Kiesza returns with the title track of her superlative & heartfelt upcoming album Dancing And Crying, Vol 1. An epic dance pop whirlwind, Kiesza here enlists the talents Grammy-nominated songwriter K Sotomayor (Selena Gomez) and ace UK/Canadian producer Sugar Jesus to co-write this track, which channels both Kiesza’s dance music roots and the showstopping diva-driven pop of Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Baxter and Raye. 

Photographer Ky Retro

Graphic Designer Diana Flynn

Interview Luca Di Fabio

From her iconic billion-streaming single ‘Hideaway’ and its unforgettable one-shot video, to world-beating collaborations with Diplo, Skrillex, deadmau5, Duran Duran and Francis Mercier, the four-time Juno winning Kiesza has proven herself to be one of the most unique and zeitgeist-defining artists on the scene. 

What makes you want to title this album “Dancing and Crying?’ What’s the story behind it?

In my experience, dancing and crying fundamentally share a common essence. Both involve a momentary surrender to oneself amid the perpetual dance of love and pain that unfolds in this journey we call life. Whether during a heartfelt cry or while losing oneself on the dance floor, we momentarily shed the illusions we’ve crafted for ourselves, allowing a genuine expression of our being to surface. Contrary to Shakespeare’s assertion that “all the world’s a stage,” I believe it’s possible to step away and cease the act. In essence, dancing and crying are about moving beyond our constructed perceptions of reality to connect with a deeper, underlying truth. 

In this era, I am uniting two sides of myself that are usually kept separate. The poetic songwriter of my origins and the dance music that propelled me to fame are coming together for the first time, offering my audience a more comprehensive expression of my musical identity. My singer-songwriter and folk music have always been deeply personal, akin to diary entries. However, I’ve decided to open up this side of myself and share it with the world.

You said the making of this new record involved a lot of contrasting musical ideas kept together by house beats and basslines. Is that your usual creative process like? Solving contrast?

I don’t really follow a fixed process anymore; life’s lessons have reshaped my approach. Perhaps the closest thing to a process for me is acknowledging my own susceptibility to brief, fleeting moments of joy. I find myself in pursuit of happiness, possibly as a counter to the significant pain I’ve encountered. Music has always been my conduit, an ever-present current I can’t seem to evade. There’s always the looming thought that any piece I create could be my last, and oddly, I find myself looking forward to composing that final piece. It’s as if I’m chasing the ultimate conclusion, longing for a moment when I can truly release everything. I try to relinquish the notion that I must do something specific and that’s usually when inspiration most profoundly strikes.

You collaborate with Sugar Jesus and K. Sotomayor on this record. What makes this such a powerful trio?  

The three of us seamlessly transition between friction and harmony. We change rolls effortlessly, in balance with one another as the songs seemingly compose themselves. Like a storm that fades only to return, we too have our moments of disappearance, followed by a resurgence. Our music has time in it. Every songs is wrapped up in growth and memories, leaving us with a genuinely beautiful friendship. That keeps on inspiring. 

Your looks, aesthetics and visuals are often very cinematic. What inspires you from a visual standpoint?

The story I’m telling is the most truthful lie I’ve ever conveyed. It’s a step I had to take to connect with experiences I’ve yet to confront, and a surrender to my own journey of sudden change, acceptance, and perseverance amidst inevitable chaos. Beneath the seemingly superficial journey of Diana Joan, the character I portray in music videos and radio plays, lies a deep well of uncovered truth. This whole story began by accident one night in the basement of a close friend’s museum and has since carried us in the post profound adventures through the badlands of Wyoming! I love those serendipitous moments where everything just clicks and the rest just unfolds. Ultimately, I’m inspired by anything in life that makes my heart beam with joy. It’s this very feeling  I strive to ignite in others through my own art. 

What do you think is the main message of this record?

I would rather leave this one open for you to explore. 

You’ve experienced quite a bit of trauma in your life after your planetary success and brain injury. What do you say to someone dealing with traumatic experiences having experienced one yourself?

This is part of your path. It might not be something your head can comprehend and therefore your heart must take the lead. Trust in the confusion. Allow your pain to be the riverbed that shapes your path forward. In doing so, the currents of life and love will carry you where you’re meant to go. You may never reach a final destination, but you will always find yourself in exactly the right place. 

What makes you say this is not an album but an Opus? 

An album is typically a single body of work, but this is just the first of many volumes to come. It’s more akin to a TV series than a feature film, and at its core, it is addressing  rogue emotions from my own personal journey, which I believe are universally experienced. 

What was the most mind blowing thing a fan or admirer ever told you about you and your music?

That my music inspired them to become an artist themselves.