40 episodes

Belta goes behind the scenes with DJs, producers and folk in the electronic music scene - totally unfiltered. There’s a catch, though: they’re all from, or based in, the north. This might be the north of their country, region or city, but each guest is tied by this common thread. Get comfortable and listen to some of the people in the industry smashing it right now: discover a thing or two about the north in the process, and get to know those you thought you once knew as Belta dives deep into our guests' lives. Shy bairns get nowt, after all…

Belta Niamh Ingram

    • Music

Belta goes behind the scenes with DJs, producers and folk in the electronic music scene - totally unfiltered. There’s a catch, though: they’re all from, or based in, the north. This might be the north of their country, region or city, but each guest is tied by this common thread. Get comfortable and listen to some of the people in the industry smashing it right now: discover a thing or two about the north in the process, and get to know those you thought you once knew as Belta dives deep into our guests' lives. Shy bairns get nowt, after all…

    Danny Howard on growing up in the North West, moving back up north and his BBC Radio 1 Dance show

    Danny Howard on growing up in the North West, moving back up north and his BBC Radio 1 Dance show

    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

    • 40 min
    La La on growing organically, misogyny in club culture and giving other people their flowers

    La La on growing organically, misogyny in club culture and giving other people their flowers

    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

    • 48 min
    Rinzen on the transition from music journalism to being a full-time artist, dealing with creative blocks and his love for sci-fi

    Rinzen on the transition from music journalism to being a full-time artist, dealing with creative blocks and his love for sci-fi

    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

    • 42 min
    Alan Dixon on leaving the North, working with top record labels and the value of putting in the work

    Alan Dixon on leaving the North, working with top record labels and the value of putting in the work

    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

    • 47 min
    Bklava on her artistic freedom, new mixtape, and relationship with Irish club culture

    Bklava on her artistic freedom, new mixtape, and relationship with Irish club culture

    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

    • 54 min
    Habgud on how to start a record label, techno with a "serious unseriousness" and getting stranded in Europe

    Habgud on how to start a record label, techno with a "serious unseriousness" and getting stranded in Europe

    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

    • 51 min

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