Hannah Wants

It’s been a hectic year for rising new DJ Star, Hannah Wants. She’s played just about every stage on the festival circuit going, has held a residency in Ibiza, and is just about to drop her new single ‘Rhymes’. We caught up with the feminine tour de force that is rocking the house scene.

Hi Hannah, how are you? Are you all set for Christmas and New Year?
Hiii, I’m really good thank you! I’m as ready as I can be for Christmas and New Year (I think!). I’ve been planning since November to try and keep as organised as possible.

Will you be working much, or getting some time in for family and friends back in Brum?
Things are super crazy at the moment so I’ll mostly be working this festive period. I’ll be having Christmas day off in Northern Ireland with my Mom and sister and Boxing day off with family back home in Birmingham which I’m really looking forward to but other than that I’ll be working every day. I’ve got a two-week holiday in January though which is my rest and relax time, it’s going to be my first proper time off in like 18 months!

The last time we spoke to you, you’d just finished your Australia and NZ tour, and were getting ready for the summer… how was the summer for you?
This summer has been the most hectic and best yet! I’ve played a lot of the festivals and events around the world that I’ve been working towards playing for many years so I really have had the best year my life. It feels amazing to literally be living my DJ dream!

Obviously 2014 has been super busy for you, has there been a particular highlight?
There have been so many, I really couldn’t pick one you know. Off the top of my head a few of my 2014 highlights have got to be: my first tour and trip to Australia and New Zealand, my first tour of North America, Hideout festival in Croatia, my Amnesia residency in Ibiza and in England, Glastonbury and Creamfields.

Where would you say is the most amazing destination you ended up in this year?
Miami was really cool! I’d never been before so I didn’t know what to expect but it was amazing. People were working out on the beaches, the weather was incredible, the views beautiful, the food was gorgeous… It’d be an inspiring place to live.

As 2014 draws to a close, what’s in the bag for 2015?
2015 is already looking to be an insane year, I get real excited just thinking about it! I have three NYE gigs in the UK and then I fly straight out to Miami to play the Holy Ship, after that I fly to Cancun for a two week vacation, then i’ll fly back and get straight to work. I’m so keen to get back over to Australia and New Zealand to tour again too, I’m hoping this will be as soon after the summer as possible!

You’ve got your release due out on 25th January, ‘Rhymes’ with Chris Lorenzo… It’s such a good rework of the Busta Rhymes sample, how did it all come to be?
The sample originally comes from Daft Punk’s ‘Technologic’ but I was actually sat in my car listening to Busta Rhymes – Touch it… I love the track and I just couldn’t get the vocal sample out of my head. As far as I was aware the sample hadn’t been used in a house record so Chris and I hit the studio with a vision to make it work on the dance floor. It’s my favourite collaboration of ours and I’m so happy by the reaction it’s been getting during my DJ sets.

I’m now a part of BBC Radio 1’s Residency and so starting from January 8th I’ll be presenting my own show every first Thursday of the month. I have my first ever headline UK tour during February and March, I’ll be back touring the US in April and then the summer schedule begins which will consist of festivals and events around the world as well as a string of Ibiza dates. I’m so keen to get back over to Australia and New Zealand to tour again too, I’m hoping this will be as soon after the summer as possible!

You’ve got your release due out on 25th January, ‘Rhymes’ with Chris Lorenzo… It’s such a good rework of the Busta Rhymes sample, how did it all come to be?
The sample originally comes from Daft Punk’s ‘Technologic’ but I was actually sat in my car listening to Busta Rhymes – Touch it… I love the track and I just couldn’t get the vocal sample out of my head. As far as I was aware the sample hadn’t been used in a house record so Chris and I hit the studio with a vision to make it work on the dance floor. It’s my favourite collaboration of ours and I’m so happy by the reaction it’s been getting during my DJ sets.

The video is fairly cheeky, did you guys have a say in it?
Haha, it sure is! We wanted the video to play on the words in the track, they’re quick paced and quite suggestive so we definitely had a preferred direction in our minds. Chris and I were sent numerous video briefs and one of them really resonated with our vision. The producer was then left to do what she does best. Everyone was really happy with the outcome!

Would you say coming from Birmingham has at all shaped your musical influences?
Yeah for sure, I grew up listening to (and playing) Old Skool UK Garage, Bassline House and Speed Garage and my style definitely still replicates these elements. I love nothing better than to dig through my old hard drives and pull out a track from years ago that sits real nicely in my sets today, often to great effect, music really can be timeless!

When you’re not DJ-ing or in the studio, what do you like to do to unwind?
I’m a bit of a gym freak so whenever I can I like to get up early and hit the gym before a day of work. I’m a big believer in “healthy body, healthy mind” and so a gym session in the morning sorts my mind ready for a productive day. As for having time off to unwind, I really don’t have much at all. On the rare occasion I get a few hours off I like nothing better than to be at home on the sofa relaxing, doing absolutely nothing!

What’s next after ‘Rhymes’ can we look forward to a long release any time soon?
In 2015 I’ll be collaborating with a few of my favourite artists as well as releasing some solo material. DJ’ing is and has always been my main focus but I’ll be getting into the studio as often as possible. I’ve recently been working with Tough Love on a VIP version of their forthcoming single, So Freakin Tight. It’s been sounding really heavy in the clubs so I’m looking forward to it’s release which is planned for March.

Do you have any new year’s resolutions?
I’ve never been one for new year’s resolutions you know, I’m the kind of girl who sets goals and keeps focussed all year round.

Thanks for your time Hannah! And good luck with the new single!
My pleasure! And thank you!

By Hannah Shakir
@hanshak