desire” pulses with brooding electro-pop longing, while “The Echo” delivers lush, cerebral dancefloor grooves. “Crafting and releasing music embodies hope,” Higginbottom muses. “And hope is our resistance.”
“Desire/The Echo” have dropped via Nice Age. Listen here.
-
Jon Casey & Peekaboo, “Go!”
South African beatmaker Jon Casey unveils his six-track EP Happy to Be Here, featuring collaborations with TroyBoi, Karan!, and more. A standout cut is the Peekaboo collaboration “Go!,” whose sinuous low-end throb elicits a raw stank face by the 33-second mark. The EP’s sleek production cements Casey as a talent to watch. He’s slated to perform in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle through September.
Happy to Be Here lands via Monstercat. Hear it here.
-
Keinemusik & Sevdaliza, “See You Again”
Berlin collective Keinemusik reunites with vocal powerhouse Sevdaliza on “See You Again,” debuted during their Sahara Tent closing set at Coachella this April. The track unfolds gradually, layering complexity and urgency over four-plus minutes, culminating in a warm, immersive sound that signals the trio’s evolving aesthetic.
“See You Again” is out via Keinemusik. Listen here.
-
Riva Starr, Hyperloop, Carl Cox & Eliza Rose, “Shake the Nation”
Techno heavyweights Riva Starr, Carl Cox, Eliza Rose, and rising UK talent Hyperloop unite on the peak-hour anthem “Shake the Nation.” Hyperloop recalls crafting the groove with Rose in an East London studio, road-testing it in Chicago clubs before inviting Cox to infuse his signature energy. “When we premiered it at Defected Croatia’s Beach Stage,” he says, “the reaction was insane. The collaborative spirit of dance music shines through on this one.”
“Shake the Nation” drops on Factory 93. Stream it here.
