Kiesza, the iconic voice behind some of dance music’s most memorable hits, returns with a bold and sultry new chapter in her sonic journey. Out today, July 25, her latest release Dancing and Crying: Vol. 2 is a six-track dive into late-night house rhythms and pop-infused seduction, showcasing a rawer, more intimate side of the Canadian artist.
At the heart of the project is the explosive lead single “Ruin My Life,” a collaboration with producers Jess Cake and Sugar Jesus. “Ruin My Life is a deeply sexy track with multiple layers, and it has the coolest build ending on a total climax,” shares Kiesza. “I felt super playful inside the production. I could just keep exploring.”
This new volume is less about polished perfection and more about capturing energy in the moment. Created inside Kiesza’s own home studio, Dancing and Crying: Vol. 2 thrives on spontaneity and community—artists and friends flowing in and out of late-night sessions, a consistent emotional current tying each track together.
Opening with “Stays In Bed,” co-produced by Sammy Virji and Jess Cake, the record immediately sets a provocative and atmospheric tone. The album then leans into “Runaway,” a collaboration with Jaylen Brown, an artist Kiesza toured with on the West Coast in 2024. The track is a vibrant tribute to the queens of queer art and fashion—a celebration of expression, movement, and the creative circles that have inspired her.
One of the album’s standout moments is the NSFW house cut “So Erotic” featuring underground electro icon Peaches. Produced by Jess Cake, Sugar Jesus, and Bobby Love, the song delivers a moody, magnetic punch. As Billboard describes it: “It’s the essence of double trouble with this pair-up from Kiesza and Peaches, who together deliver a dark and titillating house track with often NSFW lyrics and thumping production that make it worthy of its name.”
Closing the project is the cinematic “To Die To Sleep,” a beat-driven soundscape that explores the four elements—earth, wind, fire, and water—co-produced once again by Jess Cake. It’s a meditation through movement, wrapping the album in ethereal textures and deep rhythmic undercurrents.
“Dancing and Crying: Vol. 2 feels like an underground dance house vibe,” Kiesza explains. “Stays In Bed was the genesis of the lyrical themes. I wanted to go for it and express my mode of seduction. It’s a volume you can lose yourself in—and that was intentional.”
To celebrate the release, Kiesza is hosting an album release show tonight at Pop Pantheon Party in Brooklyn. She’ll also hit the road this summer alongside fellow pop powerhouse Bonnie McKee for the Dancing and Crying tour, with stops in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Minneapolis, and more. She’ll return to Los Angeles for a headlining performance at the El Rey Theatre on September 27.
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