Bontan

Northern percussion with global reach

The pulse of Bontan is recognized by a tense and organic form of house: raw percussion, hypnotic melodies, and acid details that have moved from UK booths to major international stages. Born and raised in Liverpool, he has turned that combination of club energy, British roots, and global sensibility into a unique identity within the underground house circuit, with a language that connects tech house, afro house, and increasingly melodic songwriting.

Basements, Southport, and the leap to Beatport

His journey began to take shape as a resident in 2011, in intimate Southport venues, before paving the way alongside names like Masters At Work and Dennis Ferrer at the Southport Weekender. The major turning point came with his remix of Josh Butler's Got A Feeling for MTA Records, which stayed at number one on Beatport for six weeks and placed him among the most watched British producers on the scene. That creative relationship continued with Call You Back, released on Origins Records, another number one on Beatport and a key reference in his rise.

Hot Creations, Pete Tong, and a more organic signature

His entry into Hot Creations with The First Time EP solidified his position. The release was premiered by Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1, received heavy international rotation, and became one of the label's most important references that year. From there, Bontan refined a more percussive production, with organic drums and soft melodies, without losing the club drive. Recognition from BBC Radio 1 as a Future Star, the Best Newcomer award at the DJ Awards, and an increasingly international schedule reinforced a trajectory that also passed through labels like 20/20 Vision, Elrow Music, Circus Recordings, DFTD, Crosstown Rebels, Hottrax, and NO ART.

North Drum and the expansion phase

In the 2020s, his profile was reactivated with sold-out tours in North America, appearances at Coachella, two BBC Radio 1 Essential Mixes, and music associated with Black Book, Higher Ground, Insomniac, Good Company Records, and Nothing Else Matters. In 2025, he opened North Drum, his own label, designed as a home for his releases and as a platform for new talent close to his universe. With recent cuts like Forever, La Candelaria, Too Much, and That’s Right, Bontan moves in a zone where British-rooted house dialogues with afro house patterns and an international aesthetic, consolidating his position as a producer, selector, and curator of an increasingly recognizable sonic brand.