Still Playing Bars When His First Hit Dropped (ft. Bontan) | EF EP 155
At 38, Bontan still looks 23. He quit school at 17 to DJ pubs five nights a week, took a 6-month pay cut to chase the Bontan project from his parents' house, and just launched his own label North Drum at Fabrik London. He's signed to Hot Creations, releases on No Art, and his latest track just went viral overnight after a major pop star used it on a reel.
In this episode, Olivia sits down with Bontan to talk about what it actually takes to build a sustainable career in dance music, from surviving 6 months without income to defending a tour schedule that runs on 3 hours of sleep.
Chicago Music Nexus is back for 2026, and this year, we are doing it across two full days. November 20 is Field Day at Concord Music Hall, where you will get hands-on time with the tools, people, and sessions that actually move careers. November 21 is Conference Day at The Joinery, panels and workshops with the agents, A&Rs, and artists actively shaping the industry.
Presale opens June 25th. Sign up for texts to get access one day early: https://laylo.com/oliviamancuso/wxgwS3
Two-day passes are extremely limited. Do not sleep on this.
👉 Want personalized guidance on your music career? Book a one-on-one consultation with Olivia on GreenRoom where you can get tailored advice on branding, business strategy, and sustainable career growth
👉 Instagram: @oliviamancuso__
👉 Video Editor/Audio Engineer: James Fixx
00:00 - Intro
00:52 - Bontan Looks 23 At 38
02:30 - The Josh Butler Friendship
03:23 - The Decision To Quit School
04:18 - Playing Pubs Without A Brand
05:55 - The Six Months No Income
07:32 - The Defected Follow Up
09:31 - Eight Months Of Silence
10:00 - The Track That Went Viral
12:51 - The Strictly Rhythm Influence
14:26 - Tribal Versus Afro House
16:07 - Ibiza As A Pipe Dream
22:24 - Being Part Of The Culture
24:46 - The 9 AM Monday Artist
25:24 - Three Hours Of Sleep
27:58 - Finding A Healthy Routine
30:14 - Why He Started North Drum
31:30 - First Party At Fabric
32:54 - Chicago And House Calls
34:34 - The Halloween Crown Story
36:48 - The Heathrow Shame Walk
38:20 - Outro
