Photo by Jason Stoltzfu

Hot off the heels of his performance with Billy Strings in Vermont, Nashville, Tenn.-based singer/songwriter and guitarist Daniel Donato has announced his anticipated sophomore effort Reflector will release on Nov. 10 via Retrace Music. In celebration of the news, Donato released a bright and spirited new track titled “Lose Your Mind” and an accompanying lyric video.

Reflector marks Donato’s first-ever collection of all original material and showcases the fluid and evolving musical space he continues to carve for himself as he performs and travels on the road, sharing what he calls cosmic country. “Lose Your Mind,” the opening track and lead single, is aligned with the musician’s deep familiarity and reverence of Southern rock, bluegrass, honky-tonk and classic country and also showcases the experimental liquid psychedelic ethos driving his sound. On the hook, he sings, “It’s a long gone stretch of time, to an everlasting smile/ The first steps down the line, begins a trial/ Lose Your mind in the song, and find yourself in all that’s wrong/ It’s a long gone stretch of time, to lose your mind.”

The project seems to be the first peak on the musical journey of Donato and his bandmates–Nathan Aronowitz (keyboards/vocals), Will McGee (bass/vocals) and Noah Miller (drums and percussion)–who have been exploring since touring opened up post-pandemic are on and is lush with mindful lyrics and a positive outlook.

Notably, in 2022 Donato and his band played over 220 shows together. In 2023 the artist performed with legends including Bobby Weir & The Wolf Brothers, the aforementioned Strings and Widespread Panic. Additionally, he is set to join Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann as a member of his band Billy & The Kids for two dates in August.

Other songs soon to be released include the catchy “Hi-Country,” euphonious “Halfway In Between,” and the infectious “Til The Daylight” – each equipped with his melody-rich lyricisms. On the rest of the project, Donato lets his guitar work and his bandmate’s playing do all the talking with vivid and high-octane instrumentals “Sugar Leg Rag” and “Locomotive No.9.” The album also dips into the blues side with “Double Exposure” and explores the album format with a two-part dance track “The Desert (Pts I & II),” showing that boundaries aren’t exactly applicable to his ability.

Listen to his new track and album opener, “Lose Your Mind,” and see a full list of Daniel Donato tour dates below. Find tickets to upcoming shows here.

Daniel Donato Tour Dates

Aug. 19 – Cockeysville, MD – Hot August Music Festival 2023

Aug. 25 – Asheville, NC – Salvage Station

Aug. 26 – Montgomery, AL – 6th Annual Hog Days of Summer

Sept. 1-3 – Jackson, WY – Horseshoe Music Festival

Sept. 8-10 – Bristol, TN – Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion 2023

Sept. 16 – Asbury Park, NJ – Sea.Hear.Now Festival 2023

Sept. 21 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre

Sept. 22 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side

Sept. 23 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre

Oct. 5-8 – Pittsboro, NC – Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival 2023

Oct. 7 – Atlanta, GA – The Loft

Oct. 8 – Chattanooga, TN – The Barrelhouse Ballroom

Oct. 11 – Roanoke, VA – 5 Points Music Sanctuary

Oct. 12 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Café and Music Hall

Oct. 13 – Washington, D.C. – Pearl Street Warehouse

Oct. 15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Club Café

Oct. 18 – State College, PA – The State Theatre

Oct. 19 – Philadelphia, PA – Ardmore Music Hall

Oct. 21 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl

Oct. 22 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair

Oct. 24 – Buffalo, NY – 9th Ward

Oct. 25 – Ann Arbor, MI – Blind Pig

Oct. 26 – Holland, MI – Park Theatre

Oct. 29 – Minneapolis, MN – Amsterdam Bar and Hall

Oct. 31 – Milwaukee, WI – The Back Room at Colectivo

Nov.  1 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon

Nov.  2 – St. Louis, MO – The Old Rock House

Nov.  3 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi

Nov.  4 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom

Nov.  11 – North Charleston, SC – Holy Smokes BBQ Festival 2023