HMWL meets Renowned UK DJ,Producer and BBC R1 Radio Host Charlie Hedges

BBC Radio 1 dance show host and DJ Charlie Hedges returns to London indie label Perfect Havoc with the high-octane new single, ‘Lost In It All’ featuring star vocalist Jess Ball. With old skool rave stab synths and a driving bassline, ‘Lost In It All’ had already been making festival-goers giddy when Charlie dropped it to thousands of fans gathered at Gold Coast Festival last month.

This big tune dropping follows a good news week for the larger-than-life Charlie Hedges, after the announcement she would be presenting a brand new Dance Anthems Show, scheduled for the Drive Time slot on the Radio 1 Dance airwaves, Mondays – Fridays 3-6pm. Now totalling three shows across Radio 1, as co-host of the iconic Live Lounge, and as the selector on the UK’s biggest Saturday night dance show, Dance Anthems, Charlie Hedges is a bona fide authority on the international dance music scene and a right laugh to boot.

We caught up with Charlie to discuss her conquering of the airwaves, what’s in store for the Radio 1 Weekender and more.

Congratulations on securing your third radio show – the Drive Time slot on Radio 1 Dance. How does it feel to be part of such a seismic shift?

I feel incredibly lucky to have been asked to present what is going to be a very exciting new show on Radio 1 Dance. Dance Anthems has the most incredible listeners, and I’m hoping they will join me in the week alongside new listeners who may not have heard the show before.

How will the content differ on the new show to what you’re playing in your weekend Dance Anthems show over on Radio 1?

It’ll be same in that it’ll have all the classic bangers you love and like to hear, just a shed load more of them as the drive time show will be 5 days a week.

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And congratulations on your new single ‘Lost In It All’ on Perfect – it’s quite the banger! What ideas did you initially go into the studio with, and how does that compare with how the track came out?

Thank you very much – It’s all so exciting at the moment. I’ve been playing all over the place, from festivals in the UK to gigs abroad, so this time, I wanted to make a tune I knew I could play in a club or a festival and on the radio. Something that sounded right for the summer but also one that will be timeless and still sound good, hopefully, in a few years. I hope this is what myself and the team have created.

Talk to us about the upcoming Radio 1 Weekender in Ibiza. What’s in store?

These are always the most incredible weekends. I’ll be playing at Eden on the Friday night alongside the likes of Hannah Laing, Schak and Jaguar and on air across the weekend too.

What other shows do you have lined up that you’re really looking forward to?

I am really looking forward to Summerdaze in Malta; I’m playing alongside Becky Hill and Sam Smith on Thursday, and on Saturday, it’s myself alongside Jax Jones, Jodie Harsh, Sonny Fodera, Solardo and more. Also, Dance Anthems at Ibiza Rocks on 26th August, plus tonnnesss more dates you can find on my website charliehedges.com.

Did you make it to Glastonbury?

I didn’t make it to Glastonbury sadly no, but it looked incredible!!! I’m just catching up on iPlayer now at all the performances. I would have loved to see Disclosure there!

How about Euro 2024 – have you been following England’s quest so far?

I used to be a huge football fan and the Euros has definitely got me back into loving the game again. I’ve been watching the whole tournament, but I actually missed England’s goal against Slovakia as my little girl wanted to watch Paddington Bear, and when I switched it back to the game, they’d scored.

Talk to us about forthcoming music – what else do you have lined up for the rest of the year?

Lots of tbc, to be honest. At the moment, I’ve loved working with Perfect Havoc again on this track; they’re the loveliest team with the most incredible ideas. Let’s see what the future holds.

While most associate you with Dance Anthems, what up-and-coming artists do you have an eye for that we should check out?

A vocalist called Jess Ball who also happens to be on my new track hehe (had to get a shameless plug in here).

With festival season now in full swing, what three tracks can you guarantee we’ll be hearing on heavy rotation across the summer?

Disclosure – She’s Gone, Dance On