Hannah Laing and I talk with cameras firmly off.
“I look like death,” the Dundee DJ laughs. “I just slept for 14 hours.”
Her rest is well earned; just hearing her schedule for the past week makes me want to have a lie down too.
“I had shows in New York, Boston and LA, then I flew straight from LA to Ibiza,” recounts Hannah, who is spending most of the summer at a 16-week residency at high-octane Ibiza club Hi.
“I had to go straight to Hi and play that show, and when that was finished I flew to Croatia. So it’s been crazy!”
And although Hannah admits that “the adrenaline of the next show” is often what fuels her, she’s been putting a lot of time into looking after her body and mind as her fame has exploded.
How Hannah keeps up party stamina
“Back in November 2024, I actually went on a retreat in the Lake District (Reset Retreats) for five days,” reveals the 30-year-old dental nurse-turned-DJ.
“I was off my phone, and I learned all about breathwork and meditation.”
Hannah admits the meditation was a challenge to begin with, as “my head is always so hectic”.
But she says after a bit of practice, it’s been a “game-changer”, inspiring her to hire a wellness coach who she sees weekly, as well as doing daily breathwork and ‘yoga nidra’ (similar to guided meditation) to help her unwind.
“It totally resets your nervous system. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without that now,” says Hannah, who has also taken up cold-water plunging since her retreat.
“I’ve bought a plunge pool for the garden and the cold water is just amazing,” she gushes.
“I get such a high off it – you almost feel proud of yourself because you’ve done something you really don’t want to do.”
Plus, we agree, there’s no cure for a hangover like a freezing dip.
“Tell me about it!” Hannah laughs. “Wake up and do a cold plunge, and I feel like a new woman!”
‘Surreal’ to see doof in the Park being built
Back at her villa in Ibiza, Hannah’s recuperating before going full-tilt into the final week of preparations for her inaugural doof in the Park dance festival in Dundee.
The sold-out festival is Hannah’s own brainchild, and is named after what she refers to as her “doof doof” music.
It’s set to take place in Camperdown Park on July 5 2025, and Hannah will be flying back to Scotland earlier in the week to do a walk-through of the site, along with her parents, both of her grandmothers, and her granddad.
“It doesn’t feel totally real yet, it’s all quite surreal,” she says. “I just keep envisioning walking into the site with my friends and family for the first time.
“To think this is something we’ve been planning for a year, and now it’s being built, is surreal.”
Hannah’s got doof sorted – down to the loos
Although Hannah is working with “experienced festival organisers” EE Live to bring the festival to life, she’s made sure she’s had final say on every single detail of the event – from the acts on stage all the way down to the toilets.
“It’s constant meetings and organising, and it’s hard, but ultimately I like it that way,” explains Hannah.
“It’s my face, it’s my brand, and I just care so much about the festival experience. Not just as a DJ but also as someone who has been to so many festivals as a raver myself.
“So I’m paying attention to the small details – are there enough toilets? Are there enough bars?
“We all know what queues can be like at these events and it can really affect the day.
“It’s a lot of work,” she admits, “but I know on the day, it’ll be worth it.”
‘Of course there will be mess,’ says DJ
But Hannah’s aware that not everyone in Dundee is as excited about the festival as she is.
I mention that a number of our readers have expressed concerns about mess being made by revellers in the public park, and questioned the city’s ability to cope with the 15,000 festivalgoers set to descend for the day.
“Of course there’s going to be a mess!” Hannah says exasperatedly. “Any event is going to make a mess.
“But we’re going to make sure it’s cleaned up. It’ll be a ‘no trace left’ operation.
“Besides, this is good for Dundee’s economy. The music may not be for everyone, but it’s good for the city. Plus we’ve sourced everything we can locally.”
Dundee legend Gill to make famous burgers
Along with featuring local acts including Billy Morris, Kieran ‘B2B’ Leechy and Keir Caithness on the Highlander stage, Hannah tells me that one special Dundee street food vendor will also be on hand for hungry ravers.
“We’ve got Gill from The Shack in Dundee coming down, which is really exciting,” says Hannah. “I’ve known Gill for years so it was only right to get her involved.
“She’s got to do a reduced menu because obviously it’s going to be so busy and she puts her heart and soul into all these dishes.
“But I know for a fact that The Shack is going to be queued up massively because Gill’s such a well-respected person in Dundee and the food is amazing.”
New music and a surprise premiere?
As if she’s not busy enough, Hannah reveals she’ll be releasing a new EP on Friday July 4, the day before the festival.
It will include collaborations with French producer Shlømo and London-based DJ Charlie Sparks.
“This year I wanted to release an EP in each genre just to show that this is what I do – everything,” she explains.
“This next one is called Into The Bounce and it’s a bouncy, techno-inspired one.”
And she hints at a “surprise premiere” of a collaboration for the next EP up her sleeve – a trance-inspired release.
“I’ll be collaborating with someone big in the trance world who’s possibly playing at doof in the Park,” she teases.
But above all else – the music, the food, the loos – Hannah wants doof in the Park ravers to have fun, and “look after each other”.
“It’s going to be hot, people are going to be drinking a lot, and whatever else,” she chuckles. “So please, if you’re coming along, look after your pals.
“And drink water!”
Hannah Laing headlines her festival, doof in the Park, at Dundee’s Camperdown Park on July 5 2025.Â
Conversation