Meet the Artists
Boo
She currently performs as a DJ and is developing a live audiovisual show that brings her vivid sensory experience of music – perceiving sound in colours and shapes – to the stage. Entirely self-taught, Boo channels rich emotional and visual imagery into her music, forging a unique sound rooted in intuition and vision. Her ambition is to redefine the boundaries of electronic music, touring globally and reaching the highest levels of creative achievement.
In 2024, Boo released her debut EP Winged Victory via AMF Records, garnering plays across BBC Radio 1 and Radio 1 Dance. Its lead single, Hyper Feminine, earned her the BBC’s Emerging Talent award and a performance at BBC Radio 1 Dance in Ibiza. By early 2025, the EP had surpassed 250,000 streams, with Hyper Feminine alone reaching more than 100,000 on Spotify. The project led to coverage in DJ Mag, Mixmag, Wonderland Magazine, Resident Advisor, and BBC News, and saw her named Jack Saunders’ "Next Wave Future Artist."
Over the past year, Boo has performed at major venues and festivals including Fabric, Junction 2, and BBC’s Big Weekend, and supported Prospa on their UK tour. She has appeared on HOR Berlin, Bicep’s mix series, and released music on Anfisa Letyago’s NSDA label. Her track Air is my Element was synced by AS Saint Étienne, marking her first commercial placement. Now represented by Wasserman Music under Cecilia Chan, Boo is the first artist from Teesside to join the agency’s global roster. In addition, her work with her club night and label, Ghetec, led to a Sony Above Board distribution deal, providing platforms for emerging talent and mentoring more than 150 new DJs in the North East.
Umar Butt
As a first-generation migrant, Umar’s creative ethos is shaped by his lived experiences and by the communities around him. His work explores themes of home, identity, and belonging, with a deep commitment to making theatre that is inclusive, diverse, and rooted in real lives. Through dynamic, contemporary storytelling, he aims to build connection and understanding between neighbours and across cultures.
Umar has written and directed numerous acclaimed productions, including What is Love, Welcome to the Jungle, SARA (winner of Best Book and Best Show for Diverse Young Audiences at UK Mela 2020), Henna, Alex & Eliza (named one of The Stage’s top 5 shows in 2019), and How To Make A Killing in Bollywood, which toured nationally following its success at the Edinburgh Fringe. His international projects include Lupo, performed at South Africa’s Grahamstown Festival, and Sylhety, commissioned by Sylhet University and staged in Bangladesh.
Alongside his writing and directing, Umar continues to perform, with recent credits including The Jungle Book at Theatre by the Lake, A Teaspoon of Shampoo at Theatre in the Mill, and The Home by Kit Green. His plays have engaged communities across the UK – from Edinburgh and London to Halifax and Stockton – reflecting his belief that representative, relevant art can be a powerful catalyst for social change.
Finn Forster
Photo credit: Adam Marsden
After performing live from a young age, Finn launched his professional career in 2019 with the release of his debut EP. He spent the years that followed honing his songwriting, developing his distinctive sound, and independently releasing two further EPs while building a strong online presence during the pandemic.
In 2023, Finn signed with a manager and publisher, and by 2024 had joined Interval Records and One Fiinix Live. That same year, he released his third EP, Grey Skies – a deeply personal project inspired by his experience growing up in Tees Valley, with visuals filmed across the local area. Known for his powerful live shows, Finn has played more than 1,000 gigs across the region, headlining venues like Ku Stockton, Middlesbrough Town Hall, and ARC Stockton.
Finn’s rising profile has earned him international recognition, including a performance slot at SXSW Austin 2025 and a tour support for The Stereophonics on the European leg of their world tour.
