A DJ based in South Devon but originally hailing from the West Midlands, HAYLO (formerly Hayley Blue) has spent over 15 years honing her craft behind the decks, establishing house music as her true home while maintaining a deep curiosity for multiple genres. Driven by a love for strong grooves, soulful vocals, and emotive melodies, her DJ sets are masterclasses in dancefloor connection that seamlessly transition between two distinct sonic worlds. She can expertly weave a journey through soulful, deep, and progressive sounds to steadily build a room's energy, or pivot into the high-octane realm of disco and Jackin' house with fast, high-energy mixes. This dynamic versatility has driven a series of massive milestones over the past year, highlighted by a standout performance at Lost Lake Festival - an absolutely beautiful event she highly recommends music lovers experience for themselves. Beyond a summer festival circuit that included a quality set at Rock Oyster Festival and performances at stunning coastal venues like Lusty Glaze and Surfside Cornwall, HAYLO also proved her talents extend far beyond track selection by launching her own event, Decadance, alongside her partner. The successful debut was a deeply rewarding triumph, bringing communities together through a shared love of music under a brand built entirely from the ground up.

When choosing music for her sets, HAYLO deliberately searches for tracks that make people move while offering a deeper emotional connection, drawing heavy inspiration from the quirky elements and infectious grooves of artists like Avö, D Stone, Louie Austen, and Super Flu. This track selection philosophy shines directly through in her brand-new mix for Little South, which condenses the magic of her spectacular Lost Lake Festival set into a perfectly curated one-hour journey. Designed with a clear, deliberate flow, the set opens straight into a soft, soulful vocal and utilizes spacious transitions that intentionally give the music room to breathe. HAYLO treats breakdowns as a crucial part of the sonic narrative, striking a flawless balance between giving the crowd a moment to catch their breath and powerfully bringing the energy back. As the hour draws to a close, the tempo gradually lifts, culminating in a beautiful, long transition into D Stone’s "Envision." Looking ahead, HAYLO remains focused on scaling Decadance, diving deeper into music production, and securing more festival slots where she can explore this side of her sound, offering ultimate advice to rising talent that mirrors her own authentic journey: trust your taste, never rush the mix, and never let anyone dictate your style.

Listen to the mix

What are your highlights of the past year and what is planned for the future?

Playing Lost Lake Festival was definitely a highlight, and this mix I’ve done for Little South is based on the set I played there. I also held my own Decadance event this year, which was a great success and something I’m really proud of. Bringing people together through music at an event I’d created with my partner made it especially rewarding. I’ve also been lucky enough to play at some beautiful venues throughout this glorious summer such as Lusty Gaze and Surfside Cornwall. Rock Oyster another quality festival I played at was amazing too! 



Looking ahead, I’d love to play more festivals and events where I can explore that side of my sound. I’d also like to continue developing Decadance, build on the success of this year’s event, and keep working on my production while making time to discover music which touches the soul.

Tell us something that you know now that you wished you knew when you first started DJing.

To trust my own taste and give the music room to breathe. You don’t need to rush into the next track or constantly be doing something behind the decks. Sometimes letting a track play and allowing a breakdown to build is what makes the moment. Track selection, timing and understanding the crowd matter just as much as the technical side. Just be you, find your own style and don’t let anyone tell you what you ‘should’ be doing/playing.