The sophomore set from alt-country up-and-comer Daniel Donato, called Reflector, is a colorful collection of songs that are brimming with lush textures and shimmering guitars. From the vibrant opening bars of the song “Lose Your Mind” to the closing, near 6-minute opus of “Dance in the Desert Pt. 2,” Donato leaves his musical blueprint all over this record that showcases his unmistakable talent. The Nashville-based singer/songwriter describes his new record as “Cosmic Country” and it fits well within the same realm of artists like The Lumineers, Lord Huron, and the crisp ,country twang of Zac Brown Brand. When speaking on his new LP, Donato shared, “I think ‘Cosmic Country’ is a tale as old as time, really. It’s yin and yang in a musical form. It’s three chords and the truth, and then on the other side it’s exploration and bravery. I really went through a lot of years of grinding, and still am, to achieve this sound which is a vehicle for my personality, and the personality is a vehicle for my soul. So (Reflector) is more that than any other record I ever put out.” Daniel Donato is quickly climbing the ladder of notoriety on Reflector.
Other standouts like “High Country” and “Dance in the Desert” highlight Donato’s unique ability to tell stories using just his voice and guitar to take the listener on a thrilling ride into the cosmos. The bass groove of “Double Exposure” accentuates Donato’s vocal range and ability to turn the track on its head at the drop of a tasty guitar riff. My personal favorite in the set, “Halfway in Between” is a great pop/country song about being in the middle of your own thoughts, and I connected with the lyrics.
The middle section of the LP never sags under its own weight, with the Bluegrass-esque “Till The Daylight,” the raucous electric guitar-driven “Sugarleg,” and the campfire groove of “Hard To Tell” is bound to make you tap your feet along to the beat. Daniel Donato is basically showing off when you get to “Loco #9,” a song that conveys his brilliance as a songwriter and performer. Other late tracks like “Weathervane” continue to tell vivid stories through Donato’s colorful guitar parts, and mark an artist willing to step directly into the spotlight to make an impact on the music scene.