The Diva Performs Her Iconic Hits Along with Songs from Her New Album
International dance music icon Kristine W is igniting dance floors worldwide once again with the release of her new album, Dance with Me, a dynamic, genre-spanning collection that blends progressive house, Afro house, future disco, and tech house, all anchored by her signature soulful vocals.
The album serves as both a celebration of Kristine W’s remarkable legacy and a bold step forward, featuring brand-new material created alongside a global roster of top-tier producers. It also includes refreshed versions of some of her classic hits, along with unexpected reinterpretations of beloved songs, including an electro-lounge take on “Smooth Operator” and a genre-blending reimagining of “Danger Zone”.
At the heart of the album is the uplifting new single, “Next to You”. Written by Kristine W and Rob Buttons (aka Freejak), and featuring a standout mix from the newly reunited British duo Soul Seekerz, the track delivers a classic European house sound with global appeal.
Kristine W will perform songs from the album, along with many of her iconic hits, at Stonewall Pride in Wilton Manors on June 20.
Stonewall Pride is not just a party; it’s a tribute to activism and resilience. What makes the songs of Dance with Me the perfect soundtrack for the event?
Kristine W: All the songs on this album are part of my musical and personal journey, and my fans’ journeys as well. I write songs people can relate to, where the lyrics can become part of their own story. We’ve all been through so much in the six years since my last album, and every song on Dance with Me carries a thread connecting the emotions we’ve experienced together.
When you’ve had a loyal fan base for decades and stay connected to them, you begin to understand what truly resonates. Together, we are “love personified.” Songs like “Can’t Look Back” remind us we’re not going backward, while “So Much Love” speaks to how precious time really is. I hope listeners feel like their hearts have “found a home.” Ultimately, this album is about resilience personified.
Your career has always been deeply connected to LGBTQ+ audiences. What does it mean to debut new music at a Pride event that honors both the history and ongoing evolution of the community?
Kristine W: I’ve always been proud to be an ally and part of a group of artists who championed LGBTQ+ rights from the very beginning of my career. In 2000, when I performed “Stronger” at the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation for thousands advocating for marriage equality, I never imagined it would take until 2015 for those rights to finally become law nationwide. I’ve witnessed so many positive changes firsthand, which is why Pride means so much to me personally.
It’s important for younger generations to understand what people fought through so they can enjoy freedoms many now take for granted. Stonewall and Pride events are powerful reminders of that history.
The album pulls from multiple genres like Afro house, tech house, and future disco. How did that diversity of sound come about?
Kristine W: I work with producers and remixers from all over the world. I think we have six different countries represented across the first 12 tracks. Coordinating and collaborating isn’t always easy. Zoom has helped, but things can still get lost in translation, so it’s definitely a labor-intensive process.
Fortunately, I’ve built long-standing relationships with producers from the U.K., the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States over many years. I actually started my house music recording career in Europe, and those roots have really helped shape the sound and collaborative spirit of this project.
While pushing forward with new sounds, Dance with Me also revisits your legacy. How did you decide to reinterpret some of your classics for today’s dance floor?
Kristine W: I’m constantly performing live, and some of my number-one hits are now decades old. It’s important to me to reinvent those songs so they connect with what’s happening in clubs and on radio today. Since launching my independent label, Fly Again Music, in 2008, I’ve gradually been re-recording many of my hits to give them fresh life for a new generation of listeners.
You’ve described dance music as “joyful noise.” In today’s cultural climate, how important is it for artists, especially at Pride, to create spaces of joy as both celebration and resistance?
Kristine W: Positive energy creates more goodwill toward others. There are so many combative voices and hateful messages in the world right now, but that has never been my vibe. Even as a child, I knew I wanted to be a joyful warrior.
I also knew music was one of the greatest tools for bringing people together, so I chose that path. It’s been incredibly rewarding to plant those seeds and watch love and understanding grow over time.
How does “Next to You” act as a bridge between your past hits and this new era?
Kristine W: “Next to You” is especially meaningful to me because it reconnects me with my jazz roots. I love being able to incorporate scat improvisation, something I spent years studying and developing. I’ve woven that gift into a few dance records over the years with success, but it’s always a delicate balance.
After three decades of fans literally “dancing with you,” what do you hope people will feel in that first moment when “Next to You” drops live at Stonewall Pride — and what do you want them to carry with them afterward?
Kristine W: We’ve been on an incredible musical journey together, and I’m so grateful to my fans, friends, dancers, musicians, collaborators, and creative team. As my great mentor Donna Summer sings in “Last Dance”, All that I ask is that you dance with me.
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