With her signature snakebite piercings, wide sunglasses and thick braids, the style of Hannah Wants is a manifestation of her sound; dark, mysterious, and absolutely intriguing. Hailing from Birmingham, the British DJ has a loyal fanbase devoted to her music, which is bass-driven, heavy, and addictive, no doubt influenced by her early days spinning Speed Garage as a teenager. Playing as a DJ from the time she was 16, Hannah Wants’ big break came in 2010, when she was vacationing in Ibiza and was asked to fill in for a DJ headlining at the Es Paradis club. Four years later, she received the title of ‘Best Breakthrough DJ’ by both DJ Mag and Mixmag, as well as being crowned Mixmag’s ‘Star of the Year’. Since then, her rise has only grown greater, but she has remained true to her OG music influences of her youth.
She releases bi-monthly mixtapes on her Soundcloud, a tradition that started way back in 2010. Usually clocking in at a generous 80 minutes, the mixes are a treat to her fans, showing something a little different each time while still remaining true to her signature Bass-House sound. Her tracks, much like her mixes, are dark, dirty, and absolutely addictive. 2014 saw the release of what may be her most recognizable single, “Rhymes”, a collaboration with fellow Birmingham DJ Chris Lorenzo. Amidst the backdrop of the ever-repeating “Touch it, bring it, babe, watch it, turn it, leave it, stop, format it”, she combines the deep, rhythmic bass and the punchy high hat with almost surgical precision. Her newest collaboration with Kevin Knapp, “Call Me”, dropped on September 27th via Toolroom Records. The track is a fantastic blend of tech-house and funk; boasting a bouncy bassline and a catchy vocal sample interspersed with a dial tone, it is simultaneously groovy and driving.
This fall, Hannah Wants is coming through the USA and Canada on her North American tour. Stopping first in Montreal, Canada this Friday, she’ll then steadily work her way through the US, hitting up Brooklyn, Miami, Tempe, and Costa Mesa through the end of October. She ends the tour by returning to Canada, stopping in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary in early November. So if anyone needs to know my plans for November 9th, I’ll be at Coda in Toronto, Canada, dancing all night long to my namesake DJ.
Check out all of Hannah Wants’ tour dates here.
