>> By Steven Arasa
A defining voice in dance music for nearly three decades, Kristine W continues to evolve while staying true to the uplifting spirit that has earned her 17 Billboard #1 dance hits. With Dance with Me, she delivers a dynamic, genre-spanning collection that blends progressive house, Afro house, future disco, and tech house—each track anchored by her signature soulful vocals.
Dance with Me doubles as both a celebration of Kristine W’s legacy and a bold step forward. The project features refreshed versions of her classic hits alongside brand-new material, created in collaboration with a global roster of top-tier producers. The album also includes unexpected reinterpretations, such as an electro-lounge take on “Smooth Operator” and a genre-blending reimagining of “Danger Zone.”
At the heart of the album is “Next to You,” written by Kristine W and UK-based producer Rob Button (aka Freejak), with a standout mix from the newly reunited British duo Soul Seekerz. The single holds deep personal meaning for Kristine, who found the absence of live performance during the pandemic particularly challenging.
“Being around my dancers, musicians and audiences fuels my creativity,” she shares. “I missed my people and just wanted to get next to everyone again.” She explains more.
INTERVIEW >>>
Your career has been deeply intertwined with the LGBTQ+ community for decades. What message do you want to share with fans who have been dancing alongside you through every era?
Kristine W: I am honored and blessed to be able to dance through the decades with all of you. You have filled my heart and my journey with love. We have seen this community survive and thrive. There is so much to be grateful for and to celebrate, and I hope you’ll come out this summer and dance with me.
How do you continue to challenge yourself creatively while still delivering the sound your fans know and love?
KW: I think it comes from my deep love of all things dance. I love the clubs, the people, dance radio, production—everything about it. It’s such a creative genre. You can blend dance with rock, like on “Fly Again” and “Danger Zone,” or pour a touch of jazz into a UK house mix like we did with the “Next to You” vibe.
Did creating Dance with Me serve a personal or emotional purpose for you beyond the dance floor?
KW: Dance with Me has been a way to process the pain of losing so many people who were my cheerleaders. We all experience loss and deal with it differently. I’m so thankful I have music as an outlet for my feelings and ideas. Music has saved me in so many ways over the years.
How would you describe the sonic and emotional landscape of “Next to You?”
KW: It incorporates jazz flavors into house music, which is something I love. I grew up immersed in jazz and blues in the Northwest, and that sound takes me to my happy place. I hope it does the same for everyone listening. Being together is so important for our well-being and sense of community, and that message really sets the tone for the album.
Who are the people in your life who ground and inspire you the most?
KW: My family, my friends and my music family definitely ground me. Many of them have been in my life for 10 to 25 years or more, so those relationships are incredibly meaningful. They love me, but they also keep me honest when I need it (laughs).
With such a dynamic track list, is there a song on the album that you find yourself returning to the most?
KW: “So Much Love” means a lot to me. I actually started writing it in college, and it’s been rewritten many times over the years. When Mark Matson and I first recorded it as a ballad, I realized the latest version was finally right—the message felt more relevant than ever. I performed it live in New York for the first time, and I’ll never forget the applause at the end. The musicians at rehearsal loved it, and when my son came up to me afterward and said, “Wow, that ‘So Much Love’ song is amazing,” that sealed it for me.
For more information, visit KristineW.com.
