And just like the story of the nativity, we’ve been following a star. I know what you’re thinking and yes, I suppose you could liken us to wise men, sure, why not?
But enough about us…
You’d be hard pressed to find someone who is unaware of Hannah Wants. Her rise in the last 12 months has been meteoric. Flash back to the summer and we saw the mutual romance that she has established with Ibiza and the Balearic summer scene reunited once again; particularly impressive were her sets at Café Mambo & Amnesia, making her a highlight for many of the Beefa holiday-goers. She has since completed a tour of North America as part of the Night Bass North America & Canada tour alongside names such as Jack Beats, Kry Wolf & AC Slater. The last year boasts a guest appearance on Annie Mac’s Radio 1 Dance Party and second billing on her AMP UK tour for this year emphasising her well earned status.
Hannah Wants is now a household name (pun intended, obviously) sitting comfortably amongst the heavyweights of house and dance music, all the more impressive considering guest mixes for B-Traits’ Radio 1 residency in 2013 off the back of signing for UK based Echo Location Talent agency & AM Only in the US, and a mention at the turn of 2014 as a ‘Future Star’ on Skream & Benga’s Radio 1 show shortly after claiming The People's Choice Award at the 2013 Base Music Awards are not all such a distant memory
Well the Future is here. And the future is Orange. I mean Hannah. The future is Hannah.
But let’s take a look back and see where it all started for Hannah Wants...
'As soon as I knew what a DJ was, I wanted to be a DJ'
Like many others, Hannah Wants grew up with a love of music, appreciating the many genres that she was exposed to. Her website bio cites an 'eclectic mix of sounds; Soul, R&B, Rock, Indie, 80's & 90's, Electro & House'. But there is a difference between appreciating music and having the drive to want to recreate it and be a part of what you're appreciating...
'I've loved music from a very young age and as soon as I knew what a DJ was, I wanted to be a DJ. I started to teach myself the art form when I was just 16 and then my path was a long but amazing one, consisting of practice, gigging and slowly but surely climbing the ranks'
Her bi-monthly mixtapes are an infusion and celebration of all these sounds; the title Roots is a tilt of the cap in their direction. Her recognition of her influences is something that is always at the forefront of her performance.
What do you call it? Yes, garage ladies and gentleman. So imagine our delight when Hannah revealed one of her major influences...
'Growing up I used to listen to a lot of garage compilations. I was majorly into UKG and Speed Garage back then and to be fair, I still am today. I love the occasions when I can drop an old school track into my sets!'
Amen, Sister. All hail la Garage.
The simple and effective music of the early millennium era swept the nation and created an army of garage heads. And it is not to be overlooked. In fact, Hannah's recognition of the local UK Garage scene goes a long way to forming her musical style today...
'Bassline House was a genre and scene in Birmingham that kind of evolved from the UKG and SG sounds around 2001 - my love for House evolved from there'
Praise the lord it did.
'I genuinely don't think there's a better feeling than to DJ live to a crowd of people feeling your set. It's what I live for'
'DJ'ing will always be my first love and passion. I've been DJ'ing for over 10 years and making music for around 3, and whilst I love both, I genuinely don't think there's a better feeling than to DJ live to to a crowd of people who are fully feeling your set. It's what I live for'
And she's not half bad at it either. Her summer performances at Parklife, Loveboxx and Creamfields have all drawn rave reviews. Sets in her home town of Birmingham at 2.31 and 10.31 Rainbow Warehouse events as well as gigs at legendary venues such as The Masque's Chibuku and Warehouse Project have all lent a hand in shaping Hannah Wants' journey to the top of modern house music performances. And the recognition is flowing. Her stint as a bi-weekly resident for Mista-Jam's #60Minutes Mix on his Radio 1-Xtra show was consistently superb, pushing on from the previous odd guest appearance; Hannah is a DJ people want to hear more and more of. And if Mista-Jam likes you, then we like you.
She’s had her name on the bill of the AMP tour this year; her performance in Manchester at Warehouse Project's return to store street in November was a particularly enticing one and let me tell you, she did not disappoint. As the night drew to a close and Room 1 filled to nigh-on over capacity, people witnessed the culmination of a night of epic musical performances, with Hannah Wants lifting the roof of the place. A Booka Shade vs MANDY x Tempa T mix of Body Language & Next Hype nearly caused a riot.. In fact, I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise to whoever the poor girl was that I aggressively told to ‘get out the car’ and that she would receive ‘none of her CD’s back’. There was in fact no car and I can assure your CD’s will remain perfectly safe.
But en route to inevitable headline performances of her own, Hannah has battled her way to top whilst appreciating that each set can bring a different vibe...
'Of course each act is different. If I'm opening a night, closing a night or playing a peak time set then my sets will vary accordingly. Different gigs have different vibes and I think it is important for a DJ to recognise and adapt to that'
Obviously we've all had the thought process whilst watching a set, 'I could do that you know. I absolutely killed my little brothers Disco birthday party back in '07. Shout out the Now 52', but there is more than meets the eye when it comes to performance. It might just be trickier than you think...
'Warm-up and closing sets are often the hardest gigs to play. I've been a closing set bi-weekly resident at Amnesia in Ibiza this year and it's probably been my biggest challenge to date, but I've loved every minute of it!'
The phrase over night success is thrown around all to often these days and as Hannah proves it takes more then one night to get there, it has taken a summer of them. But as 2014 comes to a close its safe to say Hannah is leaving it reeling. And she shows no signs of slowing down. She finishes the year on the back of her '14 bi-monthly mixtape series, with 1114 which is another huge offering…
The mix is a combination of what Hannah does best. A mix of big bass tracks, melodic house and a nod to the old school. Hannah is a DJ who always appears at the top of her game.
Mixtape 1114
Hannah leaves us safe in the knowledge that this is only the beginning as she is set to blow the UK away with her first headline tour, ‘WHAT HANNAH WANTS TOUR’ in which she’ll be bringing her decadent performances up and down the British Isles culminating in shows at The Rainbow in her beloved home town of Birmingham and The Albert Hall in Manchester.
So as the nights slowly but surely begin to draw out and the promise of a music-filled summer beckons, remember to enjoy the here and now, because this star isn’t going anywhere any time soon.
Better find those dancing shoes because you'll need them. Maybe you left them at Loveboxx? No?
Just me me then.
For more mixes visit Hannah Wants' Soundcloud & for all else Hannah and for details of her headline UK Tour check out her website http://www.hannahwants.com/