Q&A: HAAI’S ‘DIGITiSE’ CREATES A WORLD OF EXPRESSION AND BELONGING
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY LAUREN SANTIA ☆
A CELEBRATION OF INDENTITY THROUGH SOUND — London-based producer and DJ HAAi blends self-expression and passion throughout her music. Recently listed as Beatport’s latest Artist of the Month and a collaborator with many artists including Fred Again.., HAAi has become a face of queer representation in the EDM community. She carves out a safe space with every set as she brings representation, celebration and a sense of belonging to the dance floors.
Her brand new album, DIGiTISE, delivers high, club-like energy to the stage that is sure to turn any venue into a fun safe space for belonging, dancing and human connection. Filled with a multitude of talented collaborators including Pat Alvarez, ILA, James Massiah, and Kaiden Ford, this 10-track genre-bending album is not only an extension of her 2025 HUMANiSE, but also an extension of HAAi’s own artistry. In regards to the album, HAAi explains that DIGiTISE is a bigger and more ravey sibling and sequel to her previous album HUMANiSE. It takes the emotional core of its predecessor and brings it directly into the club.
Luna spoke with HAAi about the role of queer representation in music, finding creative inspiration and maintaining balance and inner peace in an industry that’s constantly on the move.
Read Luna’s conversation with HAAi below.
LUNA: Why is queer representation important in music to you?
HAAI: Visibility is always important in any space, but especially in music. I think it encourages safer dance floors and for people to feel seen and comfortable. As a queer artist, the representation inspires other young and queer artists to keep going. I think queer representation on lineups also makes the dance floors and venues more diverse and interesting as well. The world is harder for queer people at the moment and we need to find ways to celebrate and add color to spaces.
LUNA: You’re always traveling and playing shows all around the world. With all of this changing and moving, how do you find the time to create more music?
HAAI: I have an amazing studio but, because I’m on the move so much, I’ve been able to adapt to creating on the road to not hold up any deadlines. It’s all-consuming for me. Leaning into that allows me to be more experimental! I also always find emotional connection to my music.
LUNA: Piggybacking off of that, how do you avoid or deal with burnout while on the go?
HAAI: A big thing for me on the road is going to the gym. It helps me keep my mental and physical wellbeing at bay especially while away. In all honesty, you just need to listen to your body and take it day by day. I’m pretty resilient when it comes to fatigue, but I’ve definitely felt it a lot more over the past couple years. I also have learned that when you’ve been on such a crazy tour run, it’s so full of highs and lows. It’s so important to be kind to yourself and know when to pump the breaks. Whenever you allow yourself to listen to your brain and body, it lets you find your reset. Finding a routine when I get home after traveling also helps me so much.
LUNA: What’s a piece of advice you’d have for people trying to grow a career in music?
HAAI: When it comes to DJing especially, keep sticking with it and knowing who you’re doing it for. The biggest thing I try to pass onto people is that you’re there to serve the crowd. There's no bigger rush than walking away from the night knowing your audience had the best time. When it comes to production, stick with things and take time to find what you’re comfortable with while taking risks. Don’t rush it! It’s also so important to find genuine joy in what you’re doing and let go of your ego. Do it because you love the music and environment. Having genuine care for what you’re doing is what will make you successful.
LUNA: Do you have any additional advice specifically for queer people in the music space?
HAAI: Find your community and lean into that. Diversity on lineups is important, but it’s also so important for us to stay connected. So find those queer parties, clubs and spaces and tune into that as much as you can! Keep going and don’t stop.
