Dance music continues to take off from Northern Ireland

A growing number of dance and electronic music acts from Northern Ireland have been reaching international audiences in recent years

On a small street in north Belfast there is a woodshed shaking with the sound of techno trance.

This backyard studio might appear modest but it is the epicentre of a remarkable, and unlikely, musical journey.

Curtis Lagan and David McCoubrey learned to mix tracks and produce music while pupils at Belfast Boys' Model.

Their free periods were spent in the school's music room.

The duo - better known as Symmetrik - formed in 2019.

Last year, they signed with Atlantic Records.

They are the latest DJs and producers from Northern Ireland to make a splash in the dance music world.

A UK-wide tour has seen their fanbase grow beyond their home city. Next up is a busy summer schedule set to take them around Europe.

Symmetrik are set to tour across Europe this summer

While Symmetrik's social media suggests they are living a non-stop party, the guys are quick to stress this is not the case.

The pair said they do not have many days off. The vast majority of their time is spent in their home studio producing music.

"Back in the day it would have just been DJing and mixing tracks but with social media we need to perfect our content, make your own music, and make it sound as original as possible," said Curtis.

"There's so much out there these days, you need to stand out."

They, and others from Northern Ireland, are doing a very good job of that.

Thousands attend bespoke dance music festivals, such as Audio Visual Arts (AVA), annually in Northern Ireland

So why has dance music seemingly struck such a chord with so many young people in Northern Ireland again?

David said a big factor could be that the genre provides a shared space for people from all backgrounds.

"Whenever people come together, they club, they're united as one. There's something special about it [the dance music scene] here," he explained.

Dance music is a safe place - Holly Lester

The village of Hamiltonsbawn in County Armagh is not famed for its dance music scene. But it did produce a dynamic and acclaimed DJ called Holly Lester.

She began learning to beat match house records aged 14 and knew instantly she was hooked, describing dance music as a "safe place".

Holly said it was about her and others finding their "non-blood family".

Plenty of success has since followed. Holly has been a DJ internationally for a number of years, but, after a period living away, she has settled back in Northern Ireland where her focus remains on the local nightlife industry.

It is one, she said, that is not ideal for budding DJs and producers.

Holly Lester started to learn how to beat match aged 14

Holly is a co-founder of Free the Night, a non-profit organisation aimed at boosting the night-time economy.

"There is an incredible amount of talent from Northern Ireland, for such a small place," she said, adding the challenges are wide-reaching..

"The way the licencing system operates in this country, to the lack of transport infrastructure at night, to the lack of venue spaces, to the lack of funding. Just a general lack of understanding."

'Making it in Ibiza was the best move'

There is an understanding that, generally, many DJs from Northern Ireland tend to leave to pursue their careers.

Like Holly, another dance music talent who decided to relocate back home is Strabane native, Loéca.

After 15 years living in Ibiza and England, she has recently returned to the north west.

"Leaving was a big part of my career. Making it in Ibiza was the best move and the best route for me to have made it," she said.

Loéca says it is much harder to start a dance night in Northern Ireland

Loéca remains signed to Defected Records - one of the biggest labels in dance music. She still DJs around the world but also has plans for make her mark locally.

"Opportunities are quite limited here so I personally want to get involved with creating my own night," she said.

She explained this would be "to shine talent on people from here and then smaller talent from all around the world".

Loéca concedes that it's much tougher to start a regular dance night in Northern Ireland because of the smaller customer base, but her optimism remains undented.

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Northern Ireland artists have the global dance music scene well covered.

The challenge now is turning that international success into an increasingly supportive and sustainable movement for the next generation of local DJs.