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Introducing Joe Hawes

Joe Hawes is an English DJ and producer from Torquay who is best known for his energetic beats and unique DJ sets. Beginning his career in music as a drummer, Joe incorporates his percussive talents into his DJ sets, using drum pads and live drums as well as delivering on the production side too. Inspired by the likes of Don Diablo and Martin Garrix, Joe fits the mould of a Future House DJ to a tee and with appearances in Amnesia, Ibiza for Cream and at a sold-out Wakestock Festival in Wales, supporting the likes of Calvin Harris and Deadmau5 along the way. We caught up with Joe to find out a little bit more about the man behind the music.

 

First off, for those who don’t know you, tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure thing! My name is Joe Hawes, I’m a DJ and producer. I’ve been DJ’ing in clubs since I was 17 and I’ve been taking music production seriously for the last 5 years. I’ve always been into music from a really young age, I started out as a drummer and was playing in bands in school. It then led me to music college, where I continued to play in live and recording bands that were mostly Rock and Indie.

 

It was whilst I was at college that I started to DJ and during the last year of college I was getting a train after I had finished lectures to go play until 3 am in a club 100 miles away, to then get a train back the next day to go back to college! Doing this proved to me music was my life and DJ’ing was what I wanted to do in the music industry.

 

How did you first get into music?

When I was around 10 years old I was always tapping on things to the music and just simply annoying my family by doing so, so my mum got me my first Drum Kit for my birthday. I guess playing the drums would sound better than tapping the tables 24/7!

So once I got my drums I started to really get into Rock and Indie music and every day after school I would learn new covers of songs. I think at the time I would try to play pretty much every Blink 182 song I could!

  

What was the moment that made you fall in love with dance music?

I think I was a bit of a late bloomer with Dance music. At the time I started to learn to DJ, I had no idea about Dance music. I went to a club (Underage, sorry mum!)  with my brother and he introduced me to his friend who was the DJ. I just remember being in the DJ booth at 17, seeing a packed club have the best time of their lives! From this point, I wanted to know more, which is how I then started to learn, all from my brothers’ friend.

 

Who are your musical influences?

This has changed throughout my life a lot! Currently, I really love what Don Diablo is doing, he has really ground his way to the top and also, he is far from a one-trick pony, which I think is important and essential in this industry! But I do also still love a lot of the Indie/pop-punk guys like Blink 182 etc. If you ever hear one of my sets you will understand what I mean. I absolutely love finding an amazing remix of old indie/rock track!

 

What has been your biggest career achievement so far?

There’s a few to choose from but I think if I had to narrow it down, it would be when I played sets in-between big artists on the main stage of a Festival in Wales. A huge artist would finish, and I would play for 15 minutes until the next one comes on. So, as you can imagine it literally felt like I was getting peak time mainstage sets at points.

 

What’s your opinion on the current UK dance music scene?

If I’m completely honest, UK dance music has come a long way but as much as I would love my genre to be the biggest in the UK Dance scene it isn’t. So obviously right now I would like to see it change and come away from so much Tech House. I have nothing against Tech House at all but obviously my passion and love are in more Future House/EDM music which isn’t massive at the moment in the UK. However, I do feel with Bassline being so big in the UK this is helping people explore other areas of more higher energy Dance Music.

 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In a perfect world, I would love to be touring the world playing the biggest festivals around. Working with some amazing artists in the studio, and I would also love to release an album as well!

 

Do you have any hobbies outside of music?

I used to Skateboard a lot when I was younger. However, with music that stopped. I wouldn’t say I have any other hobbies as such, everything I love doing in my spare time is always linked to music in someway!

 

If you could produce any other genre of music, what would it be and why?

I would love to be able to compose classical music. The complete opposite to Electronic music but with classical music you can create a 10-minute piece and really tell a story. It is a little more difficult to do that with electronic music, so where possible I do like to add classical instruments and elements to my tracks.

If I had to pick an electronic genre, I would love to be able to produce Drum N Bass. It’s something I keep telling myself to try more, I just never get around to it!

 

 

What’s next in store for Joe Hawes?

I have been working on a new live show which includes me drumming where I’ll have an acoustic kit and samplers etc. But the selling point of this is the visual show. It is very visual in regards to lighting, I have a whole rig around me and a big LED screen behind, so it really is a big visual experience!

 

Aside from that, I have a release called “Shakin” which is ready to pre-order on the 21st October and it will be released on the 4th November! Really proud of this release, I hope you all enjoy it!

 

Joe Hawes Online

www.soundcloud.com/joe_hawesuk

www.twitter.com/Joe_HawesUK

www.mixcloud.com/joe_hawesuk

 

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