DJ Hannah Laing on how losing her best friend reshaped her year

DJ and producer Hannah Laing says the past year has been one of the hardest of her life.

Everything changed after her childhood best friend Ellie Scanlan died just days before she was due to headline the debut of her hometown festival.

Hannah was touring in Ibiza and looking forward to her doof In The Park event in Dundee when she received the news last July.

"When I got that phone call, I felt like my world had just collapsed," she said.

She had a choice - cancel the festival or keep going. So she pushed through for her friend.

"Ellie was supposed to be coming to the festival. She would have wanted me to keep going," Hannah said.

She performed her DJ set but said she struggled on stage.

"I saw someone in the crowd with a flag of Ellie's face and it all just hit me," she told BBC Scotland.

"Like, my head didn't feel in it, but I was so thankful for the Dundee crowd.

"The whole of Dundee knew what I was going through, and there were so many people in that crowd going through the same, because Ellie was such a big character in the city."

After the event, Hannah cancelled shows for the first time in her 12-year career, saying she had been "really struggling to perform".

"I was just crying throughout the sets and not feeling good," she admitted.

She felt guilty about letting her fans down but was grateful of how understanding everyone was when she explained the situation on social media.

She said: "I didn't get one bad comment.

"People were so supportive."

Hannah also revealed she has recently stopped drinking, saying she realised she had begun to rely on alcohol to cope with her grief.

She said that during the summer she was using alcohol to escape the pain of losing her friend.

"I was honestly partying to get through it.

"Looking back, it wasn't the best coping mechanism," she said.

"As soon as I'd have a drink, I'd forget about it all. I managed to perform. I'd do the shows.

"But then - in between - I'd be sitting on a flight crying, feeling absolutely rubbish, knowing that I've got to go and do it again, but then I would drink again."

She said that losing Ellie while touring made everything feel more intense.

"No one can prepare you for that happening and being in the spotlight at the same time."

Hannah says that she has now been sober for 54 days and is feeling proud of herself for making the change.

"I've done 17 shows... and I'm still finding my way with it."

She says other DJs who have gone sober have reassured her that the adjustment takes time.

She said: "Any other DJs that have taken the jump and went sober say 'yeah, it's not great at the start, but you will get used to it and you'll start to enjoy it again'."

Hannah added that Ellie would have supported the change.

"I think she'd say that she's proud of me for going sober because we were both party animals."

Hannah believes the events of the past year have strengthened her commitment to Dundee, especially since the city played such a crucial role in her early career.

"I started out being a resident at the students' union and people would come see me every week," she said.

"That's really where I started to build my small, loyal fanbase."

She has now opened a new community music studio in the city, saying she hopes it will remove barriers for young people interested in electronic music.

Based inside Street Soccer's Change Centre, doof Studios has been developed with social enterprise Turn The Tables and offers access to DJ and production equipment, free workshops and low-cost private hire.

Hannah says the space aims to support people who may not otherwise have access to the industry.

"Music equipment is expensive. It's not something everyone can just have in the house."

When she was starting out, there were no comparable DJ facilities in Dundee.

"I used to travel to Dumbarton when I was learning. I remember borrowing money for petrol to go there.

"I would have loved to have something like this on my doorstep."

She hopes the studio will give people routine, confidence and a creative outlet, particularly those who may be struggling with their mental health.

"Music was always my go-to for escape," she said.

"I think music is such a good outlet for people."

Hannah says she now feels fortunate to be able to give something back to her hometown.

She also plans to offer opportunities to emerging artists who show dedication.

"People can go in there, learn, and we can keep an eye on who's progressing, who's loving it, who's showing the passion, putting in the hours.

"Then I can really give them opportunities."

Some of the young people using the studio may even play at her festival.

"We've opened up a few slots at doof In The Park for the people that are learning."

Hannah says she thinks Ellie would be proud not only of the new studio project, but also of the track she has released in her memory with vocalist Hannah Boleyn.

Have You Ever Loved (Ellie) was named BBC Radio 1's Hottest Record last month, and Hannah describes it as the most meaningful song she has written.

She said the vocal immediately made her think of Ellie, and that working on the track became a way of channelling her grief.

"Main character energy is the best way to describe her," she said.

"She was loyal, kind, and the life of every room.

"She would be absolutely buzzing to have all this attention on her."