Belta Podcast

Today's episode of Belta is with producer and DJ Effy. Originally from the North West - near Blackpool - and now based in London, she is truly one of a kind in the high energy, emotionally driven music she delivers through her productions and how this translates onto the dancefloor  We spoke about her upbringing in the North West, music production as a cathartic form of art and the issue of g...

Today's episode of Belta is with vocalist, producer and DJ lau.ra. Originally from the midlands, her parents are from good old Middlesbrough, so I’m super keen to chat a bit about her experiences up here. I sat down with Laura and besides this neck of the woods, we spoke about THAT BBC essential mix, the demands of social media in a modern day and of course got right into chatting all about p...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with Azzecca. Based in Chicago, North America, she’s garnering heaps of critical support and success with her releases which effortlessly blend house and techno whilst also running women-friendly party Dirty Disco. We spoke about her ‘bad bitch, sad bitch’ musical flow, her love for rock music, weirdest moments she’s experienced whilst playing a set and she...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with Matt Guy. Matt shot into the psyche of many a music journalist, broadcaster and clubber through his massive track ‘Set My Mind Free’, and his production output is showing no signs of slowing down. I sat down with Matt and we spoke about everything: from crying on the dancefloor (for good reasons, of course) to his love for 90s rave sound and how this t...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with journalist Aneesa Ahmed. Aneesa is a freelance journalist, having worked at Mixmag for over a year and is now based in Sheffield whilst studying a masters degree in journalism. She’s written for NME, done plenty for Mixmag (including a cover story) and is part of The Guardian’s Scott Trust Scheme. We spoke about the nitty gritty ins-and-outs of being a...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with ABSOLUTE.. Although based down South, half of his family are Scottish, and this guy has a special love for the place, its people and jaw-dropping scenery. We spoke about the power and cathartic energy that music can provide, finding his people in a sleepy coastal town (and how to find yours), plus how he’s levelling up his artistry in the most unique w...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with Schak. A North East lad through and through, the producer and DJ has hit the ground running with mega track 'Moving All Around'. Yet whilst on the surface the success has been astronomical, the years of graft, patience and hard work he's put into his craft is clear as we talk throughout the episode.  We spoke about the togetherness felt...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with Arielle Free. A true pocket rocket from Scotland, Arielle can be heard across the BBC Radio 1 airwaves, bouncing around the decks whilst playing a mega DJ set, or found running her 'Free Your Mind' brand. She's got it all going on, and is a true self-proclaimed music nerd and proud. Catching up with Arielle in the final episode of Belta...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with KUBA. Based in Manchester, he’s a truly innovative soul and extremely talented producer and vocalist who embodies creativity in all of his endeavours and escapades. Catching up with KUBA days before his new single ‘NY2003’ dropped, we ended up having a really insightful chat about creativity as a concept, the sense of overwhelm you can feel as a new ar...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with Lydia Laws. Based in Whitley Bay in the North East, she's a music publicist and is founder of the immensely successful Lydia Laws PR, having with clients such as Sasha and Last Night On Earth, Blond:ish, Trick label, and Virgin EMI records to name a few.  Catching up with Lydia following her return from Amsterdam Dance Event, we spoke about what h...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with Avision. Based in North America, more specifically New York, he’s a DJ and producer who plays techno-centric music although isn’t afraid to dabble in a variety of sounds to suit his crowd’s needs. For the first episode back after a short break, we spoke about feeling pigeonholed as an artist, why open mindedness is so important in music and his love an...

The final episode of Belta Season 1 sees Sarah Story get involved. We chatted about first nights out, the bright lights of Middlesbrough, and concocted our own playlist to welcome summer. Sarah has progressed from smaller stations to hosting the Future Dance show on BBC Radio 1, and simultaneously DJs, having been a resident at Warehouse Project in 2021. She gave plenty of wisdom, and great nugget...

This episode of Belta is in conversation with UKG and bass producer and DJ, Sammy Virji.  Pretty much an adopted northerner, we discussed making it onto the FIFA soundtrack, creating DIY Instagram filters, and how to balance life on the road as a DJ - an equal life is a good life, friends… You can follow Sammy on Instagram @sammyvirji to keep up with what he’s got going on. Find Belta online at @b...

In this episode I spoke to Kintra, which consists of twin sisters Frankie and Jozette. Based between Glasgow and Newcastle, the pair are originally from Dundee in Scotland and are rapidly garnering a name for themselves with their unique sets in which they incorporate Jozette’s violin playing into the mix. We recorded this back in January and were still buzzing from the return of clubs in Scotland...

The fourth episode of Belta sees Solardo join Niamh for a chat, which was recorded whilst the lads were on a brief touring break. They discussed all sorts: from how to get guestlist for life, to their production process, to how to *really* get your music signed. Spoiler: it’s wild. Follow Solardo online at @solardosound Find Belta online at @beltamedia and Niamh at @n_iamhingram . Music: ‘Ascent’...

For the second episode of Belta, I spoke to producer and DJ Melé. The Liverpool born-and-based artist sat down to chat for an hour before he jets off to travel and play across the world. We spoke about spotting celebrities in the crowd wearing cowboy hats, who is *actually* going to win the league and playing football in Beverly Hills with some particularly famous faces. You can follow Melé on Ins...

For the second episode of Belta, I spoke to producer and DJ Meg Ward. Based between Leeds now, she did a stint in Newcastle and her name is cropping up across massive festival and event lineups such as Annie Mac’s Lost and Found and Boardmasters. We spoke about tearing up the LS6 basement parties, had a brief geography lesson (seriously), playing a DJ set when all the crowd wants is Pop Smoke and...

Gracie T is a secondary school English teacher by day, and DJ by night (or, whenever they're not in a classroom).   Currently based in Sheffield having grown up in a small town in the North East, she's a founding member of collectives The Beatriarchy - a platform for underrepresented artists - and Daytimers, a collective of selectors and producers of South Asian heritage who aim to showc...

Belta is a new audio series, where host Niamh Ingram chats to the people in the electronic music sector smashing it right now from the north. Each episode is no standard interview: Belta will dig deep and go, unfiltered, behind the scenes of what you see (and hear) day-to-day. - Belta is hosted, produced and coordinated by Niamh Ingram Music: Music: ‘Ascent’ by Metre Find Belta online at @beltamed...