Belta

This episode of Belta is with Danny Howard. Originally from the North West, he's most widely known for heading up Friday nights on BBC Radio 1. We spoke about that, but also all sorts beyond this: from growing up in the North West, how he stays literally sane whilst spinning so many plates (did I mention he also runs a label?), the responsibility of a tastemaker and... Nando's black cards. :D There's also a guest question from a familiar face to both Belta and Danny... Find Danny online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with La La. She’s a sensational DJ, producer and label head from Scotland. It feels really full circle getting her onto Belta, as it’s nearly three years since I wrote a little piece on her in DJ Mag. We spoke about so much: from her homeland of Scotland - it’s Belta, after all - to navigating a music career as a woman, rebelling against pressure, doing you and growing organically… AND her two labels and stellar productions. Find La La online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Rinzen. The half-North American, half-Japanese producer and DJ has just shared his new album ‘Bend To The Light’ curated on the background of a really fun, sci-fi and futuristic concept, and hopped on to Belta to chat to me all things working with some massive labels, his obsession with creative and workflow inspiration and making the transition from a music journalist to full-time producer and DJ. Find Rinzen online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Alan Dixon. He’s originally from the North East - from good old Darlington - and is a cracking DJ, producer and labelowner who creates proper uplifting, anthemic and feel-good tracks. He's worked with some of the top names in the business including Defected/Glitterbox, Three Six Zero and Keinemusik. This was a super fun episode in which we spoke about all sorts – from building a career in the music industry, to signing to labels, to - of course - our shared home roots and working in music whilst based up north. Find Alan online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Bklava. The Lebanese-Northern Irish artist is a stellar musician, vocalist and DJ, recently announcing a long-awaited mixtape. They’re also founder of label, party, and overall banging platform Spin Sugar, which intends to promote female and non-binary artists with the aim to influence young women to join the music industry and close the gender gap. In this episode, we spoke about her independence as an artist and her ongoing creative evolution, being a listener versus a DJ, her Lebanese and Irish heritage, and how her now-label Spin Suga all roots in academia. Find Bklava online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Habgud. He’s a producer and DJ from Nottingham and has recently relocated to Manchester. Often found playing a variety of techno and percussive soundscapes, Habgud has played at clubs including The White Hotel and Tresor and also runs label Burned At Both Ends. He’s also just kicked off a new project; but more on that when you listen! In this episode we discussed what it’s like to run a vinyl-only record label in 2024 – and the realities of running a label more broadly - expectation vs reality of touring (inclusive of a week stuck in Europe) and his relocation to Manchester, amongst plenty more. Find Habgud online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Cicely. Originally from a town not far from Newcastle, she is a multifaceted creative and an exceptional photographer and DJ, who now bases herself in London. She lives by the phrase ‘shy bairns get nout’, and I do the exact same, so with that alone I knew she had to come on for a chat... We covered SO much in this episode including her photography and music career, her keenness to spotlight working class creatives, mental health, and just going for it. We also mentioned her recent accidental meeting with going viral…! Find Cicely online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with founder and director of PR agency Electric Shores Publicity and artist manager Jenn Nimmo-Smith. Catching up with Jenn the week a lot of the music industry rose from their festive break-induced slumber, we touched on all sorts: from her various job roles, the reality of working for yourself, funny (albeit tedious!) memories from her vast experience in music, and her decision to move back to her home of Glasgow. Find Jenn's Electric Shores online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta - the first for 2024, hello! - is with Salford's Ghoulish. A lad born and bred in the North West, he’s just released his debut EP ‘Weekends Goodwill’ via Skream’s IFEEL label and has played some huge gigs lately, including fabric and Warehouse Project. We covered heaps in this episode: of course, we spoke about his beloved Salford, as well as the current UK clubbing landscape more broadly. We also touched on his new massive EP, bringing his parents to the rave and the big old discourse on imposter syndrome. Find Ghoulish online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Nyra. Originally from Sheffield - and with odes to the steel city throughout his artistry - he’s a DJ, producer and labelhead, who is unapologetically doing things on his own terms. We spoke about his iconic imprint Canoe as it celebrates its 20th release, his residency at Adonis, and his love for his home of Sheffield. We also spoke about changes in the music industry over the years, his break from music to become a professional cyclist, and get reflective. Find Nyra