The Bedroom Beat-Maker
John Summit‘s rise to dance music superstardom is as unconventional as it is inspiring. He recently opened up about a handful of topics on Rolling Stone. As he gears up for a set at one of Las Vegas’ hottest nightclubs, you’d expect him to be in the midst of an electrifying pre-show ritual. Instead, he’s lounging in bed, eating an airport sandwich, and crafting what could be House music’s next big hit. “I try to make a new song for every set“, says Summit. Remarkably, most of his music comes to life from the comfort of his bed.
From CPA To EDM Phenomenon
Summit’s journey began in the Chicago suburbs, where he fell in love with House music in the city’s vibrant nightlife scene. While attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he started DJing at bars, small clubs, and fraternity parties. After graduating, he briefly worked as a certified public accountant but quickly realized his passion for music far outweighed his interest in finance. “I was definitely let go from my job“, Summit admits, laughing. His dedication to music led him to relentlessly send demos to labels, eventually catching the attention of Defected Records with his track ‘Deep End‘.
The Road To Viral Hits
Summit’s persistence paid off, leading to a series of successes, including a remix of Kx5’s ‘Escape‘ and his viral hit ‘Where You Are‘ featuring Hayla. The track dominated the EDM scene, playing at festivals worldwide and securing a spot in the Top Ten on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs. Summit and Hayla have since collaborated on ‘Shiver,’ a precursor to his eagerly anticipated debut album. “My original sound was Tech House, so there’ll be that on the album, and then I kind of got into trance-y sounds with ‘Where You Are’ and progressive sounds“, Summit explains.
Balancing Fame and Real Life
Despite his skyrocketing career, John Summit remains grounded. He’s known for his candid online presence and his ability to connect with fans. However, he navigates fame with a clear sense of boundaries. “I hate song requests”, he admits. “It makes me feel like a jukebox”. As he prepares for his headlining set at Madison Square Garden, Summit reflects on his journey. “I feel like I’m at the top of the world right now and I love it so much”, he says. His story is a testament to following one’s passion, even if it means starting from bed.
Be sure to check out the original Rolling Stone interview, here.