Balance Selections 292: Donatello

In 2011, Lithuanian producers Donatello, Arnas D and Kastis Torrau entered a competition to remix Sasha’s “Cut Me Down.” Their entry won and was released on Last Night On Earth. Currently, a YouTube upload of their wistful remix has amassed 17 million plays and 3,991 comments singing its praise. That’s impressive numbers for any dance music genre. Since then, with a string of releases on notable labels like Get Physical and Renaissance, Donatello has become one of his country’s most prolific producers. After an enforced break from the industry due to the pandemic, he’s finally back focussing on music: “I hope to return to the studio this winter after a long break and create the works that have been in my head since the start of the pandemic.” And it’s not a moment too soon. In an hour filled with depth and dynamics, the Lithuanian producer straddles an adventurous line between deep progressive and bouncey deep house. With tracks from Enamour, M.O.S., Dhany G, and Donatello himself, this mix is a timely reminder of what we’ve been missing during that enforced absence. @djdonatello