Balance Selections Podcast

Hailing from a lineage of creatives, Rocío Portillo is part of a new generation of South American producers making serious waves. Staunchly Argentinean, the influence of Hernan Cattaneo were  always going to loom large on her musical development. And so it happened that she attended one of his Moonpark events which would seal her fate: "It was then that I fell deeply in love with electronic music." That love has led to total immersion.

Today, she is one of the country's rising talents, with releases on Mango Alley, Clubsonica, and Univack. In early 2021, she expanded her creative endeavors by forming a band with fellow Mendoza talents, Karim Sar Sar on saxophone and Valley (AR) on keyboard, guitar, and arrangements. This collaboration birthed a unique hybrid format, blending live performance with studio composition, where her distinct vocals play a central role.

Make no mistake: Portillo dabbles in a dark, driving progressive sound best described as underground. It’s designed for smoke-filled clubs where people dance, head down, blissfully unaware of their phones. Alongside unreleased Rocío Portillo productions, you’ll find a selection of underground talent like Juan Buitrago, Agustin Lupidi, and Claudio Cornejo. This is a stomping progressive mix that doubles as a showcase for the strength of the Argentine dance scene.

@rocioportillo

It’s not surprising to hear Richie Blacker share his appreciation for fellow Irishmen and old-school revivalists Bicep. Just as they draw from scene originators like Orbital, Richie imbues his productions with the spirit of mid-90s open-field raves and Ibiza-flavored piano house.

This sound resonates with notable DJs like Sasha and Skream, who have both signed him to their labels, Last Night On Earth and Of Unsound Mind. With his Mess Express label and regular radio plays on Radio 1 and other stations across Europe, he shows no signs of slowing down.

Featuring tracks from Sasha, Tinlicker, Gui Boratto, and Johannes Brecht, this is an enthralling two hour ride through Balearica, Afro house, and contemporary prog - currated by one of Ireland's best.

@richie-blacker-fuel

It’s been four years since Sweden’s EMPHI announced himself with a release on Yotto’s Odd One Out imprint. Since then, he has filled his portfolio with a list of releases that read like a who’s who of progressive labels and artists.

What makes it even more impressive is that he hails from a city where that sound is borderline non-existent: “You often don't get booked for progressive sound here as the genre has no real scene in Stockholm.”

But fortunately, the global community listened and embraced him. His collaboration with Amháin, the Hallen EP, is a distillation of what makes EMPHI such an exciting prospect: deep, enchanting grooves and melodic flourishes that are borderline soothing.

Featuring tracks from Alex O’Rion, Tonaco, Andrés Moris, and EMPHI himself, this highly entrancing Balance Selections mix ebbs and flows with the confidence of a veteran selector.

@emphimusic

Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, Rainbow Serpent, Berlin’s Sisyphos, and LA’s Pattern Bar—these global festivals and clubs have all hosted Amháin in their DJ booths at some stage. And for good reason: the high-flying Irishman delivers a sound that’s sleek and classy without ever being too esoteric.

Check out his recent Balance Music release, the Hallen EP. A collaboration with EMPHI, it’s a double dose of progressive gold that’s elegant and engaging - all adjectives you can ascribe to this Balance selection too. Featuring tracks from Balance alumni including GMJ, Matter, and Zankee Gulati, this is the work of an artist in complete control of their craft.

@amhain_dj

The name Steven Weston is gaining more prominence, which is well overdue given his impressive career in music. His CV includes an engineering background working with artists ranging from drum and bass act Rudimental to reggae artist Chronixx, while he’s toured the world playing keyboards for the likes of Ladyhawke, Charli XCX, and Mikky Ekko. Weston also counts James Lavelle as a fan, having regularly collaborated with the veteran for 10 years now. But his passion lies in deep, progressive music, and since entering the arena he's signed to labels such as Anjunadeep, Bedrock, and Last Night On Earth.

With tracks from GMJ, Durante, UNKLE, and Duo State, this Balance Selections mix highlights a music purveyor who lives and breathes the intricacies of the sound he has dedicated himself to.

