Manchester’s Elliot James Reay returns with “Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin,” a joyful soul-pop track inspired by the Northern Soul scene.
Elliot James Reay is back with another retro-charged gem. His new single “Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin” is now available via Interscope / Island EMI, continuing the 23-year-old’s rise as one of the UK’s most exciting new voices.
The track, co-written with Manchester’s SOAP (Josh Noble and Karl Ziegler), Annielle Lisiuk, and Glen Roberts, is an exuberant blend of soulful grooves, jangling tambourine, and horn-infused hooks that capture the joy of dancing—and the drama of being misunderstood.
Built on a humorous premise, the song reflects on a partner’s suspicion of infidelity, when in reality, Reay was simply dancing the night away. 
“It’s a shame she doesn’t get it… Just give me a bourbon, a bass line, and a beat,” Reay sings, in what’s bound to become a signature lyric.
The music video nods to Manchester’s Northern Soul scene, as Reay’s late-night return home leads to flashbacks of footwork-filled club escapades, complete with vintage suits, spinning records, and red-curtained aesthetics.
“Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin” follows the cinematic “Daydreaming,” stylish “Boy in Love,” and his breakthrough hit “I Think They Call This Love,” which racked up over 121 million streams, 1 billion TikTok views, and catapulted Reay to a devoted global following.
With influences like Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison, Reay continues to breathe new life into old-school sounds—one beat at a time.
