Recently we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of a very special Balance release: Balance 025 mixed by Danny Tenaglia…
Few claim a deeper understanding of electronic music than Danny Tenaglia. He began his journey in 1979, drawing inspiration from Larry Levan’s legendary sets at Paradise Garage, a cornerstone of club culture. Since then, Tenaglia’s residencies at Twilo and Tunnel, his iconic mix compilations, and his marathon 12-hour sets at the Miami Music Conference have become the stuff of legend, solidifying him as a vital figure in global electronic music.
Danny represents more than just music. With his mantra, “Be Yourself,” he champions equality and encourages everyone to embrace their individuality, live authentically, and celebrate who they are without fear of judgment. He is as much a cultural icon as he is a musical one.
When he announced his retirement in 2012, the music community reacted with shock. However, Danny clarified it was just a social media misunderstanding—he needed a break, not an exit.
“I said in my post on Facebook that I was ‘resigning,’ not ‘retiring,’ but everyone took it the wrong way. I never stopped working. I finished all my booked gigs and just took a break from international bookings the following year.”
We felt honoured when, upon his return, Danny agreed to curate a Balance mix. The news sparked excitement, but his decision to deliver a two-disc techno mix—a departure from his signature tribal and house sound—surprised everyone.
But true to his mantra, Danny embraced change. Inspired by the music he played at Berlin’s Panorama Bar and Berghain, he felt creatively energized and saw Balance as the perfect platform for his evolution.
“Balance, to me, is a respected label. I get a lot of offers for CD compilations, and I’m always tempted. But with Balance, I said yes because I liked what they stood for.”
For Danny, music is the answer—his way of breaking boundaries and inspiring others to embrace their true selves. Danny chooses to live authentically and follow his creative instinct without fear – and he chose our platform to express that. For that, we are forever grateful.
Be yourself.
