A DJ from the Isle of Lewis who works on fish farm boats has entered the UK charts with a remix he originally made for his mother’s 50th birthday party. Levi Heron, 29, from Stornoway, is the creator of “The Glen (Levi Heron Edit),” a rework of a song by the Scottish band Beluga Lagoon. What began as an unofficial edit played at a golf club event in January 2025 turned into a viral track on TikTok and later a fully licensed single climbing the Official Singles Chart.
Heron’s remix gained momentum after guests at his mother Shona’s birthday celebration at Stornoway Golf Club encouraged him to share it online. Within months, the track had accumulated tens of millions of streams on Spotify and attracted coverage from BBC Radio 1’s chart show and music publications including Mixmag. The story combines family sentiment, island roots, and the unpredictable mechanics of viral music discovery.
Who Is Levi Heron?
Key Insights
- The remix’s success is driven by a heartfelt personal story combined with viral sharing on TikTok.
- BBC Radio 1 coverage elevated the story from a local interest item to national music-news attention.
- The track is released under Robots & Humans, an imprint of Sony Music UK, after being fully cleared.
- Heron has other tracks including “Thistle in the Glen” featuring Kieran MacCormick.
- He blends “bouncy techno,” “hardstyle bangers,” and “ceil-tech”—a fusion of ceilidh music with electronic styles.
- Alongside his music career, he works as a net washer on fish farm boats in the Outer Hebrides.
- The remix accumulated tens of millions of streams on Spotify, making it his dominant breakout track.
Levi Heron Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Levi Heron |
| Age | 29 (as of June 2025) |
| Hometown | Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland |
| Notable track | The Glen (Levi Heron Edit) |
| Original artist | Beluga Lagoon |
| Reason for remix | Made for his mother Shona’s 50th birthday |
| Label | Robots & Humans (Sony Music UK) |
| Coverage | BBC Radio 1, Official Charts, Mixmag |
| Genre blend | Bouncy techno, hardstyle, ceil-tech |
| Day job | Net washer on fish farm boats |
What Is “The Glen (Levi Heron Edit)”?
“The Glen” was originally written by Andrew O’Donnell and first appeared on Beluga Lagoon’s 2019 album The Caledonian Fig Tree. The track existed as a folk-leaning composition before Heron transformed it into an electronic dance rework. His version, titled “The Glen (Levi Heron Edit),” reimagines the original with a driving beat and club-friendly production while retaining the melodic core of O’Donnell’s song.
How Does the Remix Differ From the Original?
Where Beluga Lagoon’s version leans toward indie folk with acoustic instrumentation, Heron’s edit introduces what he describes as a blend of “bouncy techno” and “hardstyle” elements. The remix preserves the vocal line and structure of the original but layers them over a heavier electronic foundation. According to Official Charts, the remix helped the track reach Number 47 on the UK Official Singles Chart, while the original also charted on sales and independent charts.
What Record Label Released the Remix?
After the unofficial edit spread on TikTok and SoundCloud, the track was fully cleared and picked up by Robots & Humans, an imprint of Sony Music UK. The remix is also available through platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud. Heron’s version is listed as “The Glen – Levi Heron Edit” across streaming services, where it has accumulated tens of millions of plays according to Spotify tracking data from kworb.net.
The original song “The Glen” was written by Andrew O’Donnell and appears on Beluga Lagoon’s 2019 album The Caledonian Fig Tree. The band’s version predates the remix by several years and belongs to a different stylistic category, making Heron’s transformation from folk to electronic particularly notable.
Why Did Levi Heron Create This Remix?
The remix was created for a specific and personal reason: Heron’s mother Shona wanted him to play “The Glen” at family gatherings. For her 50th birthday party, held at Stornoway Golf Club in January 2025, he produced an unofficial edit tailored to the occasion. Multiple reports from Official Charts and Mixmag connect the track directly to Shona Heron’s birthday, which became the emotional anchor of the story’s media appeal.
