Creators are the beating heart of our global community. DJs, radio hosts, selectors, storytellers, tastemakers and curators… you, the creators, are the ones crafting the shows that inspire us to keep listening and connecting through shared passions in culture and sound.
This is why we’re launching Creator Subscriptions, a new way for creators and fans to get closer. With Creator Subscriptions, listeners can subscribe directly to a creator’s profile to join their inner circle of fans, directly supporting all of the music played.
This is our big step toward building a more fair and sustainable ecosystem for audio culture – and it’s just the beginning. We’re collaborating with 40+ creators to introduce Creator Subscriptons to the world. Here, we chat with some of those creators to get closer to the music, the scenes, the culture. They tell us what goes into creating their shows, and how they’ve leveraged Mixcloud to get heard.
Welcome to the first wave.
Doing his thing from Studio Brussels since 1999, Lefto is a Belgian DJ that needs no introduction amongst the Mixcloud community. Dubbed ‘your DJ’s favourite DJ,’ Lefto’s long-time favorite radio show recorded live from Studio Brussels is shared to Mixcloud every Sunday. A crate digger extraordinaire and supporter of emerging talent, Lefto’s fresh and under-the-radar selections make it clear he commits his life to music.
Describe your sound on Mixcloud in 3 words.
Lefto: Variation, flow and discovery.
Where could we usually find you hanging out?
If I’m not abroad or working at home, I’m probably downtown close to my favorite shops owned by friends. I’m that kind of guy who gets nervous when I’m not working on something.
What were you listening to when growing up?
I grew up to what my dad liked, Jazz and French Pop. I really started to buy vinyl at the time “new beat” music became popular in Belgium and northern Europe. The first ever record I owned was a compilation on vinyl Hit Connection ’84, I was very young.
As a DJ and music lover, what inspired you to start creating and sharing your shows?
I started my radio show in 1999. It wasn’t as easy to find the right platform back then but the station had its own site where you could listen again. When Mixcloud started, I think I got hit up by Nikhil [Mixcloud Co-founder, btw]. Since then it’s been the right platform for me, and I think many DJs will agree.
To me, it’s essential that everything I play on my show gets as much exposure as possible. I feel it’s my duty to let people know what’s good and still under their radar. I want to help people discover new music every week.
How you go about making a show?
Finding tunes takes heavy research, from record shops to online digging and listening to all the promo emails I get on the daily. From there I just try to take the best of what I found during the week to play on my Sunday night radio show, and upload it to Mixcloud right after.
What’s your best performing show on your channel?
I have no idea why some of my shows do better than others. My listeners expect to get it every Monday morning. Sometimes all planets are aligned and it gets over 30,000 hits.
What’s your most meaningful show on your channel?
I organise an event every year that focuses on young and upcoming Belgian talent, so I collaborate with brands and the nationwide station I broadcast my shows on. Those shows where I do a little extra for the community of my country means a lot to me:
What’s been your secret to success on Mixcloud?
It has to be the regular, weekly uploads and the amount of exclusives, upcoming and new music of different styles. I also try to answer people’s questions in the comments, I’m just very human.
Any top tips for getting your shows heard?
Patience, regular uploads and originality.
Who’s listening to your show?
I think my listeners are all passionate music lovers and also want to be on point with what is going on right now, what’s been reissued or what’s a rare piece. They’re just music lovers, like me.
Which creators are you currently excited about?
There are a few like Red Light Radio and dublab, who are both great online radio stations. It’s interesting to see creators like Mr. Scruff as well.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
“Never stay in someone’s shadow… but create your own world.”
Last but not least, what’s your hidden talent?
I can’t tell, needs to stay hidden until you find out. Sorry.