FEATURE:
Spotlight
Hannah Laing
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THE incredible…
Dundee D.J. and producer Hannah Laing is getting a lot of love right now. And quite rightly! One of the biggest and brightest talents around, I am a little late to her wonder. For this Spotlight, I will end by bringing in a couple of recent interviews. Before that, a little bit of biography before getting to an interview/feature from last year. Let’s get some background of this superstar-in-the-making:
“Having cemented herself as a true maven of the peak time banger via a series of high-energy features on the likes of Solardo’s Sola, Patrick Topping’s TRICK, Jax Jones Presents and Spinnin’ Records, a succession of sell-out club nights under her own outfit, plus upcoming shows at the likes of DC10 and Warehouse Project — it’s hard to look away from Dundee born-and-raised DJ and producer Hannah Laing’s unstoppable trajectory to the top. Rapturous new single ‘Climax’ on WUGD joins a slew of big room, blissed-out anthems spanning house, techno and everything in between — including her knockout 2019 bootleg of Sophie Ellis Bextor’s iconic 2001 hit ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’, a rework that earned Laing global acclaim and the notice of some of the biggest names in the business, including FISHER who dropped the track during most sets in 2019. Having caught the attention of BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong, Danny Howard, JAGUAR and Sarah Story, she made her BBC Introducing debut at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May 2022. She has still found time to develop her own podcast and club night: Hannah’s Choice — with guests such as Hannah Wants, Marc Kinchen, Jax Jones and Ben Helmsley. Hannah credits her prowess as a DJ to her time hustling as an Ibiza resident, having landed her first regular spot at a Scottish bar in San Antonio at the tender age of 19 — going on to play at island institutions DC-10, Amnesia and Hï. This daily grind as DJ — bringing in guests and keeping the energy high no matter how many bodies were on the dancefloor — has given her a keen ability to stretch and manoeuvre a room, ensuring every performance is unique and reactive. Having been raised on a diet of Paul Oakenfold, Roger Sanchez and a treasure trove of Hedkandi cassette tapes — all from archives of her rave-loving parents, Laing doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t surrounded by dance music. Her first encounter with the club was at age 15, an experience that fundamentally affected Laing’s musical outlook; she recalls watching on eagerly as Dave Pearce dropped trance classics such as Delirium’s ‘Silence’. From that day on, Hannah had caught the bug, gaining her first ever DJ gig at 18 at a tiny pub in Arbroath attended by a coach load of her friends and family — from here, she took every opportunity to show off her skills with both hands: weddings, baby showers, birthdays… you name it. Her move from mixing to making music came about through a mixture of opportunity and dedication, first by chance having heard about a fellow Ibiza worker who was giving lessons to budding producers on Ableton — becoming so engrossed in her tuition, she dedicated every day off she had on the island to learn the new skill. Once back in Scotland, she signed up for a course at Escapade Studios and also works with longtime friend Erskine Audio — transitioning from looping basics to full-blown breakdown ecstasy, all with a dancefloor destination in mind”.
Fifteen Questions spent some time with Hannah Laing last year around the release of their E.P., Into the Doof. Despite the fact I am relatively fresh to Laing and her work, it has been important looking back at interviews and her previous work. So many eyes are on her right now. It is clear that she is conquering the world:
“Do you think that some of your earliest musical experiences planted a seed for your interest in DJing?
For sure. Every time I would go to a rave, I would always wonder what it felt like to be on the other side. So it was inevitable that sooner or later I was gonna get my first set of decks!
I have always loved club music, but I was not initially a dancer very much. What was this like for you? How does being – or not being – a passionate dancer influence the way you deejay?
For me being a raver first helped me massively. I still rave on the dancefloor as much as possible.
Knowing how people behave on the dancefloor influences me for when I’m creating tension when DJing. I love being able to create long build ups or play those ‘ moment ‘ tracks at the right time.
How would you describe the experience of DJing, physically and mentally? Do you listen – and deejay - with your eyes open or closed?
DJing is the only time I feel fully switched off from the noise of the outside world. It is truly the best feeling in the world for me. Everyone connecting through music. I love knowing what I’m going to play next and seeing the reaction of each track on the dancefloor!
