Grammy winning singer, songwriter, producer Jody Watley’s “THE DAWN” (Alex Di Ciò Extended Remix) has arrived, a mix sophisticated dance-pop, funk, soul, and contemporary electronic grooves.
For those just discovering Jody Watley or her ongoing current music, this is not a comeback—it’s a continuation.
The feel good summer dance single is fused with flourishing bass, rhythm guitar for a modern blend of pop, disco, funk.
“The Dawn” is already generating interest globally, recently Top 10 in sales Amazon Music UK Top Dance Electronic Singles, and #1 Breaker UK Soul Chart.
Turn it up and experience the extended journey of the latest Jody Watley independent Avitone release.
Get Ready To Download • Stream • Add to Your Playlist • Share
From her groundbreaking GRAMMY Award-winning solo debut through decades of acclaimed independent releases, EPs, albums, and charting singles, Watley has consistently forged her own path. Jody Watley’s career reflects a rare combination of longevity, artistic independence, and a commitment to evolving creatively while staying true to her vision.
Jody Watley’s LET’S DANCE Vol. 1 (Hit Them Beats) was released on July 9, 2025. The album, her 14th, vaulted to #1 on the USA iTunes Top Dance Albums Chart (U.S.) and #1 on UK Amazon’s Hot New Dance/Electronic chart on July 11.
Featuring remixes by Craig C., Quentin Harris, Josh Peace, Mark de Clive-Lowe, John “J-C” Carr, Morgan Page, Love To Infinity, Jodie Harsh, Alex Di Ciò, Ron Trent, and Brian Power, reimagining Jody Watley’s contemporary dance hits and club favorites blended into a non-stop mix.
Co-produced by Jody Watley, Bill Coleman (Peace Bisquit), and Angelo “Pepe” Skordos.This album release reflects an ongoing artistry and longevity. 40+ Solo from iconic R&B / Pop classics to dance hits and anthems many of them have come from 30 years independently released with her own label Avitone and the ongoing quiet relevance of a rare legacy artist not resting on her laurels of an already iconic catalog and discography but one who is committed to her artistry and love of music not chasing charts, while appreciating the support of longtime and new fans alike.
Jody Watley is a GRAMMY® Award–winning Best New Artist, 3x nominee, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and style icon.
Renowned as one of the most defining female artists of the 80s starting with her multi platinum breakthrough debut album. To date she has amassed 6 Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 singles including the iconic “Looking for a New Love,” (#1 R&B and Dance) “Don’t You Want Me,” “Friends” ft. Eric B. & Rakim, and the gold-certified “Real Love,” (#1 R&B and Dance) +more, Jody Watley is also an MTV VMA Awards 6 time nominee, in addition to American Music Awards and NAACP nominee.
Jody Watley has built a genre-spanning, critically acclaimed catalog across disco Into R&B, Pop, Dance, Electronica — from 80s, 90s, 2000s – Present with her latest releases “The Dawn” (2026) Alex di Ciò. Remix, Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats (2025), EVERLASTING (2025).
Download. Stream. Playlist “Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats” at music platforms of your choice.
Jody Watley, Alex di Ciò and Avitone team are happy to share that the newest independent release remixed by Alex Di Ciò, “The Dawn,” has reached #10 on Amazon UK Dance & Electronic Hot New Releases (July 6, 2026).
No machine. No hype. Just a commitment to creating quality music that inspires people to dance, groove, and feel good.
Thank you to everyone downloading, listening, sharing, and supporting independent music around the world.
Jody Watley is a GRAMMY award winning multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer recognized as a style icon. Winner of Best New Artist in 1988, only the third black artist in recording academy history at the time. Jody Watley is listed in Billboard as one of the Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, Top 25 Dance Artists of All Time and Top 100 Black Solo Artists Of All Time.
The recipient of Crossover Music Icon from Black Music Honors 2017 with an ongoing diverse music discography spanning R&B / Pop / Dance /Hip Hop / Spoken Word/Electronic / Jazz / Adult Contemporary 80s, 90s, 2000s-Present.
As a solo artist, for over four decades; the Pop and R&B singer-songwriter -producer has 6 Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten Singles (Looking For A New Love, Don’t You Want Me, Friends ft. Eric B & Rakim and more), her video for the now classic hit “Real Love” remains one of the most nominated MTV VMA’s of all time, 13 Number 1 Dance Singles, 2 R&B Number 1’s, 15 Top 40 Singles, Gold and multi-platinum albums, Gold video hits compilation and more in the USA alone as a solo artist.
Watley’s eventual fusion of jazz, and deep house music makes her one of music most versatile artists. Recent releases have continued to impact UK Soul Radio and a growing social media presence with recent Youtube Silver Creator Award.
The versatile songstress and Chicago native was recognized by People Magazine in their 50 Most Beautiful People Issue, and appeared in breakthrough ad campaigns for GAP, Saks 5th Avenue and LA Eyeworks of many ongoing milestones in her solo career.
