A new beginning for Innellea: Following a phase of artistic friction, shaped by algorithms, expectations and a scene increasingly driven by fast-moving digital trends, Innellea wiped his profiles and shared a deeply personal statement that quickly went viral, resonating with a feeling many across the community recognised and resulting in a return to the roots of electronic music and rave culture. What began as a pause became a moment of clarity, a chance to break with the past and create something new, yet still born from the same seed. By shedding expectations, familiar routines and the frameworks that had built up around the project, 'Slave to the Hype' emerges from this space: reduced, direct and guided once again by instinct rather than external noise. The process itself became the focus again. After years of working toward outcomes, the next hit, the next sold-out show, the next milestone, Innellea reconnected with what made him fall in love with music in the first place: the joy of creating, the community, and the freedom to follow curiosity rather than pressure. A strong wave of support from his community reinforced this shift, reminding him of a time when everything felt lighter, more honest and unfiltered. Musically, 'Slave to the Hype' leans into raw rhythm, tight percussion and a driving, hypnotic bassline. The production is direct and club-first, built for late nights and dancers who move with their eyes closed. Conceptually, the release reflects a broader reset. Rather than refining a single "Innellea sound", the artist reclaims the freedom to move across the full spectrum of electronic music without being boxed in by expectations or past successes. For belonging, the track also marks a subtle realignment. The label remains rooted in contemporary dance music while pushing toward a tougher, more minimal and uncompromising aesthetic. Less spectacle, more intensity. Less narrative, more motion. This is not nostalgia for an old rave; it is a statement for what comes next.

belonging continues its 2026 run with a new EP from Sian and Matt. Why You Tripping lands on February 13 and brings a tougher, more restless edge into the catalogue, sitting on the rougher side of Indie Dance with clear techno and acid influences. Ireland-born and now based in Los Angeles, Sian has built a reputation for high-impact club records and sharp, forward-moving production. Matt, hailing from Patagonia in Argentina, adds his own raw, groove-driven perspective to the collaboration, resulting in a release that feels direct, functional and made for late-night floors rather than polished listening. The title track Why You Tripping is driven by a tight, rolling groove and biting synth work, lifted by a vocal contribution from David LeSal that gives the track its hook and attitude. Enemies keeps the pressure on, leaning further into acidic sequences and percussive drive, built for late-night momentum and peak-time sets. As the next release on belonging this year, the EP expands the labels sound into slightly tougher territory while staying true to its club-focused, contemporary direction.

A new beginning for Innellea: Following a phase of artistic friction, shaped by algorithms, expectations and a scene increasingly driven by fast-moving digital trends, Innellea wiped his profiles and shared a deeply personal statement that quickly went viral, resonating with a feeling many across the community recognised and resulting in a return to the roots of electronic music and rave culture. What began as a pause became a moment of clarity, a chance to break with the past and create something new, yet still born from the same seed. By shedding expectations, familiar routines and the frameworks that had built up around the project, 'Slave to the Hype' emerges from this space: reduced, direct and guided once again by instinct rather than external noise. The process itself became the focus again. After years of working toward outcomes, the next hit, the next sold-out show, the next milestone, Innellea reconnected with what made him fall in love with music in the first place: the joy of creating, the community, and the freedom to follow curiosity rather than pressure. A strong wave of support from his community reinforced this shift, reminding him of a time when everything felt lighter, more honest and unfiltered. Musically, 'Slave to the Hype' leans into raw rhythm, tight percussion and a driving, hypnotic bassline. The production is direct and club-first, built for late nights and dancers who move with their eyes closed. Conceptually, the release reflects a broader reset. Rather than refining a single "Innellea sound", the artist reclaims the freedom to move across the full spectrum of electronic music without being boxed in by expectations or past successes. For belonging, the track also marks a subtle realignment. The label remains rooted in contemporary dance music while pushing toward a tougher, more minimal and uncompromising aesthetic. Less spectacle, more intensity. Less narrative, more motion. This is not nostalgia for an old rave; it is a statement for what comes next.

belonging Mainstage