I always play with my eyes open as I love engaging with the crowd and watching everyone having fun.
Collaboration is a key part of almost every aspect of music making, but it is stil rare in DJing. Do you have an idea why this is? Tell me about your own views on back-to-back DJing, interactions with live musicians or other forms of turning DJing into a more collective process.
I think back to back DJing is great, there’s nothing better than seeing artists you love being their own sound and style of DJing together. This brings a fresh, unique vibe to the dancefloor. I also love seeing the energy of the DJs bouncing off each other”.
In the first of two interviews from The Skinny, we get to know more about Hannah Laing’s past. How she was a dental nurse that became a D.J. However, it was not a case of her being a success right away. There was this transition and progress. She is definitely going to inspire others who want to be a D.J. or producer and perhaps do not have a background in music or are taking the unusual path:
“For anyone needing a much-needed shot of adrenaline this summer, you should seek out Laing’s latest EP, Into the Bounce, which is the first in a trilogy of EPs dedicated to the genres that have helped shape Laing's sound. The focus of the three-tracks on Into the Bounce is techno, with Laing’s Pedicure Princess the record’s synthetic, gurgling centre-piece. Bookending Pedicure Princess are Love Is A Drug, made with in-demand London DJ Charlie Sparks, and OMG, made in collaboration with French producer Shlømo. We're told the next two EPs in the series will explore hard house and trance.
Laing has a busy couple of days coming up. Into the Bounce is released on Friday 4 July and Doof the Park, Laing’s dance festival in Camperdown Park near Dundee, takes place the following day, with Laing in the headline slot. Ahead of all that, she tells us more about her love for techno, her collaboration process and her previous career as a dental nurse.
Your career has been pretty well documented thus far. I’m fascinated by the fact you used to be a dental nurse – how has the career change been suiting you? Is there anything you miss about life before you were working full-time in music? Or is there anything you’ve found particularly hard/amazing since making the transition?
The change has been mad, but amazing – I’ve worked so hard for this, and I’m really grateful to be doing what I love full time now. I have to say I do miss the structure of a "normal" job sometimes, though! When I was a dental nurse, I had a proper routine and a set finish time. Now it’s 24/7 - especially with touring, producing and running Doof stuff. It’s intense, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. The best part is meeting fans all over the world who connect with what I’m doing – that’s the bit that makes it all worth it.
For a lot of people, it seems like you were an overnight success story, but that’s simply not the case – you’ve grafted and grafted. What advice would you give to others trying to make the same transition into a full-time career in music?
Yeah, people might only see the last year or two, but this has been like a decade of graft. My advice would be: don’t wait for someone to give you permission. If you love it, go for it and be relentless. Find your sound, build your own community and stay consistent. Also – be a good person. So much of this industry runs on trust and relationships. Talent’s important, but how you treat people matters just as much.
You’re just about to release Into the Bounce, the first in a trilogy of EPs celebrating techno, hard house and trance. On Into the Bounce you celebrate the relentless world of techno. How did you get into techno? What is it about the genre that you love so much, and who are some of the techno artists that have inspired you over the years?
Techno was honestly one of the first genres I fell in love with. I remember hearing it for the first time and just being like – what is this?! It’s music you feel in your chest. Artists like Amelie Lens, Dax J, Nina Kraviz and I Hate Models were big influences early on. I also love the newer wave like Charlie Sparks and Shlømo, which made working with them on the EP even more exciting”.
I will end with a new interview from The Guardian. However, I will come to another feature from The Skinny. The more we learn about Hannah Laing, the more fascinating she is! Someone who has so many sides to her. If you have not followed her or checked out any of her work then make sure that you do so now. The future is going to be long and bright for her:
“Who was your hero growing up?
Avril Lavigne. She was such a huge inspiration to me when I was younger. Her music spoke to me in a way that no other artist did at the time. I loved how she stayed true to herself and didn’t try to fit into a mould. Her songs were full of emotion and authenticity, and I still listen to them now with so much nostalgia.
Whose work inspires you now?
