Balance Croatia 014: Rocío Portillo

Portugal-based producer Fran Garay is quietly becoming one of the underground’s most compelling voices. With releases on tastemaker labels like Balance Series, Mango Alley, and Univack, his sound balances deep emotion with sleek, club-focused production. Once a dubstep-obsessed kid recording radio hits on his mom’s phone, Garay has evolved into an artist with a clear sonic identity—shaped by mentors like Eze Arias and driven by a hunger to create music that sticks. “When I fall in love with an artist, I dive into their story,” he says—something clearly reflected in his own ever-evolving journey. On this Balance Selections podcast, Fran delivers a dense 60 minutes of progressive sounds squarely aimed at the dancefloor. Featuring tracks from Simón Vuarambon, Ric Niels, and a host of Fran’s own productions, this is the sound of an artist with a truly singular sonic identity. @frangaraymusic

With a trailblazing career spanning decades, Quivver has carved out a presence that’s unmistakably his own. Last year’s Balance Series compilation (alongside Dave Seaman) showcased an artist that is only getting more refined and compelling with each passing release. Quivver will perfom at Balance Croatia this coming August. @quivver_john_graham __________________________________________________ Balance Croatia 2025 Thu 7th Aug - Mon 11th Aug 2025 The Garden Resort, Tisno Head to www.balancecroatia.com for more info. IG: www.instagram.com/balancecroatia

Alice Iguchi, a Tokyo-born DJ now based in Brooklyn, channels a lifetime of cross-cultural influences into her hypnotic, shape-shifting sets. Since arriving in New York in 2015, she has carved out a space in the city’s underground house and techno scene, emerging as a quietly distinctive voice. Early encounters with jazz, teenage years playing guitar in Tokyo rock bands, and a deep affinity for the experimental soundscapes of Radiohead and Björk have all left their imprint on her approach. The result is a kaleidoscope of melodies, jazz-inflected rhythms, and organic percussion, woven seamlessly into sets that feel at once atmospheric and propulsive. Whether commanding the decks at the Brooklyn Mirage, Womb in Tokyo, or Berlin’s Sisyphos, Iguchi has earned a reputation for transporting dancers into her richly textured sonic world. On this Balance Selections mix, she leans into dense progressive and afro-tech, crafting a moody blend of underground energy. Featuring tracks from Petar Dundov, Giovanny Aparicio, and Art of Sol, it’s a kinetic ride with a distinctive organic edge. @aliceiguchi

Around the turn of the millennium, Adam Freeland played a pivotal role in shaping the then-burgeoning breakbeat sound into a tight, forward-thinking package infused with cutting-edge futurism. Flying in from an off-the-grid lifestyle in the Mojave Desert to join us in the Mediteranean climate of Croatia, we are beyond thrilled to host this pioneering artist for an extremely rare performance. @adamfreeland ________________________________________________ Balance Croatia 2025 Thu 7th Aug - Mon 11th Aug 2025 The Garden Resort, Tisno Head to www.balancecroatia.com for more info. IG: www.instagram.com/balancecroatia

Alex Banks is a Brighton-based DJ, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his intricate yet dancefloor-driven sound, inspired by the dense electronica of artists like Jon Hopkins and Max Cooper. Blending jungle, broken beat, and dubstep rhythms with techno textures and IDM melodies, his music is defined by masterful sound design—an expertise that has made him an in-demand engineer, composing for film, TV, and global brands like Nike and Honda. His latest Impermanence EP, released on Last Night on Earth, showcases his signature style, where tense drums and euphoric melodies merge into thoughtful electronic compositions.  On this Balance Selections, the English producer flexes with an exquisite two hours of scalpel-sharp dance music. Featuring tracks from Max Cooper, Floating Points, Tinlicker and more, this is a journey worth taking. @alexbanksmusic

It’s hard to believe that Balance Music has been around for 25 years. When we first started, there was no grand plan—just a love for electronic music and a desire to share it. We never imagined that what began as a small project in Australia would grow into something that reaches people all over the world.  Later this year, we’ll mark this milestone with a huge venture as we travel to Croatia to host Balance Croatia Festival, the first-ever music festival dedicated to progressive and melodic house. This is going to be a moment 25 years in the making, and we couldn’t be more excited! Last year, to commemorate the 25 years, close friend of the label and an artist we deeply admire, Joe Miller, curated a countdown of his favourite Balance Series mix and track entries—an effort that showcased his deep connection to the label’s history. Now, as he prepares to release his new solo EP, Planet is Far Away, through Anjunadeep later this month, Joe has once again taken the time to celebrate 25 years of Balance Music with a mix that is hard to put into words. This incredible retrospective reimagines key moments from past Balance Series compilations, weaving them together in a way that feels both fresh and deeply familiar.  We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane as much as we do. @joe-miller

Niki Sadeki is a high-spirited creative driven by the diverse sounds and ideas that surround her. As the founder of Deep House Vancouver and a seasoned radio host, she explores music as a shared language, blending melodic, indie, progressive, and deep techno into woven narratives. Niki Sadeki will perfom at Balance Croatia Festival this August. @nikisadeki __________________________________________________ Balance Croatia 2025 Thu 7th Aug - Mon 11th Aug 2025 The Garden Resort, Tisno Head to www.balancecroatia.com for more info. IG: www.instagram.com/balancecroatia

Rooted in the vibrant cultural mosaic of San Francisco, Spencer Brown has emerged as a bright beacon within progressive house and techno. While navigating his academic path at Duke University, Spencer’s musical talents caught the ears of artists like Avicii and Above & Beyond, catapulting him onto a trajectory that would see his albums, Illusion of Perfection (2018) and Stream of Consciousness (2020), soar to the apex of the progressive house charts. In 2022, Spencer added his own label, diviine, alongside prestigious imprints like Bedrock, Anjunadeep, and Global Underground to his eclectic release portfolio. Spencer’s intuitive connection with the dance floor is evident through his kinetic, ever-evolving DJ sets, which infused with a resonant message of love and positivity. On this Balance Selections mix, the American showcase his emotional versatility to guide listeners through a spectrum of moods and textures. Featuring tracks and collaborations from Henry Saiz, John Digweed, Max Graham and more, this is the work of master craftsman.

From music journalism to producer/DJ, Rocío Portillo is completely immersed in the world of music. Part of a new generation of Argentinean artists making big waves, a Rocío Portillo set is filled with energetic main room progressive bombs that will ignite any dancefloor. Rocío Portillo will perfom at Balance Croatia Festival this August. @rocioportillo __________________________________________________ Balance Croatia 2025 Thu 7th Aug - Mon 11th Aug 2025 The Garden Resort, Tisno Head to www.balancecroatia.com for more info. IG: www.instagram.com/balancecroatia

From the untamed landscapes of Western Canada to iconic venues like Red Rocks and labels like Anjunadeep, it's safe to say that Simon Doty, a self-taught maestro known for his gritty analog synths and poignant melodies, has become a mainstay in progressive house playlists and a notable figure in the global scene. Simon Doty will perfom at Balance Croatia Festival this August. @simondoty __________________________________________________ Balance Croatia 2025 Thu 7th Aug - Mon 11th Aug 2025 The Garden Resort, Tisno Head to www.balancecroatia.com for more info. IG: www.instagram.com/balancecroatia