Huge new tune. Huge talent. Huge future
Interview by Dan Prince
Miss Smith welcome to DMCWORLD, where on planet earth are you today?
“Hi Dan…I’m just in Northern Ireland at the moment. I’m out here visiting my mom for a few days down-time before heading back home for the crazy November/December schedule.”
Huge news for you right now as you team up with Chris Lorenzo and bring us ‘Rhymes’, please talk us through the history and sound of the track…
“We actually made ‘Rhymes’ at the start of the summer and the sample used is originally from Daft Punks ‘Technologic’ but you may well be familiar with the sample from the more recent Busta Rhymes’ ’Touch It’. I’d been listening to Busta’s Touch It in my car and just knew the vocal loop would work really well in a club. Chris and I spent a day in the studio and we were really happy with the outcome, I think we both had that gut feeling that it was going to be our biggest track yet. I tested it in the club before sending it to a small number of DJ’s and Annie Mac immediately replied with the message that she loved it. We actually owe Annie a lot of thanks as she is a big part of the reason ‘Rhymes’ has been signed and released. She approached Daft Punk personally with the record to see if they’d okay the sample so when they replied saying that they loved it and we could go ahead, it was an exciting day! Since then it’s been signed by Virgin EMI, featured exclusively on Annie Mac’s 2014 AMP compilation, been released to Beatport (as I type this it’s currently sitting at number 4 in the House Chart) and then we’re all hoping for a single release in the new year too!”
The world of music owe your family a huge pat on the back for introducing you to an eclectic mix of sounds when you were growing up. What are your early memories of music growing up and who was the biggest influence family wise?
“My mom. I remember wandering around the house as a child as you do and having my Mom’s music on blast non-stop. She had and still does have the most eclectic taste and I’d be subjected to anything from The Cranberries, R.E.M, Seal, Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead, to Alena, Sonique and a lot of the current dance music at the time. I think it’s definitely been an advantage having your mind open up to lots of different music styles and genres, it enables me to draw inspiration from a wide variety of places. For example I recently ended one of my 80 minute mix tapes with In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins. The 1981 classic was just the perfect way to end the mix, it was exactly the right vibe.”
I loved the explanation on how you conjured up your DJ name. You simply love the letter W – so you picked up a dictionary and searched all the words until you happened on Wants! So, what were some of the other possibles you nearly decided on?
“Haha, I know it’s not exactly the most exciting story but I had to tell the truth! I can’t actually remember some of the words you know, this happened on my bed about three years ago now but I do know that Wants was one of first ‘W’ words I wrote down. I just saw it and it was one of those ‘meant to be’ moments, another one of those gut feelings. I always trust my instincts!”
It was the annual DJ Top100 Poll this month, and boy has it come in for some criticism yet again: “It is not a DJ contest it is a producer contest”, “it is all about buying votes”, “it is all about how big your PR machine is these days”, “there are too many genres of DJs nowadays and unfair on the real DJs” etc. etc. – just some of the comments flying around. What is your take on what was once a real important part of our club culture?
“Whilst there are so many opinions, comments and keyboard wars regarding the subject I personally don’t know enough of the true facts and it’s history to have an opinion worth having on it. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in this industry – it’s not to believe anything you hear (or read)…so I pay no attention to this kind of debate.”
Great answer! What are the big 5 records in your bag this weekend?
Breakage – Treading Water
Andrew Diggs – The Ghost
Marquis Hawkes – Can’t Find A Reason
Mak & Pasteman – Oh Baby
Kaylde – This Joint
A few months ago you posted on your Facebook site a request for up and coming DJs to send in their mixes for a chance to join you on your forthcoming UK Tour. What has the response been like and can you let us know what you’ll be looking for?
“I initially put out a post to see if it was something rising DJ’s would be interested in and the response was crazy, far greater than I ever imagined it to be. It’s made me really excited for the search the begin! I’m going to be looking for professional people who can follow the guidelines correctly first and foremost. You wouldn’t believe how clearly you can write things but sometimes people don’t take the time to read the information and will proceed to send me numerous emails asking questions I’ve already answered. It’s the simple things that make a big difference.Other than that I’m looking for people who have a great ability to DJ, who can read a crowd and who will ultimately be able to play a killer warm up/support set on the tour. The search/application details will be announced on Monday 10th November via my website – www.hannahwants.com
October also saw you zipping up your boots for a quick tour of the US. What were some of your take home memories from that trip?
