Elliot James Reay explores joy, suspicion, and soul in his new single “Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin,” out now.
Elliot James Reay brings his love for vintage pop and Northern Soul to life in “Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin,” his new single released via Interscope / Island EMI.
The 23-year-old singer, guitarist, and songwriter continues to blend emotional storytelling with retro flair. This time, he explores suspicion and heartbreak—with a twist. The song narrates how dancing all night leads to being misunderstood as unfaithful.
With SOAP (Josh Noble, Karl Ziegler), Annielle Lisiuk, and Glen Roberts as co-writers, Reay delivers rhythmic, soul-tinged energy. Horns, tambourines, and a bouncing groove turn this tale of relationship tension into something undeniably fun.
“You can try to stop the music, but you can’t stop my feet,” Reay sings.
The music video brings the story full circle—set in his hometown of Manchester, it highlights the Northern Soul scene, showing Reay dancing through velvet-draped clubs and facing suspicion back home.
“Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin” is the latest chapter following “Daydreaming”, “Boy in Love”, and the breakout hit “I Think They Call This Love,” which boasts 121M+ streams and over 1 billion TikTok views.
Reay’s reverence for the sounds of the past is matched by his ability to connect with a new generation—proof that soul never goes out of style.
