Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Hang Linton
“Can you feel the heat?” asks Hang Linton on ‘Radiator’. And if you’ve ever listened to their music or seen them live, your answer is probably yes. The Leeds-based avant-funk artist brings the heat on every single track and in every single performance, dragging breakbeats into groovy punk soundscapes, punctuating political commentary with strange sound effects and effortless delivery, and engaging crowds full of kids just as much as seasoned music fans.
Hang’s sound is hard to pin down with one genre or collection of words. On ‘SALE’, they push into themes of consumerism over extra-terrestrial shimmers and prominent synths. On ‘Blue Light Hike’, they conjure up an atmospheric, Yves Tumor-esque soundscape to discuss racial profiling and police brutality, defiantly declaring, “I just wanna go home”. And ‘Wishbones’, their most recent offering, features an intro that sounds indebted to The Specials, falling into a moody, bass-driven track.
Their truly unpredictable but ever-entrancing sound has earned them some impressive gigs, including support slots with Kimya Dawson and fellow Leeds dwellers Yard Act. And at each and every show, no matter how big or small, Hang manages to captivate audiences, winning them over with their carefully curated set and visuals, as well as their inimitable and immediately loveable presence on stage.
Now, Hang is gearing up to release their debut EP, Demonstrations. The release features tracks like ‘Blue Light Hike’ and ‘Wishbones’, as well as a slew of new tracks that push Hang’s sound even further. Opener ‘A Rush of Wind…’ commits to airy ambience, leaving no space for Hang’s vocals, while ‘Made in Grey Britain’ shows off Hang’s continuing talent for poignant yet accessible political commentary.
Ahead of the release of their debut EP, which arrives on November 29th, we caught up with Hang to chat about dream dinner party guests, controversial cultural opinions, and the best venues in the world.
Quick-fire Questions with Hang Linton:
1. Describe your music in three words.
“Rebellious, visceral, boundary-pushing.”
2. What is the best venue in the world?
“I don’t think I’ve played it or been there yet. I must say some of the places I love most and have been treated the best are independent venues like Brudenell Social Club, Hope House at MAP, Cobalt Studios, Delicious Clam, Gut Level and The Trades Club. Nothing beats a real community feel where artists are considered & cared for.”
3. Who is the most exciting artist in Leeds right now?
“Too many to choose from, but I’m most excited by Draaags – they’ve got a raw energy and DIY spirit that’s electrifying.”
4. What was the first gig you ever attended?
“My mum is a massive comper and won tickets to Popworld live at Wembley back in 2003 or something, so unofficially, my first gig was seeing Sugarbabes, Atomic Kitten and Blazin’ Squad. But for a long time, I denied this and told people it was System of a Down, which was my follow-up gig.”
5. What’s a classic album you haven’t heard yet?
“The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. I missed these kinds of sounds growing up as there was a lot more jazz, funk and rocksteady from that era being played by my elders. When I started to explore guitar-based music in my teens, I found solace in heavier styles like groove, doom and slam metal.”
6. What song do you have on repeat right now?
“I don’t listen to songs on their own all too much, mostly listen to mixes or albums. So the album on rinse right now is Scientific Dub by The Scientist. The layered and psychedelic production combined with incredibly catchy melodies has been very inspirational to my recent writing.”
7. What’s on your rider?
“Some melon, sparkling water, maybe a nice cup of Yorkshire tea if the mood strikes.”
8. When are you at your most creative?
“When I’ve got my errands and to-dos out of the way. I find it hard to be creative with baggage on my mind. When evening rolls around, I find a rhythm. The quiet and absence of distractions lets me channel ideas without interruptions.”
9. Who are your dream dinner party guests?
“TV on the Radio, Santigold, K-OS, Black Sabbath, Goldie and Pete Tosh. To be honest, I think this is more like my dream studio guests, but hey, come to mine for dinner, and the studio sesh is included.”
10. Give us your most controversial culture opinion.
“Whatever is sold to you as culture is not culture. What’s sold to us as culture often feels hollow or commercialised. Real culture comes from grassroots and lived experiences. You’re gonna have a more rounded experience spending the £400 it costs to go to a huge field designed to milk you compared to spending it across the year at your local venue supporting emerging musicians and keeping the ecosystem alive.”
11. Give us a film recommendation we probably haven’t seen.
“Shin Godzilla from 2016. Incredible and terrifying portrayal of the mega beast alongside a fantastic critique of governmental inadequacy.”
12. Is there a genre of music you haven’t yet ventured into that you would like to?
“Industrial doom meeting jungle and breaks – a chaotic collision of heaviness and rhythm that I’d love to experiment with.”
13. What has been your favourite album of 2024?
“It’s either King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2 by Denzel Curry, or You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To by Knocked Loose. Both albums are packed with undeniable energy and unique production – qualities I admire and aspire to in my own music.”
14. Are The Beatles overrated?
“Never listened to them like that, so I can’t really comment. Put them on during my first few mushroom adventures, and that’s about it. Was a pleasant experience, but my personal comparison is they are similar to Game of Thrones. Big hype, big catalogue, even though everyone tells me how great it is and I know I will probably enjoy it, I just can’t really be arsed to sit through all of it.”
15. What’s your dream venue/festival to play?
“I dream to see the world through music, and playing in Thailand, Malaysia, or Japan would feel like a true success moment. When it happens I would, of course, ride the wave as long as I can but would also be more than content with what I have achieved so far.”