“There were many! The US tour consisted of 12 gigs in 12 consecutive nights and we would travel for 8-12 hours per day, play on the night and do the same again the next day…It was a super intense schedule but it was so much fun. My best memories? Getting to know AC Slater and Jack Beats, three genuine and nice guys. Playing some amazing gigs to some really great crowds. The food, although after eating in hotels and airports for nearly three weeks I very much welcomed the vegetables and the gym when I got home! Playing the Mixmag Lab in Los Angeles.”
Did you have to change your sets over there at all?
“No, I didn’t y’know. I think if I changed my set too much then it wouldn’t necessarily be ‘me’, people will either get my sound or they won’t. The American crowds were actually really receptive to my sets and they were really knowledgable to the music I was playing. If anything it just meant that I could dig out a few older tunes that perhaps have been rinsed in the UK but would sound fresh and work in the US!”
Your favourite tune of the summer?
“Wow, well that a really difficult question! Henry Krinkle – ‘Stay’ (Justin Martin RMX) has gotta be up there for me. His interpretation of the track is genius! Big fan.”
A few years ago you’d walk past Café Mambo in Ibiza and dream of one day playing there, now you are a regular! What is your perfect sunset tune down there?
“One of my most favourite sunset tracks of all time has got to be Reflekt – ‘Need To Feel Loved’ (Adam K & Soha Vocal Mix). This tune just evokes so many emotions, it’s really beautiful!”
Tell us about spinning Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’ last record at Amnesia. Did you shit yourself before mixing it in?
“Haha! Oh my god, this was an amazing night! Madonna and her daughter Lourdes were partying at Amnesia that night so I had the idea to end my set with a classic from the legend herself. It was about 6.30am, the main room was rammed and it was one of those moments where it was either going to really work. Or really not. Thankfully people got it and everyone just started singing “Life is a myyyyyysteryyyyy…”. It was an incredible moment, one I’ll never forget! I also met Lourdes at the end of my set, she came up to the booth randomly just I was about to play the track. That was almost as surreal as dropping ‘Like A Prayer’ in a super club in Ibiza…a crazy night!”
If you had a night off in Ibiza, what DJ and club would you check out?
“I’d probably visit DC10 or Underground and enjoy listening to some underground house and techno. I’d like to check out a tINI set, I’ve never seen her play before and it’d be cool to see what she’s about as a DJ.”
Your favourite moment of Creamfields and Glastonbury this summer?
“Unfortunately I didn’t get much time to check out either festival. Both days I had gigs elsewhere so I arrived, played and had to leave pretty shortly after. I’m hoping to spend a whole day at Glasto next year though as it looked like an incredible vibe.”
What is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
“Any track from any DJ EZ Pure Garage compilation!.”
…always gets you dancing?
“Pat Benatar – ‘Love Is A Battlefield’.”
…reminds you of having your heart broken?
“Black Lace – ‘Agadoo’.”
…reminds you of Ibiza?
“Crazy P – ‘Heartbreaker’.”
—you wish you would have made?
“Double 99 – ‘Ripgroove’…that bassline will never die!”
What 1 producer or singer would you love to spend a day in the studio with?
“Shadow Child. He’s extremely talented and a really nice person.”
You switched to CDs after your entire vinyl collection got nicked. Did you ever find out what happened?
“Unfortunately not. I wish I did because I’d be on a one-woman mission to get them back.”
Not many people know this, but Hannah Wants is really good at…
“Football.”
Proudest career moment to date?
“This is too hard to answer just one…I’ve played a lot of the major festivals around the world this year that I’ve dreamed of playing and worked towards playing for over a decade now. This whole year has been pretty special.
Your worst ever job…
“I’ve never actually had one! Apart from DJing of course, which I absolutely love.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“I’m going to be back in the studio in the new year. I’ve got a couple of exciting collaborations lined up as well as working on some solo material for 2015.”
