DNCE
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Joe Jonas, Jack Lawless, JinJoo Lee, Cole Whittle |
| Defunct | 2018 (first hiatus), 2024 (second hiatus) |
| Headquarters | California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Joe Jonas (lead vocals), Jack Lawless (drums), JinJoo Lee (guitar), Cole Whittle (bass, keyboards; until 2018) |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
| Owner | Republic Records (label) |
DNCE was an American dance-rock ensemble led by vocalist Joe Jonas, with Jack Lawless on drums and JinJoo Lee playing guitar. From their inception in 2015 until their break in 2018, bassist and keyboardist Cole Whittle completed the lineup. Their sound was a fusion of dance-rock, dance-pop, pop rock, and funk-pop elements. Under the banner of Republic Records, DNCE debuted with the single "Cake by the Ocean" on September 18, 2015, which climbed to number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their subsequent single, "Toothbrush", saw moderate chart performance.
The group's first EP, Swaay, released on October 23, 2015, reached number 39 on the Billboard 200 and earned platinum certification. Following their appearance on Grease Live!, they launched their self-titled debut album on November 18, 2016, which peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200 and achieved gold certification. Their second EP, People to People, came out on June 15, 2018, but did not enter the charts. DNCE received nominations for Favorite New Artist at the 2016 Kids' Choice Awards and for Best Song to Lip Sync and Best Anthem at the 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards. They also performed at the 2017 Fashion Meets Music Festival.
Following limited impact from People to People and their standalone single "Dance," DNCE went on an indefinite hiatus in 2018. Afterward, Jonas reunited with the Jonas Brothers while Lee collaborated with artists such as Charli XCX. DNCE resurfaced in February 2022 without Whittle, releasing a collaboration with Kygo titled "Dancing Feet". Subsequently, they issued three additional singles—"Move," "Got Me Good," and "Flamingo" (which was featured in the film Anything's Possible)—before entering another hiatus in 2024.
2015: Background and origins
Lead vocalist Joe Jonas initially rose to prominence as a member of the Jonas Brothers alongside his siblings Nick and Kevin. Guitarist JinJoo Lee and drummer Jack Lawless had previously toured as part of the Jonas Brothers' live band. The idea for DNCE originated during a time when Jonas and Lawless were roommates, though scheduling conflicts delayed its formation. In 2015, Jonas, Lawless, and Lee officially established DNCE. After encountering difficulty securing a fourth member, Jonas enlisted bassist/keyboardist Cole Whittle, formerly from Semi Precious Weapons, who joined as a full-time member. The name DNCE signifies being "too drunk to spell dance," representing their imperfect yet dynamic group chemistry.
2015–2016: Initial releases and success
DNCE commenced with secret performances in New York City to prepare for upcoming tours and promotional activities. They launched an official Instagram account in September 2015, shortly before releasing their debut single "Cake by the Ocean" on September 18, which eventually reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their debut EP, Swaay, was issued on October 23, 2015. In November, their Greatest Tour Ever spanned fourteen dates, selling out completely and receiving praise for incorporating unreleased songs alongside classic covers.
On January 31, 2016, DNCE performed a '50s-style rendition of "Cake by the Ocean" along with other tracks during Fox's Grease: Live. In February, they supported Selena Gomez as opening acts on her Revival Tour. On February 26, DNCE featured on Hailee Steinfeld's single "Rock Bottom" from her Haiz reissue. They appeared on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show in April performing "Cake by the Ocean". The second single from Swaay, "Toothbrush", was promoted to contemporary hit radio in May and peaked at number 44 on the Hot 100.
On September 14, 2016, DNCE announced their self-titled debut album would be released on November 18. This album included three tracks previously featured on Swaay: "Cake by the Ocean", "Toothbrush", and "Pay My Rent". The lead single "Body Moves" was unveiled on September 30. Subsequent promotional singles were released weekly: "Blown" featuring Kent Jones, followed by "Good Day" and "Be Mean". On April 14, 2017, they issued "Kissing Strangers" featuring rapper Nicki Minaj, included in the album's "Jumbo Edition" along with remixes and bonus tracks available exclusively through Target. On August 25, 2017, DNCE collaborated on a remake of British singer-songwriter Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?".
2018–2019: People to People and pause in activity
At the beginning of 2018, DNCE launched the standalone single "Dance" on January 26, which marked their first lead artist release that failed to enter the charts. Subsequently, on April 6, they collaborated with Italian production duo Merk & Kremont on the track "Hands Up," which reached number 42 on Italy's FIMI Singles Chart and earned a platinum certification there. Their sophomore EP, People to People, was released on June 15; although it garnered favorable critiques, it did not achieve chart placement. This EP was later issued in Japan, including "Dance" as an additional track.
On February 28, 2019, the Jonas Brothers announced their reunion, leading Joe Jonas and Jack Lawless to rejoin the band and resulting in DNCE entering an extended hiatus exceeding three years. The Jonas Brothers' comeback eclipsed DNCE’s recent output, with their single "Sucker" debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping four additional charts. Despite DNCE’s inactivity, the Jonas Brothers regularly performed "Cake by the Ocean" during their concerts. During the Remember This Tour (August–October 2021), Lawless and JinJoo Lee supported the Jonas Brothers as part of their backing band prior to DNCE’s reunion, during which "Toothbrush" was incorporated into live performances.
2022–2024: Reunion and subsequent hiatus
DNCE announced their comeback on February 7, 2022, without bassist Cole Whittle, who opted to focus on his solo pursuits during the break. Their return was marked by the release of "Dancing Feet," a collaboration with Norwegian DJ Kygo, which debuted on February 25. Additional singles included "Move" (May 6), "Got Me Good" (July 8), and "Flamingo" (July 22), the latter appearing on the soundtrack for the movie Anything's Possible. After experiencing modest commercial impact and releasing no further material following "Flamingo," DNCE entered another hiatus in 2024.
The group briefly re-emerged in 2024 with a remix of Joe Jonas’ song "Work It Out," accompanied by a compilation EP featuring several of their past singles.
Artistic style
Former member Cole Whittle characterized DNCE’s musical approach as "disco funk hits performed by a solid garage band." The band's influences encompass a diverse array of artists including Electric Light Orchestra, Sly and the Family Stone, Weezer, Earth, Wind & Fire, Hall & Oates, Prince, the Bee Gees, and Led Zeppelin.
Band members
- Joe Jonas: lead vocals – Achieved fame as part of the Jonas Brothers, a multifaceted act successful across music, film, and television.
- Jack Lawless: drums, percussion, backing vocals – Served as drummer for the Jonas Brothers from 2007 until their split and resumed after their 2019 reunion; also performed with alternative rock group Ocean Grove.
- JinJoo Lee: guitar, backing vocals – South Korean guitarist who toured with the Jonas Brothers and was a member of CeeLo Green’s touring ensemble; has collaborated with artists such as JoJo and Charli XCX.
- Cole Whittle: bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals – Former Semi Precious Weapons bassist with three studio albums; contributed songwriting alongside Justin Tranter. Whittle chose not to rejoin DNCE in 2022 to concentrate on his solo career.
Studio albums
- DNCE (2016)
Extended plays
- Swaay (2015)
- People to People (2018)
- Music For People Who Believe In DNCE (2024)
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Grease: Live | Johnny Casino and the Gamblers | Television special event |
Headlining
- The Greatest Tour Ever Tour (2015–2016)
- DNCE in Concert (2017)
- DNCE GOGO SAIKO Japan Tour (2017)
Supporting act
- Revival Tour (2016)
- 24K Magic World Tour (2017–2018)