We caught up with the incredibly talented vocalist and songwriter Linney in the Technics Space at the Nexus Lounge Amsterdam during the Amsterdam Dance Event 2024. An ADE first-timer who has already worked with some of the biggest names in the industry (see: Nicky Romero, Steve Aoki), Linney sat down for an exclusive conversation with Nexus Radio to talk ADE and her songwriting philosophy, and to play a quick round of our Nexus Take 5 segment.
A North Carolina native who’s found her stride in the competitive Los Angeles dance music circuit, Linney’s music has already garnered her over 80 million streams on Spotify. Known for her emotional songwriting, euphoric voice, and major collaborative projects, Linney’s played some of the world’s biggest stages, including EDC, Ultra Miami, Wet Republic, and even LA’s Crypto.com Arena.
Linney’s most recent release, the We Dance EP, is a euphoric and emotional escape into dance music, bringing to the forefront Linney’s formidable songwriting talents and silky voice. Blending pain, beauty, and ephemeral beats on this short but powerful project, We Dance is as thoughtful as it is well-written. It also happens to be one of the most exciting releases from one of dance music’s most exciting artists.
Getting into our interview, Linney tells us that it’s her first time playing ADE—and her first time in Amsterdam, generally. With a busy schedule that includes interviews, meetings, and a performance with frequent collaborator Nicky Romero, Linney’s excited to bring her signature sound to the European dance scene.
The singer shares that her journey to dance music wasn’t always the clearest. Having started in musical theatre and transitioned to pop—both of which, she says, couldn’t accommodate her unique voice and artistry—Linney struggled to find a music box to fit into. Eventually, she discovered dance music to be the ideal medium to express herself.
And express herself, she has. More than anything, Linney’s music touches at the heart of things, primarily due to her emotional and vulnerable songwriting:
“I believe that songwriting is a superpower because it allows you to transform tragedy into something beautiful and take all the things that happened to you and turn them into something outside of yourself that hopefully lets other people know you’re not alone…By being vulnerable and open, I allow other people to do the same. I want people to know that they’re not alone.”
Before Linney heads out, she joins us for a game of our signature rapid-fire Q&A series, Nexus Take 5. The talented singer shares her childhood crush, talks her most recently binge-watched show, and teases her upcoming collaboration with dance legend Steve Aoki covering a Cascada classic.
To learn more about Linney, her recent EP We Dance, and her journey to ADE 2024, check out the full-length and exclusive interview below. And, as always, follow us on Instagram @nexusradiodance for more exclusive interviews with dance music’s biggest artists.