online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Jacklyn. From Newcastle, she is a stellar techno DJ, having played at major clubs including Tresor Berlin and De School in Amsterdam. This episode covers a real mix, from the healing properties of music and its power to express, making people feel something with music, and her international upbringing and developing her career in Newcastle. Find Jacklyn online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Isle of Skye-via-Glasgow's Ros T. He’s a producer and DJ who has gone from strength to strength, forming his sonic identity as a concoction of house, disco, indie, soul and more. In this episode, we spoke about the rich music culture in the Isle of Skye, music as a consistent source of reliance and the importance of openness when it comes to consuming music, too – amongst plenty more. Find Ros T online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Jordan Nocturne, from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He is an exceptional producer and DJ, with the two very much ingrained into his DNA. We spoke about those formative days of his career, the importance of DIY culture - and withstanding cliquiness - as well as his party The Night Institute. In prime Belta fashion, we went through some tracks he’s loving right now, and I got a guided tour of Belfast. Find Jordan online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Rory Masson, based up in Aberdeen, Scotland. He's an industry head in electronic music, founding RARE Club - which runs weekly parties across Scotland's most loved venues including Tunnels, Le Cheetah, Sub Club and SWG3 - and co-directing Cultivate Festival, the North East of Scotland's biggest electronic music festival. He cut his teeth back in the day throwing infamous house parties and afters in his Aberdeen student house, and to this day still throws parties which originate from a place of passion. In this episode, we spoke about a range of topics, including industry perspectives on some of the most relevant topics in electronic music right now, his renowned afterparty roots and DIY culture. He gave some insightful knowledge into events management, too; it's certainly a must-listen for budding, but also established, promoters alike. Rory also shared his ultimate night out in Scotland with me, and as I write this, am booking the next train to get up there for a dance... Find Rory online here and Cultivate Festival online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with Manchester-based artist Samuel Kerridge. Musically, he takes a rather post-punk approach to techno, and has done for over a decade. What with becoming an integral part of Regis’s iconic Downwards imprint which marries broken techno with snarling metal-influenced punk, he’s also released seven EPs and five albums. In this episode, we spoke about what Samuel likes to refer to as the 'no nonsense north', his hybrid DJ sets, authenticity in music and the importance of having a variety of outlets to prioritise yourself. There’s heaps more in there too; it’s a real packed episode. Find Samuel online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with the Scottish man of the moment, Ewan McVicar. His Ministry of Sound cut 'Groove Thang' is taking summertime dancefloors by storm, with residencies announced in both Glasgow and Newcastle. What with a Rinse FM and BBC Radio 1 residency, selling out shows left, right, and centre plus his own festival — he's got a fair bit going on. We also really got to know the real Ewan; it's a bumper episode. Find Ewan online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta is with the boys behind Aberdeen-born, now Glasgow-based, DJ and production duo t e s t p r e s s. We spoke about their immense Boiler Room - and its crowd - their love for rap, eurodance and trance, upcoming single ‘U’ and of course, their beloved Scotland. Look no further, these lads have your next night out in Glasgow or Aberdeen sorted... Find t e s t p r e s s online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

In this episode, I spoke to the brilliant Ammara. She’s based in London, but her first release was on northern label Trick, so I thought it would be fun to have her on for a chat about that process of breaking through – alongside heaps of other things, of course! Besides her production work - and new single with Ministry of Sound - we spoke about self-expression through fashion, dealing with misogyny, and her favourite dancefloor moments. Find Ammara online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

Today's episode of Belta is with Liverpool-based Sophia Violet. She's a DJ and producer in her own right, and also 1/4 of popular group Girls Don't Sync. We spoke about her crazy last few months (and those upcoming), maintaining a work-life balance - and doing so with Type 1 Diabetes - and the nightlife of her beloved Liverpool. We also spoke about wild crowd moments, her forthcoming productions and how music is quite literally in her DNA! You can find Sophia online here. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre

This episode of Belta speaks to North-East based Man Power, realname Geoff Kirkwood. He’s a bit of a legend up in the region, working under the Man Power alias, alongside Bed Wetter and MPX. In this episode, we spoke about accessibility within electronic music spaces, his plethora of projects, platforming the North East and doing music for the true love of it – amongst plenty more. Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram. Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre