Balance Selections Podcast Balance Music

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

A Just Her set blends electronica, house, and deep techno, imbued with an emotional touch designed to capture both the feet and heart of her audience. This skill was honed through a journey from buying vinyl with paper route earnings to becoming a distinguished DJ, producer, songwriter, and label owner (Constant Circles). It's an aspring story, one that's led Just Her to a notable discography on labels including Anjunadeep, Crosstown Rebels, Global Underground and, lest we forget, Balance Music. 

Yet, the Just Her goal transcends mere success: she aspires to infuse the industry with kindness and compassion. We daresay she's succeeeding; that energy is evident in this excellent session.

Across 90 minutes you’ll find a heady but joyful mix of contemporary house (Logic1000, Byron the Aquarius), UK garage-breaks (Beatune, Lili Chan) and progressive-tinged deep techno (Nakadia, Sasha), all stitched together with exquisite vocal cuts from, of course, Just Her.

From the opening track of this mix, you know you're in for a ride. ’Dance Dance’ is an edit of an old Bollywood classic SAQIB made with Haider Uppal. Its the lush groove sets the tone for a 90-minute dance of deep-fried disco that flirts with main room prog in the most analogue way.



Hailing from Pakistan, the now Brooklyn-based DJ is an ardent student of music, an arc that includes playing heavy metal bands in Lahore on the way to studying electronic music production in New York (Rutgers University, Point Blank Music).



Today, he's signed to labels including Flying Circus and Sol Selectas alongside DJ bookings at Electric Zoo, Cityfox and The Brooklyn Mirage. Upcoming shows include supporting BLOND:ISH at Industry City in NY, which follows his recent Nino Torres remix on his own Beat in Time imprint. All signs, of course, that arc is still rising.

Featuring tracks from Maceo Plex, Nick Curly, Piemont, Rigopolar, and more, this is a lively adventure into SAQIB’s splendid yet slightly psychedelic world.

@saqibmalik

Around the turn of the millennium, Danny Bonnici, as part of Nubreed, was at the forefront of an emerging sound known as progressive breaks—a golden era in electronic music. Celebrating that, he has curated a 2-hour mix featuring tracks from Luke Chable, Nubreed, Sasha, Andy Page, and more.

Click link above for tracklist and our Top 5 Essential Progressive Breaks interview with Danny.

@dannybonnici

Hailing from Hungary, Peter Makto has been involved with dance music for over twenty years. His self-described rebellious spirit deeply resonates with the creative freedom that electronic music offers. It serves as a conduit for his self-expression, and as hinted in his Balance Q+A, it’s an approach he ties to a deeply spiritual foundation: “I believe in fate and in the laws of the universe always prevailing.” This is the energy he injects into Truesounds Music and Zenebona Records, two record labels focusing on deep, organic dance music. These labels go hand-in-hand with his releases on labels like The Soundgarden and Einmusika, with many more on the horizon. For this 90-minute Balance mix, Peter lays out 16 tracks guaranteed to stimulate states of inspiration and physical movement.

Elliot Moriarty has been enamored with dance music from a very young age, gradually transitioning from DJing at local parties to global events like ADE. Undoubtedly, much of his rise can be attributed to his breezy productions on labels like The Soundgarden. Consider the 2023 release "By My Side” (Songuara), which reached number 1 on the Beatport Organic House chart. It's a light and effervescent tune, brimming with optimism. That energy is also bristling in ‘Balance’, a track he produced exclusively for this Balance Selections mix. And with the troubling times we find ourselves in, his unabashed cheerfulness is a breath of fresh air. Featuring tracks from the likes of Guy J and Juan Deminicis, this is a deep yet sanguine selection that hooks you in from the start.