DONATA
Donata strikes the perfect balance between sophisticated indie and catchy sing-along pop.
Behind the music persona lies the Berlin-based artist Donata, who, after studying vocals at the Conservatory of Music in Amsterdam and early projects in the Netherlands with artists including Herman van Veen, founded the award-winning indie-pop duo NOSOYO in 2017 (until 2020), with whom she won, among other accolades, the VIA VUT Award for ‘Best Newcomer Band’ and the Listen to Berlin Award.
She has been pursuing a solo career since 2023: her debut album Imaginary Land (Humming Records) was released in 2023, followed by Alchemy (self-released) in 2024. The EP Strength is set to be released by Glitterhouse Records in 2026.
With Alchemy in particular, Donata established herself around the genre boundaries between emotionally charged indie-folk, alternative and excellently produced streaming and radio pop. Her music combines intimate, rich, English-language lyrics with powerful band arrangements and stylistically moves between indie aesthetics and accessible pop production. Themes such as self-discovery, healing and personal transformation characterise her work and give it a distinct emotional signature.
In this sense, „Strength“ can almost be thought of as a conceptual work – the EP traces a shift in perspective across five tracks: “In Retrospect” looks back, but the content evolves and the perspective shifts; “Irrational”, finally, looks ahead – “Strength” is the emotional core of this movement. The EP is characterised by an expanded sound and was recorded live with a band at Funkhaus Berlin to capture the intensity of her stage performances into the studio context.Personal experiences and life-changing events subtly shape the artistic work, both live and otherwise, and are reflected in particular in the special closeness to the audience and a distinct emotional expression. Donata has performed as support for CATT and Wintersleep, amongst others, and has undertaken extensive solo tours in 2023. She will also be playing a few dates in Germany in autumn 2026, timed to coincide with the EP release.
Management: antonio@heartfeltmanagement.com
Publishing: Kick The Flame Publishing
Label: Glitterhouse Records
PR: aenne@loudherpr.com (Print/Online) mail@achimlaunert.com (radio)
Donata’s debut Imaginary Land was released on Humming Records in May 19th 2023. The album (11 songs, plus a remix by Robot Koch and rework by Meredi was fully written and produced by Donata with a home studio set-up of keyboard, guitar, microphone, loudspeakers and interface in a house by the sea. These were then co-produced and mixed by Gunnar Örn Tynes of the Icelandic band múm, who also worked on award-winning soundtracks such as Joker and Chernobyl.
The string arrangements and recordings were created by the Icelandic composer Viktor Orri Árnason, who has worked with Björk, Ólafur Arnalds, Jóhan Jóhannsson and many more.
Jasja J. Offermans (from the band Indian Askin) played bass.
Wouter Rentema (Bonaparte) and Magnús Trygvason Eliassen added drums and percussion.
Mastering was done by Grammy nominated Mastering Engineer Zino Mikorey (Nils Frahm, Ólafur Arnalds).
The album got airplay on FluxFM (album feature), Deutschlandfunk Nova, WDR4, WDR Cosmo, NDR Blue, RBB radio eins (album feature), N-Joy, Kölncampus 100.0, ahoy radio.
Playlist Features on hoers.de, soundkartell, Minutenmusik, Flutwelle, dotted note
Album Features on Auf die Ohren, Pretty in Noise, JuicyUnderground
Youtube features on Indie Folk Central, Alex Rainbird, Blogoteque
Playlist Features (Spotify): Indie Brandneu, Equal GSA, Indie Weihnacht
Playlist Features (Apple Music): Filtr New Music Weekly
2024
Alchemy, Donata’s second full LP, was self-released on April 26 2024. It started with the release of the single A Song About Being in Love which was selected as part of the Listen To Berlin Compilation 23/24. The album singles have been featured on radio stations like FluxFM and RadioFritz in Berlin, and also featured of many relevant playlist curators like AlexRainBirdMusic and Indie Folk Central. Created against the backdrop of Berlin's vibrant music scene, the album features hitmaker co-writer and producer Derek D. Boom (on the track Moon Will Fall) and an ensemble of collaborators, including Wouter Rentema (Façade, Lemonade), Damian Press (A Song About Being in Love, All There is to Do), featuring Jasja J. Offermans on bass and Mischa Porte on drums. Donata’s brother, Daniel Kramarz, is also involved in the mixing several songs of the album.
“Released under her own label, Donata’s second record of folk will break your heart and put it back together again.”
★ ★ ★ ★ — The Berliner
“The process of this album has been very different compared to the first album, much more playful and spontaneous. I have produced even more by myself, challenging myself to try out new ways of working - for example Long Time has been recorded live (guitar & vocals at the same time without click or anything else).”
Donata
2026
Strength EP will be out on November 13th 2026
Singles:
17.7. In Retrospect
11.9. Irrational
23.10. Strength
Released on Glitterhouse Records.
To be human is to live and experience. Strength is growing through these experiences. And music is the gift of shaping beauty from life.
Donata’s new EP “Strength” blends pop, indie and atmospheric songwriting into catchy, chorus-driven tracks with real replay value. Anyone familiar with Donata’s earlier work (with NOSOYO) will recognise her love of organic sounds, precise arrangements and melodic hooks, but “Strength” is more mature, stripped-back and self-assured. Warm piano and bass sounds, dry drums, analogue textures and expansive vocal arrangements. At times, its serenity and groove are reminiscent of Morcheeba; at others, the intimate directness of Feist or the atmospheric vastness of Bon Iver.
The EP tells the story of a journey: from a feeling of being stuck to a newfound sense of agency.
The decision to develop the EP in collaboration with a band and record it live in the studio shaped the sound. Instead of polished individual tracks, you hear musicians responding to one another; the arrangements are focused and immediate. The contributors include bassist Jasja Offermans, keyboardist Aron Ottignon, drummer Tobias Humble and British composer Simon Goff, who added string and synthesiser arrangements to selected tracks. Following the release of albums as a solo artist and several years of considerable freedom but also isolation in the creative process, the return to live recordings with fellow musicians was not only an aesthetic decision, but also a return to a form of collective experience that she describes as essential to her work. A recurring theme in this context concerns responsibility – not only in a personal sense, but also in a structural one. Artistic processes are never detached from their conditions – the music industry, one’s social role, our affiliations... We owe responsibility, protection and fairness to our fellow human beings, but always to our own work and to ourselves as well. On “Strength”, there are no coincidences, only choices. It is a personal work with a distinct signature characterised by technical precision, emotional clarity and an engaging sense of calm.
Live
Donata performed over 30 shows in 2022 as support for Josh Savage (May/June) and CATT (Nov/Dec) in GSA.
The Alchemy Tour in 2024 started in Italy and ended in Berlin, with her first headline release show at Prachtwerk. She also played Sofar Sounds Berlin and has been part of the Listen To Berlin Showcases, and of Most Wanted Music: Live 2024.
In 2026 Donata played as support for the Wintersleep German tour in April. Her Strength Release Show is scheduled in November 12th 2026.
Next dates:
Get in touch
Management (worldwide): antonio@heartfeltmanagement.com
Publishing: annika@kicktheflame.com