Jody Watley’s “The Dawn (Alex Di Ciò Remix)” Reaches No. 1 UK Soul Chart Breaker & Earns Record Of The Week Honors (June 15, 2026) . Continuing an iconic legacy rooted in quality music and style.
Additional UK radio support this week:
Record Of The Week — Starpoint Radio (UK)
Record Of The Week — Sunshine Radio (UK)
Written by Jody Watley.and Mark de Clive Lowe
Produced & Mixed by Alex Di Ciò. Another independent release via Avitone Recordings
“The Dawn (Alex Di Ciò Remix)” is available now on all major digital music platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, Beatport, TIDAL, and YouTube Music.
Thank you to DJs, radio programmers, music lovers, and fans worldwide for the continued support.
Pip: The Official Jody Watley Website is where a five-decade career keeps moving forward — and right now, it is moving at dance-floor speed.
Mara: Admin has the full story on the new single, the label behind it, and what this release means in the context of a catalog that just keeps building. Let’s start with the music itself.
Jody Watley’s New Single ‘The Dawn’ Is Out Now
Pip: The question here is straightforward: what does a new Jody Watley single in 2026 actually represent — a moment, or a momentum?
Mara: The post frames it as the latter. The setup is that this release follows back-to-back chart successes, and the post puts it plainly: “The Dawn is the latest in the singer songwriting, producer’s ongoing discography of feel good blend of soulful rhythms and dance-floor energy.”
Pip: So this is not a one-off. It is the next step in a streak — a number-one iTunes USA and Amazon Music UK Dance and Electronic album in 2025, a number-two UK Soul Chart single in 2024 — and now a new remix produced by Alex Di Ciò landing on every major platform worldwide.
Mara: The release comes through Avitone, her independent label established in 1995 with the stated mantra of “Fueling Quality Music.” That label context matters — this is not a major-label rollout. It is a deliberate, multi decades-long independent operation.
Pip: Thirty years of independent operation, and the singles keep charting. That is not luck, that is infrastructure.
Mara: The post also grounds the release in a much longer arc. Watley is listed in Billboard as one of the Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, Top 25 Dance Artists of All Time, and Top 100 Black Solo Artists of All Time — a GRAMMY Award-winning Best New Artist and three-time nominee whose catalog spans R&B, pop, dance, hip-hop, jazz, and electronic music across more than five decades, going back to her Shalamar years beginning in 1978.
Pip: The bio closes with a phrase that earns its place: “Still Thriving. Still Creating. Still Evolving on her own terms independently.” At this point in the discography, that reads less like marketing and more like a statement of fact.
Mara: “The Dawn” is available now on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud.
Pip: Five decades in, a new single, a thriving independent label — the arc here is genuinely long.
Mara: And it keeps moving. More to come from this catalog, no question.
Arriving June 12, 2026: “The Dawn” (Alex Di Ciò Remix) — the groove-heavy new single from GRAMMY® Award-winning music icon Jody Watley.
Experience a fresh evolution of rhythm, soul, and dance-floor energy as Jody Watley and acclaimed producer/remixer Alex Di Ciò deliver the perfect soundtrack for the season. The song is another Jody Watley composition. “It’s a tough time for a lot of people, and also quite a bit of negativity in the world. I think it’s always important to have songs that keep people motivated and in a positive mindset – to let go of worries and stress, My music is always a vessel for that.”
Dawn definition: Dawn is the period of the day when the first light appears in the sky, marking the transition from night to morning before the sun breaks the horizon at sunrise.Metaphorically, it refers to the beginning, emergence, or advent of something new (e.g., “the dawn of a new era”) “the dawn of a new day”
About The Artist:
Jody Watley is a GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer and style icon. Named Best New Artist in 1988, she’s one of Billboard’s Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, with 6 Top 10 Hot 100 hits, 13 No. 1 Dance singles, 2 R&B #1s and genre-spanning success across R&B, Pop, Dance, Downtempo Electronica and Jazz. Her career longevity spans 5 decades in the music industry.
A visionary in music and fashion, Watley helped pave the way for Black women to break boundaries. Honored as a Crossover Music Icon by Black Music Honors, an inductee in Women’s Songwriters Hall of Fame + more; her influence continues—decades strong and she remains an inspiration to many.Her most recent album “Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats” released July 9, 2025 vaulted to #1 on the iTunes Top Dance Electronic Albums and Amazon Music UK on July 11, 2025.
“The Dawn” Cover Art by Shawn West and Jody Watley. Logo Design: Ray Easmon.
Grammy Award-winning music icon Jody Watley is among the many esteemed trailblazing female artists featured in SUPREME SIRENS: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Music, the celebrated 2024 release by acclaimed author and style expert Marcellus Reynolds.
Released on January 23, 2024 through Abrams Books, SUPREME SIRENS is the first-ever photography book dedicated to honoring Black female singers and musicians whose artistry, innovation, resilience, rebellion, and cultural impact transformed music history and popular culture.
The stunning collection celebrates generations of influential Black women in music through powerful imagery and storytelling — making it an essential addition for music historians, photography enthusiasts, style aficionados, and coffee table book collectors alike.
