Meet Hazel Daigneault | Electronic DJ/Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hazel Daigneault and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hazel, why did you pursue a creative career?
I always really enjoyed music as a way to pass the time and to add something enjoyable in the background. I grew up in a smaller town where there wasn’t a lot to do, and so playing guitar gave me a skillset that my hometown could never have offered me. When I entered middle school, one of my friends at the time introduced me to Monstercat, which sparked my love for electronic music. One thing led to another, and now I’m a part of the electronic scene! Artists such as Virtual Riot, MARAUDA, and PhaseOne inspired me to make bass music, which has expanded out of genres such as dubstep and into others such as drum and bass.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart from other DJs and producers is the energy and passion that I bring into my projects. I only ever release songs that I can confidently say I am proud of, and my live sets are always high energy. I’m excited for how many shows I’m being booked for, as a couple months ago I had never played for a live audience. The growth that I’ve been seeing recently is astonishing and I couldn’t be more excited about where my music career is going. Getting into the industry is relatively easy, but making a name for yourself is very different. Anyone can release a song, but it all comes down to the connections that person has and how much they’ve put into that track. There are some artists that are absolutely underrated, but due to how competitive the industry is, they haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve. I honestly just worked and worked at my craft until I was fortunate enough to be offered an opportunity to work for a local nonprofit, Band Blast Off, that introduced me to some great people and some priceless connections.
I’ve learnt that one of the best ways to gain ground as a musician is to give back to the community. This can take the form of fundraisers, charity events, and nonprofits, but finding a way to help the people around you is a great way to get your name out there. I see it as one gives to the community, and the community gives back.
I don’t have anything special to say about my brand in particular, but I want people to support local music more. Local shows have been some of the most fun I’ve had with my girlfriend, and they’re an awesome way to get involved in a community that you may have never interacted with otherwise. And who knows, maybe your favorite artist is somewhere on that corkboard with all the local events happening.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d have to take them to the best restaurant Fort Collins has to offer, Music City Hot Chicken. I’ve eaten there for years and it’s never disappointed. Then we’d struggle through I-25 traffic to make our way to the Black Box for a show. The sound system and environment all combine to be one of the greatest venues I’ve ever set foot in. At some point we’d have to make a stop at Meow Wolf, the entire experience is one of the weirdest ways to reset your brain and have a good time. One of the next stops would be 830 North in Fort Collins, one of the newer venues that also has bowling. The FoCo music community has gathered there for a lot of events and the people are great to be around. A day at the Lyric Cinema would have to happen, it’s like a mini Meow Wolf but with more local charm and some amazing independent art and artists.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate a major part of my success to my wonderful girlfriend Soprano, she has done nothing but support me since we met and her love has given me confidence beyond what I could have ever hoped for. I’d also like to give a lot of credit to Mike for having opened up so many doors for me recently, having a mentor in the industry is incredibly helpful and he’s brought me to some experiences that I’m very grateful for.

Website: https://hazelhates.github.io/music/index.html

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hazelhatesyoumusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hazelhatesyou

Other: https://soundcloud.com/hazelhatesyou