Did His Mother Request the Song?
Yes. According to reporting from Official Charts, Heron’s mother Shona asked him to play the track at family events. Her request led him to create a remix that he could use during DJ sets at these gatherings. The birthday party at Stornoway Golf Club was the first public play of the edit, and attendees responded enthusiastically enough that Heron decided to upload it to SoundCloud.
How Did His Mother React?
While specific quotes from Shona Heron are not available in the published reporting, the narrative presented by both Official Charts and Mixmag emphasises the family connection as a central component of the story’s charm. The remix’s chart success and media coverage have turned a private gesture into a public achievement that reflects positively on the family and the local community on the Isle of Lewis.
How Did a Stornoway DJ Climb the UK Charts?
The path from a birthday-party edit to a charting single involved several stages. After the January event, Heron uploaded the track to SoundCloud. It began circulating on TikTok, where users adopted it for videos, driving further streaming numbers. The growing attention led to the track being fully cleared and officially released through Robots & Humans, an imprint of Sony Music UK.
According to Official Charts, the remix helped “The Glen” enter the UK Official Singles Chart, first reaching Number 63 and then climbing to Number 47. Beluga Lagoon’s original version also appeared on sales and independent charts. Mixmag reported on the entry into the UK Top 40, noting the unusual backstory. The BBC Radio 1 weekly chart program also featured the track, bringing it to a mainstream UK audience.
The exact peak position and the specific chart (e.g., Official Singles Chart vs. Scottish chart) are not fully specified across all sources. Official Charts data confirms the track reached Number 63 and later Number 47 on the UK Official Singles Chart, but independent verification of subsequent movement is limited.
What Has Been the Media Reaction?
Coverage has largely focused on the human-interest angle: a son making a remix for his mother’s birthday and watching it become a hit. BBC News published an article headlined “Island DJ climbing UK charts with remix made for his mum,” while music outlets emphasized the genre-blending aspect of Heron’s style. The story fits a recurring pattern of local, family-driven music stories gaining national traction through BBC curation and social media amplification.
Streaming data from kworb.net shows that “The Glen – Levi Heron Edit” has accumulated tens of millions of plays on Spotify, making it by far Heron’s most-streamed track. His Spotify artist page lists additional releases, though none approach the scale of “The Glen” remix.
From Birthday Party to UK Charts: Key Moments
- Original track released: “The Glen” by Beluga Lagoon appears on the album The Caledonian Fig Tree (2019). Written by Andrew O’Donnell.
- January 2025: Levi Heron creates an unofficial remix of “The Glen” for his mother Shona’s 50th birthday party at Stornoway Golf Club.
- Early 2025: Heron uploads the remix to SoundCloud after positive reactions from party guests.
- 2025 (exact date not specified): The track spreads on TikTok, gaining viral momentum and driving streaming numbers.
- 2025: The remix is fully cleared and officially released through Robots & Humans, an imprint of Sony Music UK.
- June 2025: “The Glen (Levi Heron Edit)” enters the UK Official Singles Chart at Number 63, later climbing to Number 47.
- June 2025: BBC News publishes coverage; BBC Radio 1 chart show features the track. Mixmag and Official Charts report on the story.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Levi Heron is a DJ from Stornoway, aged 29. | Exact chart position and which specific UK chart (Official Singles Chart vs. Scottish chart) are not fully detailed across all sources. |
| He created a remix of “The Glen” for his mother Shona’s 50th birthday. | The original release date of Beluga Lagoon’s “The Glen” is not specified beyond the 2019 album. |
| The remix charted in the UK and received BBC coverage. | Further biographical details about Heron’s education or early music projects are absent from published reports. |
| The track is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud. | Whether the remix was self-released before the label deal or part of a compilation is not fully clarified. |
| Heron blends “bouncy techno,” “hardstyle,” and “ceil-tech.” | The exact recording studio or production setup used for the remix has not been documented. |
| The track is released under Robots & Humans (Sony Music UK). | Any connection to “Indri Records” is not confirmed by the available sources. |
What Does This Story Tell Us About Modern Music Success?
