Hot Picks: Balanka Shares 10 House Records That Formed His Musical Persona
- Undrtone Blog
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
Brazilian producer Balanka continues his rise with his debut on Jamie Jones' Hot Creations, arriving with the two-track EP 'F To This Beat'. Built around rolling grooves, analogue textures and club-ready energy, the release marks another milestone for a producer who has steadily gained support from the likes of Marco Carola and Michael Bibi while building an impressive catalogue across some of house music's most respected labels.
To celebrate the release, Balanka shares ten records that have helped shape his journey as both a producer and DJ.
"This selection of tracks reflects so much of what shaped me as a producer. Some of them take me back to unforgettable moments on dancefloors, in clubs and at festivals, while others became part of deeply personal moments that I shared only with myself. Somehow, every one of these records left a mark on me and connected with something deeper inside."
Lee Foss, Detlef & Anabel Englund – Thunder And Lightning
"The energy of this track made me realise that groove and depth can coexist. The vocal and melodic elements have always been a huge source of inspiration for me."
Ramin Rezaie – Silky
"This track has such a hypnotic, deep energy. I love how syncopated the bassline is, and it never loses its magic no matter how many times I hear it."
PAX & Gorgon City – Alive
"This one reminds me of a moment when the scene felt like it was entering a new chapter. The deep sound design from PAX and Gorgon City always takes me back to my first years on the dancefloor."
Olene Kadar feat. D-Low – Little Miss Dynamite
"Bringing in a true classic, 'Little Miss Dynamite' is one of the tracks that shaped my production style the most. The seductive bassline and vocal capture everything I love about old-school, club-focused house music."
Ben Sterling – Apathetic Behaviour
"This track gave me production ideas that I still use today, from the 808 drums to the way the arrangement keeps the dancefloor moving. And on top of that, it's still a secret weapon."
Gorgon City feat. Katy Menditta – Imagination
"Gorgon City have been one of my biggest inspirations since the beginning. This classic showed me that it's possible to bring real emotion into groove-driven house music without losing the energy."
Ben Sterling feat. Caitlyn Scarlett – Don't Truss
"I'm always drawn to tracks with a psychedelic, deep atmosphere and an underground house aesthetic, and this one from Ben is the perfect example."
Proudly People – Bring Back
"Proudly People were a huge inspiration when I first started producing. To me, they're masters of groove. They taught me how to make music that's deeply danceable, and out of all their tracks, this has always been my favourite."
Joe Vanditti & Mene – Antava
"Mene and Joe Vanditti taught me a lot about building authentic grooves, and 'Antava' is probably the best example of that. The way the vocal locks into the beat is just perfect."
Paul C – Diamond Dogs
"'Diamond Dogs' is one of my all-time favourite tracks to play. It's completely timeless, and every time I drop it the dancefloor reacts in the best way. It's a true secret weapon."
Balanka's selections perfectly reflect the groove-first philosophy behind 'F To This Beat'. Blending timeless house classics with modern underground weapons, each record has played a role in shaping the Brazilian's production style, where hypnotic rhythms, infectious basslines and subtle emotion combine to create records designed for the dancefloor.
Balanka
