Meet N2N: The Mind Behind Dance Therapy
If you ask N2N to describe the music he's making today, he'll tell you it's a mix of everything that's inspired him over the years: disco, house, hip-hop, funk, and a healthy dose of the unexpected.
After more than 15 years of producing and DJing, he's developed a sound that's tough to categorize but easy to connect with. Whether he's playing a club, a festival, or a warehouse, his goal remains simple: play music that makes people move.
Ahead of joining Ship Wrek, Twin Diplomacy, Jengi, and Slaycey at Knockdown Center on June 19, we caught up with N2N to talk about his journey through different genres, what keeps him inspired, why New York crowds stand out, and how Dance Therapy has grown into something much bigger than a party.
1. You're joining Ship Wrek at Knockdown Center this June. What excites you most about this lineup?
The diversity in everyone’s sound. I will die on the hill that the best sets effortlessly flow through genres to build a narrative over time. Each of the artists on this lineup has multiple cards to play and quite a bit of experience across a variety of sounds.
2. Your sound has evolved over the years. What feels different about the music you're making today compared to when you first started?
Oh God. I mean, I started producing 15 years ago, and back then I was making, like... big room trance. I had the opportunity to open for Cassius while I was living in Shanghai in 2013, which is when I fell in love with house music. I went from that straight into a disco era, then into a Dirtybird era, which bridged the gap to where we’re at now.
My current sound is an amalgamation of everything that’s inspired me over the years, from hip-hop to disco to Dirtybird. It has to be funky, but it also has to be a little left of center. Take a dash of funk, a sprinkle of weird, and mix it up with something approachable, and you have the recipe for the music I’m making today.
3. What's one record you've been playing recently that perfectly represents where your head is at musically right now?
"Activator" by The Botanist. It’s absurdly catchy, filled with delightful ear candy, and hits on any system at any time of the day or night.
4. New York crowds have a reputation around the world. What stands out to you about playing here?
New York is my home. I moved across the country last year, but New York will always be my home. Every time I play in the city, it feels like I’m surrounded by family, whether I know 50 people in the audience or none.
New Yorkers don’t care if they “know” the song—they just want the music to be good. If it’s good music, you’ll get a good response. I love that. It’s how DJing should be. There’s always something magical about playing in New York. It’s not just another stop on the tour; it’s New York City, and it brings the best out of you every single time.
5. What can people expect from your set on June 19?
People can expect to dance. I’m here to play songs that make you move—that’s the beginning and the end of it. I’ve also been working on a way to incorporate the Knicks into my set, which feels like a necessity at this point.
6. Dance Therapy has become a major part of your identity as an artist. What does that philosophy mean to you today?
It’s no secret that a lot of us are struggling right now, whether it’s uncertainty in the world, a lack of financial stability, or a general sense of anxiety about life, the universe, and everything.
The dance floor feels like a sanctuary where we can momentarily escape our struggles and connect with a community that is right there with us—one that allows us to be our full and authentic selves without fear of judgment. For a lot of people, myself included, that’s absolutely a form of therapy.
