John Summit takes some rest and sleeps while he's waiting to board heading to his next destination. It’s not surprising considering that the superstar DJ, producer, and label owner who has toured the world, closing out huge festivals including headlining the Sahara Stage at Coachella 2024, has been travelling the world nonstop to share his music with his fans in the last few years. Now we speak with him about his highly anticipated debut album, Comfort in Chaos, released via Darkroom/Experts Only.
After years of working on his most ambitious project to date, which includes collaborations with artists such as Julia Church, Paige Cavell, and Koates, among others, Summit’s debut album was finally unveiled in mid-July. The occasion deserved it, and the artist threw an intimate release party in Los Angeles to celebrate he could finally share Comfort in Chaos with his global audience. “I was so nervous about the fan reaction since it’s so different from my prior work, so I’m very relieved they’ve been loving it,” he tells us.
The Chicago native, now based in Miami, who is set to only get even bigger this year, shares an important reflection in the interview that you can read below when asked about the creative process, the obstacles, and the experiences he has gone through while developing his new project. “I would like readers to know not to give up on an idea if you know it’s great, though, because I kept getting frustrated and I’m super happy I stuck with it."
John, I know you have a super busy agenda this summer, so thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us. Where are you now? Are you heading to your next show?
Well, I’m currently in Zurich. I was in Croatia yesterday and Ibiza the day before. I’m back in the UK tomorrow for Creamfields… It never slows down!
From the beginning of June to the end of August, you have been playing in more than twenty different events. From the United States and Canada to Ibiza and Croatia, you don't stop travelling to share your music with your followers all over the world. How do you deal with this frenetic pace? Do you have time to explore the cities, or do you try to rest as much as possible?
I’m naturally pretty introverted, so I like to spend extra time in my hotel room making music. That may sound depressing to other people, but not to me! I absolutely love going out to eat at local food spots and taking in the culture with every new city I visit, so I make sure to set aside time for that as well. For sleep, I mostly just get that on planes and at airports.
Don't you feel lonely when your show is over and you go back to the hotel?
Yes and no. I have a great team with me and friends I keep up with back home, so I never truly feel alone. If you’re not an independent person who can’t spend time alone, this lifestyle isn’t for you.
And in the middle of this tour, just some weeks ago, you released your debut album Comfort in Chaos via Darkroom/Experts Only. How did you feel? Where were you then?
I was in LA on release night, where we threw an intimate release party, which was super fun. Releasing the album was the best feeling ever, and it was easily the hardest I’ve ever worked on anything. I was incredibly emotionally invested in it. I was so nervous about the fan reaction since it’s so different from my prior work, so I’m very relieved they’ve been loving it.
The twelve-track album is the result of a process of pushing yourself musically and emotionally and allows us to delve into another facet of your personality and identity. How has the development process of this project been?
It was years in the making, as I’ve been producing for over a decade now, and it’s always been one of my main artistic goals to create a truly cohesive project from start to finish. All the genres are ones I have loved throughout my musical journey, and almost all the collaborators I have worked with in years past as well, so the album felt like the perfect representation of John Summit as a whole.
Tell us about the most exciting moment you have experienced while shaping Comfort in Chaos.
I think when Sub Focus and I finished producing Go Back because I have always wanted to do something unique like combining house & drum and bass. I never knew if I could make it work, so once we locked in that production, it felt like magic.
Which track has taken you the longest to create? Is there any anecdote from the process you would like to share with our readers?
Shiver took about nine months and 30+ versions because I’m a perfectionist and it was a follow-up to Where You Are, my biggest hit to date. I knew it would be a big challenge to make it a proper “sequel” of sorts. I would like readers to know not to give up on an idea if you know it’s great, though, because I kept getting frustrated, and I’m super happy I stuck with it.
Nodding to Summit’s core Chicago house roots while touching on British genres like garage, liquid, and dancefloor drum & bass, this album has been a far more emotional, melodic body of work for you and the most introspective to date, you’ve said. How is it different from your previous works? Has it allowed you to get to know yourself better?
It’s different because not every track on the record is meant for huge audiences/festivals, and some have no radio appeal whatsoever too. But the record itself is meant to be listened to from start to finish, which is something I’ve never done either, as I’ve typically been single-driven. It definitely has opened my mind creatively, and getting more raw with my work made me have to sit back and get introspective a bit, which is something I don’t do much when touring nonstop.
From Coachella to Tomorrowland, these last few years you have lived so many unique experiences while the streams of your tracks have not stopped increasing. Did you ever feel like you needed to stop and reconnect with yourself?
Yes, big time. I took November off last year to write this album... I guess that’s not a normal version of taking actual time off as I was in the studio every day, haha. But even being in the same place for so long (in my eyes) felt grounding, and I think it led to great songwriting. I definitely need to take more time for myself in the future, as that’s when my creative juices get flowing big time.
Tell us about the artists you’ve collaborated with in this album, Julia Church and Koates, among others.
All the artists I collaborated with on this album are incredible!! Seriously, such amazing talents! First, it was Hayla who I knew first through Escape & Where You Are and then Shiver. She is a massive talent, both in singing/songwriting and in her live performances as well. Julia Church is on both Go Back and Resonate; her vocals are euphoric and uplifting. Paige Cavell’s voice is absolutely captivating too; the raw emotion in Tears is such a standout record and has a lot of soul. Koates is such a vibe, and Elderbrook’s vocals are absolutely captivating as well, and I’ve been a fan of his for years leading up to this. Lastly, Venbee has such a dope voice that works perfectly on a liquid drum and bass tune. I could talk about these collaborators for hours—they're the best and all bring something unique to the table.
You also brought in Puerto Rican visual artist Marcos Alvarado for the album’s artwork, someone whose work you’d been following for years. How did this collaboration come about? Did you have a clear idea of the aesthetic you wanted to show in this new project?
I’ve been following his work on social media for years, so I DM'd him, and we got connected naturally through being fans of each other. I knew I wanted to bring this album to life artistically but not in a realistic sort of way, and his art has always been a perfect blend of abstract and psychedelic, showcasing spirituality and mindfulness, which I absolutely love. I sent him some overall notes and the album to listen to, and when he came back with sketches of the artwork (first with the single Shiver, then the full album), I loved it immediately!
You’re the founder of Experts Only, a house and techno music label and events whose ethos is “music without limits." How is this project evolving, and what do you enjoy most about it?
Experts Only is all about showcasing new artists on the scene and creating a like-minded community of artists and fans who are all about amazing music and experiences! We’ve done events all over from Vail Mountain in Colorado to the Caverns in Tennessee, and we aren’t slowing down anytime soon! It truly is my passion project, and there’s nothing more I love than sharing great music and creating great experiences with the world.
For many people, September is the real beginning of a new cycle after summer instead of January. How do you face this new cycle, and what can you tell us about your projects for the next few months?
For me, it never slows down, haha. I have so many big shows this fall, including three nights at Kia Forum in LA and also more releases lined up for not just me but Experts Only. There’s also a bunch of upcoming remixes off the album that I can’t wait to share. So I guess the answer to how to face this new cycle is just to face it head-on and keep the party going! Maybe I’ll find a couple of nights to just relax, hahah.