This week in dance music: The largely electronic soundtrack for Heated Rivalry scored big on a pair of charts, John Summit announced that his first Ibiza residency will happen this season at [UNVRS], the co-founders of Brooklyn’s newest club Refuge told us about bringing the space and its state-of-the-art soundsystem to life, Fred again.. hosted an art exhibition in collaboration with Boris Acket, Ninajirachi revealed that she’s ready to play “a million” more shows, Tomorrowland announced its 2026 lineup and Dom Dolla announced a series of shows happening at the U.K.’s Old Royal Naval College this summer.
And to close it all out, these are the best new dance projects of the week.
Gesaffelstein, Enter the Gamma (Live)
Gesaffelstein’s 2024 album Gamma was released not long before he went on tour behind it, with the live show using Gamma as source material from which the French producer unfurled a stylish, darkly sexy and very loud performance that stunned and dazzled audiences worldwide while offering a more fully realized version of the LP. Now, he releases Enter the Gamma (Live), a recording from the tour that captures the show in all its pummeling intensity. Obvoiusly best listened to from start to finish, the project contains classics like “Pursuit” and “Hellifornia,” ending with a deliciously aggressive mashup of “Mania,” “Hysteria” and “Killah,” the Gesaffelstein x Lady Gaga collab released on her own March album, Mayhem.
Fred again.. & Young Thug, “Scared”
Fred again.. concluded 2025 with a lot of new music, releasing a flurry singles in his characteristic flood the zone approach as he dropped a new track (or two) during each week of his hyped 10 shows/10 songs/10 cities tour. But the UK phenom always seems to have something more up his white t-shirt sleeve, and today as such releases “Scared,” a collaboration with Young Thug, who of course has eternal dance world cachet via his hall of fame Jamie xx collab “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”. The new song functions as both artists’ first release of the year and comes after Fred teased a full minute of it last month.
Jessie Ware, “I Could Get Used To This”
Jessie Ware has always specialized in deeply sumptuous disco, the musical equivalent of someone special running a feather along your bare skin. Her latest, “I Could Get Used to This,” is happily more of the same, balancing resplendent strings and Ware’s all-time voice, which she here uses to declare that she could easily get used to all this pleasure. The British singer herself calls the song “an invitation into the world of this album. I wanted to set the scene of the world that I’m trying to paint in the album; romance, real love, performance, celebration and pleasure (always!) in a garden full of gods and goddesses.” Jessie, take us there.
Dames Brown, Take Me as I Am
The debut album from Dames Brown is dripping with all the soul, style, funk and feeling that you might expect from the powerhouse Detroit trio. Made in homage to the late great Detroit icon Amp Fiddler, who was both a mentor and producer for Dames Brown, the 14 tracks weave together disco, R&B, house and more, bringing the trio together with collaborators including Eddie Fowlkes, Andres, Waajeed and Fiddler himself.
“To watch our seeds rooted in pure soul blossom into Take Me As I Am is sublime,” the ladies of Dames Brown (Athena Johnson, Teresa Marbury and LaRae Starr) say. “It shows you exactly who we are — brilliant vocal musicians coming together as one to create a genuine, heartfelt album. Presented by our brother, Detroit’s own Amp Fiddler, this collection of songs offers a glimpse into our interpretation of house music, as it draws on the influences of techno, P-Funk, gospel, and 1970s soul. This organic, homegrown gem is a culmination of love and dedication — a musical sisterhood.” The project is out on the mighty Defected Records.
Apashe, Hymns of Resilience
Belgian mainstay Apashe pays tribute to Ukraine via his new three-track EP, Hymns of Resilience. Featuring Ukrainian artist Alina Pash, the songs — “Resilience,” “Kyiv,” “Resistance” — are gorgeous, urgent and often haunting, as Apashe, who has toured heavily in Ukraine and recently spent time in the country’s capital of Kyiv, conjures the heavy and complicated feelings of existence in the war-torn country. The producer also filmed interviews with Kyiv locals for a forthcoming documentary about creativity and resilience in the face of conflict. Meanwhile, a portion of the revenue from the EP will go to Children Heroes; a charity focused on helping children who’ve lost parents in the war.
“Being there, you realize how hard it is to truly understand the severity of the situation from afar,” says the artist born John De Buck. “It’s only when you’re on the ground — working, listening, living alongside people — that the reality fully sets in. While working on this project in Kyiv, we were under shelling, a stark reminder of what daily life looks like there. For ten days, we lived it: sleeping in shelters during bombings, witnessing the physical destruction, and experiencing firsthand the toll it takes on people’s mental well-being. That’s why this project is so deeply personal. Returning to reconnect with old friends and collaborate with Ukraine’s incredible creative community was life-changing. Despite everything, the resilience, strength, and creative drive of the artists we worked with is unwavering. I hope this project helps amplify Ukrainian voices and offers a more honest perspective on what they’re living through.”