From: Chicago, IL

DJ style: “Peaks and valleys. I treat my sets like a movie where I come in hot, get in a groove, and have highlights throughout the set.”

Best known for: “Anthemic songs and non-stop energy on the decks. No matter what, it’s always a party.”

Ask Miami-based DJ/producer John Summit what he’s been up to for the past 12 months, and his answer sheds light on his work hard, play hard persona. “Finishing and releasing my album, working on my record label events, signing new promising talent and playing shows nonstop,” the Experts Only label boss tells DJ Mag. “It’s a grind, but I love every second of it.”

It’s been a swift rise for the CPA turned electronic tastemaker, who went from playing college bars near his suburban Chicago alma mater to exiting the pandemic as a top-charting act and international party starter. The self-taught artist’s big breakout moment came in 2020 when Defective dropped ‘Deep End’ — the lockdown track that captured the vibe of our collective sanity on the fritz. This June, the heater and selections from his 2024 ‘Comfort In Chaos’ debut LP accented Summit’s five-hour open-to-close set at Madison Square Garden — an in-the-round style shebang which sold out some 19,500 tickets in less than two hours. Lengthy sets remain one of Summit’s fortes, and with mega grooves like ‘Human’, ‘La Danza’, ‘Where You Are’ and ‘Shiver’ topping an ever-growing discography that includes collabs with stalwarts like Kaskade, Subtronics, HAYLA and many more, we know more late nights are on the cards. 

Fave tune of 2024?

“Alterboy ‘What About Me’.”

Rising star DJ/producer of 2024?

“Max Styler, he’s been on a tear for years but I think he has now really established himself.”

Could DJs do more to ensure that producers are fairly paid for their art?

“Giving proper credit for their work along with proper advances. Music is a collaborative art and it’s not right when some aren’t fairly treated.”

Should phones be banned on the dancefloor?

“No, because phones are needed for texting/calling, and I honestly love capturing moments here and there. However, if you have your phone out the whole night then you definitely need a little scolding.”

A.I. - friend or foe?

“It’s a friend for now because it’s been helping in things like extracting vocals but it is quite scary at how rapidly it’s growing.”

What’s your lucky charm?

“A couple sips of tequila before getting on stage, hehe.”