DANCE, NO ONE'S WATCHING - Ezra Collective

Ezra Collective’s third album Dance, No One’s Watching deliberately ties its cover art and packaging to the theme of uninhibited dance. As The Guardian notes, the album cover “puts the group at the back of the picture, on a small stage, like a house band in a 60s niterie,” while “the people on the dancefloor” in front of them are “highlighted and foregrounded, dancing in their own little worlds, stars of the show".

Saxophonist TJ Koleoso explains the concept: “In the picture… no one’s looking at each other, no one’s watching, because that’s what we’re trying to do with the music. We make it so everyone feels like they’re part of this… it’s in those moments that freedom happens.” Drummer Femi Koleoso echoes this ethos, saying the visual motif signals an anti-anxiety message: “The dancefloor encapsulates what life is… Don’t be petrified, because this facade you built up of everyone scrutinising you might not be as real as you think it is… Take the entire moment with both hands for yourself.”

"Photographed by Marco Grey, who worked with Jeremy Ngatho Cole at Yout across the entire album creative, the cover art presents a densely filled dancefloor that sits somewhere between a collage and tableau photography, where every individual is the star and yet they come together as a whole. The vinyl packaging features another beautifully shot image across the gatefold." Creative Reviews (The best album art and design of the year 2024)

Photographer: @greymarco
Creative Direction: @jeremyncole & @greymarco
Executive Producer: @mayyanna_

Movement Director: @kloedean

Stylist: @consgaffe
Stylist Assistant: @dellonmelon
Stylist Assistant: @michellemyler1

Lead Make-up: @nibrasmakeup
Make-up: @sandrahadimua

Set Designer: @fu_safira
Set Assistant: @beatrootsmoothie
Set Assistant: @phrooshe

Gaffer: @duanejayonset

Production Runners: @pearlmakayi & @joshkinu

16mm Video: @robthoro
BTS: @temiadegbayibi

Dancers:
@annakaygayle
@mr_nthn
@caiya
@claudiasmith_b4
@ghanagal_
@exhibit69
@jama.elmi.98
@thisisminarose
@ramariochevoy
@stefano_saa
@herskinkissedbythesun
@tanael.rave
@theshejay
@cocatola22
@uptownyardie

Location Manager: @thelocationcollective
Location Assistant: @thelocationcollective

Special Thanks To @channelonesoundsystem @himynamesamy @partisanrecords @jakecrossland_

Production: @yout.work