Alex Donofrio Turns Reflection into Sound on “Running In Circles”

Alex Donofrio returns with “Running In Circles” a progressive vocal trance release that blends early-2000s nostalgia with a more modern, introspective sound.

Based in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the Italian-American producer and DJ has built his identity around warm, cinematic electronic music, moving between trance, progressive house, organic house and balearic chillout. With “Running In Circles,” he channels that wide emotional palette into a track about awareness, release and the freedom of no longer chasing what is not meant for us.

From Trance Nostalgia to Personal Expression

The song reflects on the feeling of being caught in repetitive patterns: pursuing people, places or goals that do not truly align, while mistaking constant movement for progress. Instead of turning that idea into something heavy, Donofrio translates it into a slow-burning and uplifting production, where melody, vocals and atmosphere gradually open into a reflective trance journey.

The track also carries a clear connection to Donofrio’s first encounter with electronic music. At seventeen, while playing in a rock band, he discovered A State of Trance on DI.FM during Armin van Buuren’s ASOT 200 era — a moment that introduced him not only to trance, but also to techno, drum & bass, chillout and ambient music.

That influence is present in “Running In Circles,” but not as simple nostalgia. The record takes the emotional essence of early vocal trance and reshapes it with a slower, more current and personal approach. Session vocals by Christina Rotondo add a warm human layer, supporting the track’s message without overpowering its hypnotic progression.

Building a Career Around Connection

Since emerging in 2020, Donofrio has released music on respected independent labels including 3rd Avenue, Stripped Recordings, Massive Harmony Records, Lake Underground Recordings, Loot Recordings and M-Sol Records. His sound continues to reflect a life shaped by movement, travel, nature and community — from the road and the ocean to the dancefloor and the quiet moments in between.

With “Running In Circles,” Alex Donofrio offers more than a progressive vocal trance track. He delivers a personal reminder that sometimes growth begins when we stop chasing, step outside the loop and reconnect with what truly feels aligned.

Listen to “Running In Circles”

For fans of progressive trance, vocal trance and melodic electronic music with real emotional depth, “Running In Circles” is a release worth spending time with.