Amelie Lens, not just because I love her music, but because she’s such a good mum while still holding down a crazy touring schedule, which blows my mind! She proves that you can be successful in music while also maintaining a personal life, which is something I really admire. Her sets are always top-tier, and she has an incredible energy that makes her stand out. I also love how dedicated she is to her craft, constantly evolving and pushing boundaries.
What’s your all-time favourite album?
Definitely Maybe by Oasis. It never gets old, no matter how many times I listen to it. There’s something timeless about it – the attitude, the raw sound and the lyrics all just hit perfectly.
What’s your all-time favourite album?
Definitely Maybe by Oasis. It never gets old, no matter how many times I listen to it. There’s something timeless about it – the attitude, the raw sound and the lyrics all just hit perfectly”.
What’s your favourite plant?
Cactus.
What’s one item you wish you could take to a music festival?
An Oodie for when it’s freezing at night. Festivals are amazing, but once the sun goes down, it can get so cold, and there’s nothing worse than shivering when you’re trying to enjoy the music. An Oodie would be a game-changer!”.
Even though Hannah Laing has played around the world and it is important to reach out to fans abroad, there is nothing as rewarding as giving back to her community. Recently, the D.J. curated a festival in her hometown called Doof in the Park. It was an amazing occasion by all accounts. The Guardian caught up with a major talent. Her new E.P., Into the Bounce, is tremendous. Among the best of this year:
“While hard dance is often derided or ignored in the media and polite society, Laing’s music – insistent, almost aggressively euphoric – has a large and committed following: 2.7 million people listen to her each month on Spotify and Doof in the Park sold out its 15,000 tickets within a week. Across the festival site there are hundreds of fans in merch from her Doof record label, as well as bootleg efforts including handmade Doof earrings and customised Uniqlo crossbody bags; one man has “Doof” shaved into the side of his head.
Laing wryly describes her rise as “10 years of overnight success”. Even after landing her first Ibiza residency in 2014, she was juggling DJing with her day job as a dental nurse. “I was playing at the weekend then going straight to work on a Monday,” she remembers. “There came a point when I was doing interviews with the BBC in my surgery. I was getting a lot of gigs but still doing lots for free, and I never thought I could make a living from it.” She eventually quit her job in 2022, after a breakthrough set at Creamfields. “I was on first on Sunday at 2pm and didn’t know if anyone would show up, but there were over 10,000 people there and tons of Scottish flags,” she says. “I’d been building up this reputation in Scotland, and when I got that big opportunity, everyone came out to support me.”
“She’s one of us,” says Lisa, who has travelled to the Doof in the Park from Aberdeen with her friend Shona. Like Laing, Lisa is in her early 30s and grew up going to raves. “She’s been brought up like us. She’s a normal girl who’s done well for herself.”
In 2024, Laing launched her label, named after the “doof doof” rhythm of her music. This summer, she’s playing a residency at one of Ibiza’s most sought-after clubs, Hï, and releasing her techno-influenced Into the Bounce EP.
She credits her taste – “hard house, trance, music that really makes me feel something” – to her parents, 90s ravers whose generation make up a significant part of her audience. “It’s a great feeling when people who properly know their stuff come and say: ‘You got me out of retirement!’” she says. “Also when my mum comes to see me, she doesn’t feel old.”
This is very much the case at Doof in the Park. “I’m 53 and I thought I’d be the oldest here, but I’m not,” says Claire from Johnstone, accompanied by her 20-year-old daughter. “I’m 51 and I’ve been doing this for years,” adds Natalie from Aberdeen. “There’s such a mix of ages and everyone’s so friendly.” Natalie’s niece Carla has been following Laing for years, and emphasises the inclusive community she is building, which extends to the access support at the festival. “Sometimes, if you’re sick like me, you can’t go to stuff, but the accessibility team have been fantastic,” she says. “They gave me a direct phone number if I needed anything on the day. It’s all been thought out”.
I am going to finish up now. I have so much respect for Hannah Laing. I love her story and where she came from, but I love more her sheer passion and drive! We are going to see her go from strength to strength for years to come. I was really excited and keen to spend some time bringing in some great interviews with Hannah Laing. Putting this incredible D.J. and producer…
UNDER the spotlight.
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