Phonat

“One of the most unique things to be released this year…a rollercoaster of genres that leaves you beaten up but begging for more” Clash

“Titting marvellous! The best dance album since Justice’s debut” Front Magazine

“Phonat celebrates the sound of now while honing a sonic vision all of his own” IDJ

“This guy F**ks with all the rules” – Norman Cook

Unique, innovative, rule breaking, genre-spanning…just a few of the plaudits that have been used to describe the works of Phonat, the seven foot mop-haired Italian who’s been catching the ears and attention of the ‘tastemaking set’.

A diverse list of DJs including Annie Mac, Annie Nightingale, Andy George & Jaymo, Rob da Bank, Tiësto, Kissy Sell Out and Pete Tong have all been championing the producer since 2008, when singles ‘Incredible Sound’, ‘Ghetto Burning’ and ‘Learn To Recycle’ marked him as one to watch. ‘Learn To Recycle’ was acclaimed as one of the most adventurous pieces of electronic music to be released in 2008 and was described as “Bohemian Rhapsody for the acid house generation”.

Now having released his highly praised debut album, ‘Phonat’, he has created a panoply of chopped up riffs swirled around murky basslines, a world where guitar-driven dancefloor fillers meet bleep-filled fantasies for fun, friendship and possibly more.

Originally from Florence, Italy, Phonat (aka Michele Balduzzi) was first spotted by MofoHifi Records on MySpace and they were so impressed with the 21 year old that the loving label bosses persuaded him to leave his parents’ idyllic country farm outside Florence and move to a bed sit in Canning Town.  Armed only with a five-year-old computer and an electric guitar, Phonat dutifully relocated to London in late 2007 and the rest, as they say, is history.

Drawing on every vein of dance music, from hip-hop to house, garage to breaks Phonat’s expert use of a vocal hook is also evident, most noticeably on the Yolanda Quartey vocalled ‘Ghetto Burning’ and ‘Set Me Free’ – where classic 80s style rock vocals sit atop a stacatto-synthed stomper. Supported by a critically acclaimed MTV playlisted video by Amsterdam based Italian artists ‘Two Things’ the track has set Phonat firmly on the map.

One of the standouts from the album, Phonat didn’t skimped on remixers with the first coming courtesy of Avicii, the latest Scandinavian house guru. Proving his pedigree, Avicii chops vocals and swirls synths to create a hands in the air Balearic bomb, early copies of which are already becoming staples in the record boxes of the more discerning DJ. Bleeps and basslines are the order of the day on High Rankin’s re-rub as the dubstep dandy leads listeners to the dancefloor, albeit down a slightly murkier back route, before Louis La Roche’s Reconstruction adds a tougher, twisted edge to complete the package

The critics loved the album and 2009 ended on a high for Phonat as remix requests – including a Phonat Mix for Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Dirtee Cash’ – continue to flood in from around the world. With an Annie Nightingale BBC Radio 1 mix completed, 2010 is looking set to be the year that sees the Phonat DJ show hit the road – expect to hear a lot more from this man in the next twelve months.

Phonat in 2009 – the word from the critics:

Jaymo and Andy George on Radio 1 (covering for Annie Mac) “My favourite song so far of 2009…it’s absolutely amazing…really beautiful, lots of wicked riffs…goes really mental!”

Boulefacetttes “Phonat’s single is great, disco-house anthem I would to hear more often!”

Circle Square Triangle “This is dope!! Love the new tracks. Would defiantly like to listen to the Phonat album.”

Noise Porn “Thnx man!! This is quality!! Phonat is definitely my favourite artist for 2009, I love Set Me Free! Cant wait for the album to drop in Holland, you got a buyer here;)!”

Believed Hype: “one of my favourite new artists”

Funky House Music: “[a] rarely heard balance of forward thinking music, funk, new wave, disco, electro, synth, guitar, and quite possibly more as this tune becomes more and more infectious with each listen.”

Sex4Ears: “a gorgeous little piece of spliced disco-synthpop”

Voulesrandom: “Once again Phonat is back with yet another heart throbbing EP of electro magic.”

Discobelle: “awesome”

This Tape is Not Sticky: “Phonat is a mythical beast capable of crafting the most majestic and soaring of dance music as well as the most creative and carelessly stylish”

For more information see the Phonat website or
Phonat on Facebook //
Phonat on Myspace