Dundee doof-maker Hannah Laing is one of the UK's hottest dance music exports owing to her unwavering passion and downright hard graft.
In a previous life as a dental nurse and music hobbyist, it was her rave edit of Sophie Ellis-Bexter's Murder On The Dancefloor that triggered Hannah's trajectory to international notoriety. The track was picked up by Peggy Gou, FISHER and Jaguar.
Signings to Trick, Sola and Spinnin’ Records followed. Then in 2023, Hannah Laing's Good Love with RoRo rocketed into the top ten in the official UK chart, proving that club music can keep pace with the mainstream high-flyers on mass appeal.
This year, Hannah Laing welcomes us to the doof - her freshly launched record label and party brand. On Tuesday 16 July, we caught up with Hannah backstage at Ibiza Rocks, a place integral to the Hannah Laing success story, for a one-off DOOF Ibiza party.
Hannah Laing welcomes you to the DOOF
We're here at Ibiza Rocks, ahead of DOOF's exclusive takeover, how are you feeling?
"Yeah, good. I'm so happy to bring the DOOF here and I'm really excited to play. I've got loads of new music to share from my upcoming EP (out now via Polydor since 25 July). I also cannot wait for special guest Charlie Sparks, who's on after me. I love him."
We'll come to the EP later…can you talk us through the line-up for today. Who is joining you?
"I've got Matty Ralph, who's signing to my label. He's opening up. He is one of my favourite producers right now breaking out of Belfast. He's so good, I always play loads of his tunes in my sets.
Also, the Reboot DJs (Shona Brophy, top left below) - the Irish collective. Then I've got my mates Jezza and Jod (bottom left below) from Glasgow, the party boys! They're on before me and then it's over to my special guest Charlie Sparks (right below)."
"Charlie is one of my favourite artists. I've loved and followed his sound for years so it's really cool to have him on the line-up for DOOF Ibiza."
You mentioned the Reboot guys there, You've played for their Outset Ibiza residency already this year at Eden, as well as the boat party. What are they like to work with?
"They're sound. They're most accommodating people I've ever met.
They were the first team to book me in Ireland. I've since done my Irish tour with them and I play a lot of their shows over there. They look after you so much. It's literally become like a big family now, so it's really cool to be able to return the favour and put them on one of my shows."
Hannah playing at Eden for Outset Ibiza - she returns on 2 August with Radio 1
Let's talk about your early days on Ibiza as a resident DJ for West End Scottish bar The Highlander. How much of an impact did it have on your career?
"When I came over to do a season many moons ago, about 11 years ago now, I hadn't even been DJing that long. I had no intention of coming here to DJ. I just wanted to do an Ibiza season so I could go partying.
I was going to work in a bar or PR or something and I used to sit at The Highlander most days to use the Wi-Fi. When I asked The Highlander if any DJ slots were going, they said they had everything covered for summer.
Then, they needed a DJ last minute for a hen party so they phoned me and asked if I could play that night. I was like, 'yeah, definitely!' I remember thinking this is the first time I'm DJing Ibiza, it's going to be crazy."
"They wanted me to play for two hours, and I ended up playing for five hours that night, so then they offered me three nights a week. I couldn't believe it. The first time I'd come to do a season and I had bagged a wee residency at The Highlander.
Honestly, The Highlander was mental! The crowds were amazing and full of Scots of course, so I felt right at home. I feel like that's how I really learned to DJ, by getting thrown in the deep end. Then I came back to do three more seasons with them."
Any wild stories you can share from your time there?
"…not for the internet!"
Your Into The Doof EP drops next week and features new single Stay, featuring Jem Cooke. What can you tell us about the release?
"The EP is six tracks in total. I've already released two of the singles, so there'll be four new tracks. I love all different styles of doof and each track is completely different. I don't like limiting myself when I'm making tunes. I wanted to bring that all together.
I've been testing them out in the last week. You can expect to hear all six throughout today's set."
Although you must be disappointed about DOOF not taking place at 528 Ibiza, you're there at the start of next month for BBC Radio 1 as well as headlining the After Party at Eden. Why is this weekend so important for young clubbers?
"I love 528 and I'm so glad I'm still getting the chance to still play there with BBC Radio 1. I was obviously gutted that we couldn’t host DOOF there, but Ibiza Rocks is a pretty wicked replacement, right? I would have been devastated had it not happened at all.
As for Radio 1, I can't wait to play for them. It's such a big brand that people come to Ibiza specifically for their weekend, even though they might not have heard of everyone on the line-up. So, it helps them discover new artists.
When I was trying to come up, Radio 1 and R1 Introducing putting me on their line-ups. Giving my tracks airtime was a huge factor in me getting discovered. Jaguar is the reason that I’m on Radio 1 after my graduation from Introducing.
Everything she does for upcoming artists makes her a legend in my eyes."
You have an Ibiza date for HE.SHE.THEY. at Amnesia, as well as another appearance here at Ibiza Rocks alongside Ben Hemsley. That’s a nice mixture of parties. What was it like joining Ben at Amnesia at the start of summer?
"The Terrace has been on the bucket list for both of us for a long time, so to get to do that together when we've been on a similar journey, coming up at the same time, so that was very special. That night was mental and maybe even my favourite show of the summer so far.
I can't wait to go back and play Amnesia for HE.SHE.THEY. I've wanted to play one of their parties for a while."
After our interview, we cheers over a cold beer, before Hannah Laing proudly signs her name on the door of Ibiza Rocks' star dressing room. The party momentum from Jezza & Jod is ready to sail through and the crowd are eager to hear the doof doof sounding tunes packed into Hannah's USB.
Hard Dance, House and Techno selections send feet stomping and arms in the air amongst which we hear teases of Hannah Laing's Into The Doof EP, which dropped on 25 July and is now available to stream and download on all reputable online platforms.
Missed out on DOOF Ibiza? You can catch Hannah Laing at BBC Radio 1 Dance Live at 528 Ibiza on Friday 2 August alongside some of the biggest DJs of the moment and again later, headlining the official After Party at Eden.
Find final tickets and the full line-up for 528 Ibiza below. For tickets and info to the official After Party at Eden, please visit this page. For Hannah's remaining Ibiza 2024 dates, click here.