@stevenweston

Nowadays, finding a good full-length album is challenging, which is a real shame. For decades, the LP was a beacon of artistic intention, but streaming platforms like Spotify have reshaped the way music listeners engage with music. To hold attention, it needs to stand out. It needs dynamics. Thankfully, 'Nostalgia,' the new Alex O'Rion full-length, does just that. We had an illuminating conversation with the producer about what makes this album such an essential listen.

To celebrate the release, the high-flying Dutchman provided us with an exclusive mix stamped with his usual seal of quality.

Full tracklisting and interview: https://bit.ly/4br0zeZ

@alexorion

Pockets of electronic music characterized by deep, blissful breakbeats, are once again permeating the scene. Dabbling in this new wave is British DJ and producer Braxton. After joining Anjunadeep in 2019, he quickly gained recognition for a sound that blends blissful atmospheres with warm house and fractured beats. Check his latest Bedrock release alongside Steve Weston: 'Lanes' features bold drums, soaring melodies, and an epic scale that evoke the glory days of prog breaks. Here, Braxton continues his fine from with a soothing blend of progressive textures featuring tracks from Monkey Safari, Nox Vahn, Trilucid, and unreleased tracks from Braxton himself.

@braxtonofficial

UK-based artist and DJ Four Candles, whose real name is Kris Brown, is recognized for his innovative approach to dance music that avoids fleeting trends. After working with industry legend Nick Muir, his artistic break came on Bedrock Records. Follow up productions found their way onto some of the most respected imprints, from Selador to Afterglow and Tenampa.

His recent Balance release, ‘On the Fence' (featured below in Q+A), is one of the standout moments on the recent Balance presents Dave Seaman and Quivver compilation. It’s a unique production rooted in the prog of yesteryear but with a contemporary twist: it’s a sound borne from staying artistically true to oneself.

On this excellent mix, Four Candles builds the energy with artisanal ease. Alongside tracks from Donato Dozzy, Spence Brown and Kamilo Sanclemente, you’ll also find exceptional takes by Four Candles on tracks from Leftfield and Sasha.

@fourcandlesmusic

Considering his more than 30 years of experience in electronic music, it’s safe to say that Pablo De Mattei AKA PAUL (AR), knows a thing or two about dance music. It's evident in his bookings: From Lollapalooza to Creamfields to Moonpark, there aren’t many Argentinean music festivals that haven’t featured Paul (AR) on their stages. He defines his style as a mixture of Progressive and Tech House, a style that has taken him across the globe from Spain to Peru. Labels from Sudbeat to Perfecto has featured his work, and he was most recently seen on Balance Music through his contribution to the 'Balance presents Dave Seaman and Quivver' compilation.

Featuring a host of unofficial Paul (AR) remixes of acts like James Zabiela and Way Out West, alongside original tracks from Nicolas Rada, Dmitry Molosh, and more, the Argentinean delivers a delightful 90 minutes of progressive music suitable for any occasion.

@pablo-de-mattei

The old adage "they don't make them like they used to" might seem trite; however, it certainly applies to Belgian producer Pole Folder. During the 2000s, his knack for delivering epic and soaring productions that immersed you into a world of narrative was unparalleled. Listen to the amazing "Apollo Vibes" (alongside CP); it is intricate yet feels huge, unfolding its themes with the confidence of a master magician. All that craft ensured his music being featured on prominent US TV shows (Nip/Tuck, CSI) and movies (2002’s "Stark Raving Mad").

Today, Pole Folder is still acknowledged as a versatile performer who continues to tour globally, bringing his intricate studio creations to life with live vocals and various instruments he has mastered since childhood. For more of his work, check out his Reworck label, which features a deep discography.

Here, the veteran does not disappoint. Featuring tracks from Fort Romeau, Marsh, Rodriguez Jr., and, of course, Pole Folder himself, this is a deep, 2-hour progressive excursion filled with many emotional vocal cuts and introspective moments.

@pole-folder