Donzii inhabit an aural space that’s uniquely theirs. Drawing from a vast variety of vintage influences, the Miami-based outfit finds their best selves in post-punk melancholy and funk/disco sultriness, a sonic concoction that results in lively, nostalgic records with a high degree of coolness to them. ‘curveball’ is the strongest evidence of that, with Donzii continuing their slow transition into dance-oriented territories.
Not to worry, it’s all incredibly retro and wondrous. Threading the fine line between icy new wave and lo-fi bedroom pop, Donzii end up crafting a surprisingly authentic piece. It honestly could have been made in the early ‘80s. In fact, we’d probably believe it if we were told so. That said, there’s a strong Italo disco component in it, perhaps more than people might realise (take, for instance, B.W.H., among others).
Whichever way you look at it, there’s no doubt that ‘curveball’ draws from a large list of influences, which themselves draw from another big list of influences. Meaning, it’s bound to resonate with people in many colourful ways. For us, ‘curveball’ represents a jump into late ‘70s, early ‘80s euphoria, a time when the mainstream sound of that decade wasn’t fully formed yet. Donzii’s genius lies in taking all that goodness and framing it into a leftfield, contemporary livery, a record that’s equally effective as a dance companion or as a quirky listening exercise.
As the group eloquently explain: “This song was recorded in Gainesville, FL, at Pulp Arts Studio in 2024. It started with a pre-programmed beat from an Italian keyboard called the Bontempi. The song captures late summer humidity, moonlit nights, oak trees with swaying Spanish moss, and an impossible romance that existed in the realm of dreams.”
Recommended! Discover ‘curveball’ on Spotify:
