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Just last month, I found myself shoulder to shoulder with strangers in the basement of a New York club, screaming, shouting the lyrics to “Dancing Queen” with a live band and collectively grooving to original and electrified disco beats. In the middle of the headlining set, a short scene played out—the lead singer pointed to a couple in the crowd, and in one swift motion without breaking the tempo, the two were carefully escorted out. Why? Because they broke the cardinal rule: recording during a no-phones dance party.
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Or really, they broke the only rule of WHO’S DANCING?, a roving, underground disco where phones are taped so inhibitions can be free. Behind the phone-free event is the artist X&ND (pronounced "zand"), a funk, soul and disco revivalist based in Harlem. The idea was initially sparked while the artist was conceptualizing their sophomore album, also named “WHO’S DANCING?”, an album that channels the disco and soul era. The genre choice was an intentional one, as the music is rooted in Black and queer liberation, offering joy in the face of adversity. It is a sound that is needed now, more than ever, according to the artist, particularly following the re-election of Donald Trump.
“Trump got reelected, and I was like, the counterculture is going to have a serious moment,” they said, comparing the political tension to that of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. “So I was like, ‘What genre of music actually gave people a voice back then?’ And it was funk, soul and disco.”
Another inspiration for the party and the subsequent album? You can find it in the name—as X&ND was fed up with the over usage of phones while visiting nightclubs across Atlanta and New York. “I was just tired of going to clubs and seeing nobody dancing,” they said. “Everybody has their phone out filming the band, and it just takes away from the moment. It takes away from you being present."
So the artist put out a call to their followers in July of last year: They would be hosting and headlining a dance party, the music would be funk and recording wasn’t allowed. Over 100 showed up at the inaugural show, packing the basement of Bushwick’s Hart Bar and dancing so hard that the walls started to sweat. The artist described the night as “the best dance party that no one will ever see.”
But the no-phones policy provides much more than just staying present. Without the distraction, it's that much easier to chat with strangers, as a number of attendees show up alone. At each show, X&ND encourages everyone to say hi to their neighbor, further facilitating connection. That, and a phone-free space allows for freedom of expression and safety of expression, an important distinction now that everyday strangers go viral on social media, many times without their consent.
“I think about all of the people from the very first show—it was predominantly women, queer folk and trans folks. And in this administration, putting those people online for everybody to see is not a safe thing to do,” they said. And while it's common for clubs and bars to promote themselves by using clips of attendees taken from various parties, when it comes to WHO’S DANCING?, the only footage you’ll see is that of the performers. “I don't want to exploit the very community that is actually driving the culture.”
WHO’S DANCING? has since brought the funk all over NYC, headlining at the East Village’s Drom while over 500 people attended June’s Pride party at Elsewhere, with 3,000 on the waitlist. Tapping their “funk disco network,” X&ND and their band, X&ND and The Liberation, have shared the stage with DJ SweeTea and Dizzie The Trio. Each and every event has sold out, with nowadays most tickets getting snapped up in hours. Clearly, it seems the movement has legs, as X&ND and team have started to plan a tour to bring the funk across the country.
“We're looking to keep growing. I want to play Madison Square Garden with WHO’S DANCING?; that's on my bucket list," they said. But the overall goal is to continue to bring the energy of funk to the people and bring a "real human connection back to nightlife."
“A lot of my songs on the album have messages of liberation, autonomy and embracing yourself proudly,” they said. “In a time where a lot of civil liberties have been stripped, the ability to live loudly holds a lot more power,” they said.
Keep an eye on X&ND’s Instagram for the next event announcement and register for tickets for WHO’S DANCING? here.