SPOTLIGHT: ELLIOT JAMES REAY
Photo By Julian Buchan
Meet Elliot James Reay and tune into his newest single “Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin”
At just 23, Manchester-born singer-songwriter Elliot James Reay is quickly making a name for himself by breathing new life into rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia, and his latest single, “Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin,” only solidifies that momentum. The track continues Reay’s streak of vintage-inspired pop with a sharp modern edge, offering a playful, groove-heavy anthem that feels equally at home on vinyl as it does in a shuffled playlist.
It’s impossible to ignore the Elvis comparisons that have followed Reay since his breakout single “I Think They Call This Love” took over global streaming platforms last year, racking up over 115 million streams on Spotify alone. The slicked-back hair, the swooning vocal flips, and the effortless charisma are anything short of iconic. But to reduce Reay to just a Presley revivalist would miss the point, with each release, including this latest track, he’s proving his ability to take the DNA of classic ‘50s and ‘60s pop and filter it through a distinctly current lens.
“Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin” leans all the way into that sweet spot between vintage rock and modern pop, pairing groovy basslines, infectious call-and-response vocals, and even a saxophone break with Reay’s signature melodic charm. But beneath the infectious energy is a clever lyrical twist. What starts as a playful dance-floor confession quickly unfolds into a cheeky narrative about jealousy, misunderstandings, and the simple pleasure of getting lost in music.
Speaking on the track’s origins, Reay explained, “I think for me it was quite natural. We wanted people to dance, and the best way to do that would be to talk about dancing. I don’t know where the specific concept came from, but I know it was quite back and forth between me, my partner, and the other people in the room. ‘Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin’ was something we came up with, and then it turned into this idea that this could be a song where she thinks I’m cheating on her. But I’m actually just going out dancing, and she has no idea who these people are that I’m dancing to.”
It’s an added layer, a hint of narrative drama wrapped inside a feel-good anthem that keeps the track interesting. The single also comes with a self-aware, cinematic music video that leans further into Reay’s growing reputation as not only a gifted vocalist, but a natural performer with a clear aesthetic vision.
With his debut EP 'All This To Say I Love You' being released June 27th, it is safe to say Elliot James Reay isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Following recent singles like the retro-tinged “Daydreaming” and the charming “Boy In Love,” Reay’s latest releases continue to showcase his sharp identity as an artist. In the era of Gen Z’s vintage pop renaissance, his sound feels perfectly polished, nostalgic, but never derivative.
Listen to “Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin” here.
