Kirsty Hawkshaw, the voice behind Opus III’s 1992 hit ‘It’s A Fine Day’, shares the making of one of UK dance music’s most beloved hits.

Kirsty Hawkshaw, the voice behind Opus III’s 1992 hit ‘It’s A Fine Day’, shares the making of one of UK dance music’s most beloved hits.

Hawkshaw gives DJ Mag an insight into her musical upbringing – from growing up as the daughter of famous composer Alan Hawkshaw, the man behind the iconic Countdown theme tune, to becoming a part of the travelling free party scene in the ’90s with Spiral Tribe – and recalls recording her vocals for the single, an interpretation of an Edward Barton poem originally sung by Jane, in a kitchen in Sunderland.

Produced by Kevin Dodds, Ian Munro and Nigel Walton, ‘It’s A Fine Day’ became an instant hit, and launched Kirsty into the spotlight with TV interviews, Top of the Pops performances and worldwide shows, an experience she wasn’t always comfortable with.

From Orbital’s ‘Halcyon’ to Skrillex & Boys Noize’s 2023 hit ‘Fine Day Anthem’, Hawkshaw’s vocal has been sampled countless times. 32 years later, she shares her feelings on this phenomenon, and speaks about what the track still means to her today.

Electronic music history is rich with unforgettable and timeless classics like these. In our Making Of A Dance Classic series, DJ Mag explores the tales behind some of the world’s favourite tracks, told by the people that made them. You can watch the episode above, and subscribe to DJ Mag’s YouTube channel for more exclusive content here.

Check out more in this Originals series with General Levy, Crystal Waters, Ultra Naté, Darude, Faithless, and more, here.