Levi Heron’s rise reflects a broader trend in which personal, emotionally grounded stories gain national attention through a combination of social media virality and traditional media amplification. The remix began as a private gesture and moved through TikTok, BBC Radio 1, and the Official Charts without a conventional marketing campaign. The genre fusion of ceilidh music with electronic dance styles—what Heron calls “ceil-tech”—also highlights how regional musical traditions can find new audiences through remix culture.
The story also underscores the role of local media and human-interest journalism. BBC News’s coverage of an island DJ who works on fish farm boats and made a track for his mother provided a narrative hook that resonated far beyond the Outer Hebrides. It mirrors other viral music moments where the backstory matters as much as the song.
What Do Official Reports Say About Levi Heron?
Official Charts described Heron as a DJ-producer who makes music blending “bouncy techno,” “hardstyle bangers,” and “ceil-tech,” and noted that he also works as a net washer on fish farm boats. The same report confirmed that the remix was originally an unofficial edit for his mother’s birthday at Stornoway Golf Club. Mixmag reported on the remix’s entry into the UK Top 40 and highlighted the label deal with Robots & Humans.
“Levi Heron, 29, from Stornoway, added his own touch to a song, The Glen by the Scottish band Beluga Lagoon, which his mother Shona wanted him to perform for family gatherings.”
— Paraphrased from BBC News reporting (June 2025)
Amazon Music’s artist page for Heron lists his available tracks, while SoundCloud hosts the original upload that started the viral spread. Spotify tracking confirms the track’s dominant streaming position in Heron’s catalogue.
What Can We Learn From Levi Heron’s Journey?
Heron’s story demonstrates that a single track, created for a family event and shared without commercial intent, can break through into the mainstream when it connects with an audience on social platforms. The remix’s success also points to the growing influence of TikTok in music discovery and the willingness of major labels to pick up tracks that have already proven their viral potential. For fans of Scottish music and emerging electronic genres, the story of Outlander Blood of My Blood – Complete Prequel Guide offers another cultural reference point from the same region. For those interested in the emotional power of music within families, Mama I’m Coming Home – Lyrics, Credits and Final Farewell explores a different kind of personal musical tribute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Levi Heron related to the band Beluga Lagoon?
No. Levi Heron is a separate artist who created a remix of their song “The Glen.” He is not a member of Beluga Lagoon.
Where can I listen to “The Glen (Levi Heron Edit)”?
The track is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, and SoundCloud. Links are provided in the sources section of this article.
How old is Levi Heron?
He was 29 years old as of June 2025, according to BBC News and Official Charts reporting.
What genre is the remix?
The remix blends electronic dance styles including bouncy techno, hardstyle, and what Heron calls “ceil-tech”—a fusion of ceilidh music with electronic production.
What does Levi Heron do for work besides music?
He works as a net washer on fish farm boats in the Outer Hebrides, as reported by Official Charts.
Did the remix really start at a birthday party?
Yes. Heron created the remix for his mother Shona’s 50th birthday party at Stornoway Golf Club in January 2025, after she asked him to play the song at family gatherings.
What chart did the remix reach?
The track entered the UK Official Singles Chart, reaching Number 63 and later climbing to Number 47. Beluga Lagoon’s original also charted on sales and independent charts.
Who originally wrote “The Glen”?
The song was written by Andrew O’Donnell and first appeared on Beluga Lagoon’s 2019 album The Caledonian Fig Tree.
What label released the remix?
The remix was released through Robots & Humans, an imprint of Sony Music UK, after being fully cleared for official distribution.
Does Levi Heron have other music?
Yes. His catalogue includes tracks such as “Thistle in the Glen” featuring Kieran MacCormick, though none have reached the streaming scale of “The Glen” remix.
Related stories
Sarah Mills is Managing Editor at Edinburgh Wire, running the daily desk and publishing schedule.