Following his sold-out San Diego show, Bay Area native Hans Glader explains why UK Garage is taking over the electronic music scene in the US.
Hans Glader needs no introduction to UK Garage enthusiasts. With an extensive discography dating back to 2019, the Bay Area native has made waves in the garage scene, earning support from the likes of other artists such as Sammy Virji, Oppidan, and DJ Q. Paving the way as one of few UKG producers in the US, he continues to impress listeners with a sound that intricately blends jazz with UKG bounce, suitable for any atmosphere.
Notable releases like “Ghetto Strut” and “Gravity” with Oppidan stand as a testament to Hans Glader’s ability to create groovy, playful, and danceable tunes. This has led to him landing consistent signings with major record labels, including Night Bass, IN / ROTATION, Kiwi Rekords, Garage Shared, and Local Action.
Recently, we had the privilege of experiencing his mixing prowess firsthand at his latest performance in Pacific Beach, where fans from across San Diego gathered for an authentic UKG experience. There, Hans shared insights into his preparation process, what defines a great DJ, and his thoughts on Garage’s emergence in the US electronic music scene. Read on for the full conversation with Hans Glader and listen to his exclusive guest mix on SoundCloud.
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 417 || Hans Glader on SoundCloud:
Hi Hans, thank you for chatting with me today! I’ve been a big fan of yours for a while, so this is definitely special! Your recent headline show with Happening Times in San Diego was an absolute riot! What set this show apart from others you’ve played in San Diego, and how was the crowd interaction?
Thanks for the chat, Karma! The recent show in San Diego was killer. I played a few shows in the San Diego/Pacific Beach area, but none specifically catering to the garage sound. It was so great to see all the DJs throughout the night playing out tunes from artists that I felt like have been so underrated and undiscovered. A great step for garage music and the music scene in the US!
The crowd had so much flipping energy. [Laughs] You literally step right off the main drag and you’ve entered a party, and it felt like everyone there truly wanted to be there. Really great energy. San Diego never disappoints.
I’m always fascinated by how DJs craft their sets. What was your mindset in preparing for your most recent show? Were there any must-play tracks on your list, and do you have a preferred order for your sets, such as by BPM or key?
Crafting sets is so important to me. I’m picky about tunes sometimes, and key matching is also a big plus point. I kind of think of DJing like freestyle rapping, in that there are certain songs—or phrases—that you know can go together, so it’s just digging around in your bag of music until you find something that can stem a few good mixes.
As far as BPM, I tend to play everything pretty fast—around 135-140. In live sets, that’s more like 137-141, just for the extra energy.
The UKG scene has flourished lately, with artists like yourself, Sammy Virji, Oppidan, and MPH gaining prominence. Aside from it being an elite genre, why else do you think more and more people are drawn to garage?
I think people are drawn to garage music because there are just so many different parts of any given song that people can relate to or find interesting. A syncopated drum pattern, or a cool bass line, or maybe one of their favorite 2000s vocals that they know every word to. I come from a drumming background, so the drums and rhythm are mainly what made me start to obsess over the genre. From there, I realized that I could incorporate my jazz background from growing up and really create an interesting sound from my own personal musical influences.
Can you share a memorable interaction you’ve had with a fan or crowd as a whole? What made it stand out?
[Laughs] This one is great. A number of years ago, when UKG was barely alive in the US, I was playing a show somewhere in California, and I saw someone holding up their phone with a “UKG <3” on the screen. I immediately noticed, and after the show, we spoke a bit, but it just gassed me up to see someone else loving UKG.
Fast forward a few more shows, and he keeps showing up in San Diego, San Francisco, and more with this same “UKG <3” on his phone. I was – and am still – blown away by his dedication and love, but he one-upped himself yet again… I was playing a show at the Ministry of Sound… in LONDON, and I looked up and saw the now infamous “UKG <3” and his face. One of the coolest and most genuine people I’ve met at a show. See you soon! UKG.
I see you livestreaming and creating reels quite often on various social media platforms. How do you navigate maintaining your social media presence in today’s musical landscape, and what challenges have you faced in this realm?
Social media has been a tough one. Never really feels like you’re doing the right thing and attracting the correct audience. I recently tried uploading more drum-focused content after I drove my kit down from Northern California. I guess I’m a bit of a goofball all the time, so dancing around and playing drums at the same time is fun and never really seems like work. I’ve also started to upload live raw clips of live sets to TikTok as an alternative to the heavily edited content on Instagram and other platforms.
In your opinion, what distinguishes a good DJ from a great one, and why?
I believe a great DJ of course can read a room and put on a killer show, but truly I mostly enjoy watching a DJ enjoy what they’re doing. Often, people can play great music but just look so bored, and it rubs off on the audience. I really try to smile and engage with the audience as much as possible while performing. At the end of sets I’m always very sweaty, my jaw hurts from smiling, and I’m usually starting to lose my voice. I want to feel like I can assist my audience in dancing if they’re either shy or just need a dancing buddy.
What’s your top goal for 2024, and what steps are you currently taking to achieve it?
In 2024, I want to put out a lot more music that continues to sound more and more like me, and I really believe I started to properly dial in that sound in the last few months. It just makes me even more excited to release new music and, more importantly, make new music.
I also want to return to the UK. I had the greatest few weeks of my life going around England and playing shows. The energy over there is just unmatched, and although I caught some weird bug that’s been sticking with me for literally over a year now, I’m still desperate to return. I attempted to go back in September last year but, unfortunately, was turned around at the border and sent home – after sitting in a holding center for 15 hours. We will RETURN!
Since we’ve been discussing shows, let’s end with this: Before or after a show, where’s your favorite spot to grab a bite, and what’s your usual order?
Food is tricky. After a show, it is normally the same time I go to bed, so eating is always a late-night endeavor. I’m a sucker for some good Mexican food, and around LA, there are some crazy good spots. But regarding food after shows, you can’t go wrong with a street dog. Just walk around until you start to smell bacon and grab a wrapped dog with onions… Probably my death row meal.
Hans, thanks again for your time! Looking forward to seeing what comes next!