From groundbreaking artistry to enduring influence in music and fashion, Jody Watley continues to be recognized as a visionary creative force whose impact spans decades across music, style, culture, and entertainment.
Book Details:
SUPREME SIRENS: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Music
It’s the ultimate party experience for fans of Disco, Dance, R&B/Soul and Funk music – all on one unforgettable cruise experience sailing from Ft. Lauderdale aboard the Celebrity Silhouette sailing to Grand Turk, Puerto Plata Dominican Republic, concerts, celebrity hosted activities and more.
Catch Her Outside! Join Jody Watley at Sea – It’s Paradise!
Jody Watley fans – Use Promo code JODYFAN for special cabin savings.
Let’s Do This! Let’s Dance! Get your groove and disco glam on!
Have you heard Jody Watley’s covers of the CHIC classic “I Want Your Love” a #1 single for Watley in 2008 and Diana Ross’ “Love Hangover” from her #1 2025 iTunes Top Dance Album “Let’s Dance Vol. 1- Hit Them Beats”? If not head to your favorite digital music platform.
Jody Watley. Let’s Dance Vol. 1 T-shirt – Make it Your Own!
Jody Watley’s latest album Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats energy isn’t just an album—it’s a mindset and a mantra to keep it moving. From adding to your playlists to your personal style statements, celebrate the spirit of Let’s Dance Vol. 1 (Hit Them Beats) in your own way.
The official collection is all about expressing your connection to the music, showing support for Grammy winning Icon Jody Watley and her sustained independence 40 plus years as a solo artist and entrepreneur—navigating the dance of life, perseverance and business.
Wear it. Share it. Dress it up or down!
Jody Watley – Let’s Dance Unisex T. Dress it Up or Down. Make it Your Own.
And if you haven’t yet—press play, add 2025’s #1 iTunes and Amazon Music UK Dance Electronica Album Let’s Dance Volume 1 – Hit Them Beats, released via her Avitone label celebrating the 30th Anniversary of forming the label; to your playlist. Keep the music in motion.
Just Push Play for a Non Stop Mix. Jody Watley “Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats”
Explore the lasting impact of Jody Watley’s Video Classics, Vol. 1 (1991), the RIAA Gold-certified music video collection that helped redefine the MTV era. From groundbreaking visuals and high-fashion imagery to iconic hits like “Looking for a New Love” and “Friends,” discover how Watley became a pioneering force in music video history and visual storytelling.
Long before visual albums became the norm, Jody Watley was setting the standard.
Jody Watley helped transform the intersection of music and fashion with Video Classics, Vol. 1. This retrospective highlights the cultural significance, visual artistry, and enduring influence of one of the first major music video compilations released by a Black female artist.
Jody Watley: Video Classics Vol. 1 (1991) is an RIAA Gold Certified music video compilation, groundbreaking as one of the first by a Black female artist.
Released via MCA Records on VHS and Laser Disc, it featured music videos from her early multiplatinum solo albums, including iconic hits like “Looking For A New Love” “Friends” featuring Eric B & Rakim, and the 6 time MTV VMA nominated video “Real Love” alongside insightful interviews discussing her visual style and video inspirations specific to each director and filming on location in London, England and Paris, France.
Tracks Included: “Looking for a New Love,” “Still a Thrill,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Some Kind of Lover,” “Most of All,” “Real Love,” and “Friends”.
Impact: Validated Watley as a visual innovator in the MTV era and highlighted her collaborations with directors.
Significance: Showcased her transition from Shalamar to a pioneering solo dance-pop artist with high-fashion imagery.
Jody Watley is a GRAMMY-winning artist, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, and global style icon.
Named Best New Artist in 1988, she ranks among Billboard’s Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, with six Top 10 Hot 100 hits – including iconic hits “Looking For A New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Friends” featuring Eric B. & Rakim, and “Real Love” and more.
She’s also earned seven No. 1 Dance hits, two No. 1 R&B singles, and success across R&B, pop, dance, electronica, and jazz—building a genre-spanning catalog that continues to evolve.
A true visionary in music and fashion, Watley broke barriers for Black women globally—becoming the first artist and woman of color to appear on the cover of a Japanese fashion magazine, and among the first artists to merge music, branding, and lifestyle with her Dance To Fitness movement.
Recognized by Vogue, People, and Harper’s Bazaar, her influence extends beyond music through iconic campaigns for GAP, LA Eyeworks, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Her honors include Black Music Honors’ Crossover Music Icon Award, induction into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame, and multiple nominations from the American Music Awards, MTV VMAs and NAACP Image Awards.
A pioneer of independence, she founded her own label, Avitone, in 1995—well ahead of today’s artist-owned movement.
Decades into her career, Jody Watley continues to thrive with critically acclaimed, chart-topping releases. Her latest album, Let’s Dance Vol. 1, reached No. 1 on iTunes Dance and Amazon UK charts.
Her influence endures—timeless, trailblazing, and still setting her own standard – authentically, independently.
