Biography

Led by Jonas Brother Joe Jonas, exuberant dance-rock group DNCE broke into the mainstream in 2015 with the EP SWAAY and the single "Cake by the Ocean," a multi-platinum international hit that helped propel their 2016 self-titled debut LP into the U.S. Top 20. They were an established arena act before taking a hiatus that ended in 2022 with a featured spot on the Kygo single "Dancing Feet" as well as their own "Move." Formed in 2015, DNCE (which stands for dance) is centered on former Jonas Brothers singer Joe Jonas and also includes Korean-born guitarist JinJoo Lee (Jordin Sparks, Charlie XCX, Cee Lo Green), bassist/keyboardist Cole Whittle (Semi-Precious Weapons), and drummer Jack Lawless (Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus). With the breakup of his phenomenally popular band the Jonas Brothers in 2013, Jonas began percolating the concept of forming another act. However, rather than choosing to hire studio musicians, he eventually wrangled the talents of former Jonas Brothers touring drummer Lawless, along with Lee, who opened for the Brothers while touring with Jordin Sparks. Jonas then brought on dynamic Semi-Precious Weapons member Whittle, and DNCE was complete. In September 2015, DNCE released the single "Cake by the Ocean," premiering the track on New York's Z100, with the fully fledged SWAAY EP appearing a month later. The EP cracked the Top 40 in the U.S. and the Top 20 in Canada. In 2016, they released the full-length DNCE, featuring production and songwriting contributions from a handful of industry luminaries including Sir Nolan, Ilya, and Mattman & Robin, as well as former Semi-Precious Weapons frontman Justin Tranter. Buoyed by the previously released "Cake by the Ocean" as well as the leadoff single "Body Moves," the album performed well, reaching number 17 on the Billboard 200. Following extensive touring, DNCE returned in 2018 with the People to People EP, which they followed with a hiatus. When the band reappeared in February 2022, it was without Whittle on the Kygo track "Dancing Feet," which hit the Top Ten of the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart in addition to charting internationally. That May, a three-piece DNCE released their own single, "Move," their first new music since 2018. It was written by Jonas, Andrew DeRoberts, and OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder, with the latter two producing. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi