The Roots of John Summit

Modern house icon John Summit is gearing up for his debut Ibiza residency with two Experts Only shows at the number 1 club in the world.

Summit will take over Hï Ibiza on Friday 20th June, with Chris Avantgarde B2B Kevin de Vries, Max Styler and Kitty Amor in the Theatre, with Ewan McVicar, Sally C and Dam Swindle in the Club Room. On Friday 27th June, Summit will host Green Velvet, Layton Giordani and Miluhska in the Theatre, with Ewan McVicar, Young Marco and Giulia Tess in the Club Room.

Before the mayhem begins, we take a deep dive into how his home city of Chicago, British Indie, and peak-time trance led to the creation of one of the most successful house music producers on the planet.

It would be virtually impossible for an electronic music producer from the home of house music not to be influenced by the sound. Summit cut his DJ teeth in the city's many house clubs, including the famous Smartbar, and he has often referenced Chicago house innovator Green Velvet as an influence, telling Tomorrowland’s One World Radio: “He was the Chicago house legend, and he’s everything you want to be a Chicago DJ.” Summit teamed with the icon in 2024 to remix his track “Shake & Pop”.

It’s not just house music that Chicago is famous for, Chi-Town has birthed some of the world’s biggest rappers, so it’s no surprise that Summit name-checked Chief Keef, Lil Durk, and Kanye West as key influences growing up in the windy city.

Fans may be surprised to know that the king of the modern house scene has been a lifelong Radiohead fan, citing them as one of his all-time influences. When he decided to commit to music full-time he studied their entire discovery, among other classic albums, stating in a 2024 interview: “For Radiohead, it was the way they kind of broke music theory. The way they do their chords. It’s not something you’d get taught in school, and because I never went to school for music, it really fascinated me. It just shows that I can kind of do whatever.”

Summit’s most commercially successful release to date, “Where You Are” feat HAYLA channels the epic euphoric crescendos of trance and progressive house. He cites Tiësto as an artist he looks up to for his ability to create big festival moments. Earlier this year he would follow in Tiësto’s footsteps by releasing his own remix of the trance anthem “Silence” by Delerium.

A genre not typically associated with Summit, however his debut album Comfort In Chaos included “Go Back” a collaboration with drum & bass royalty, Sub Focus. Speaking about the track on MistaJam’s Capital Radio show, Summit cited Sub Focus as “an idol for a long time” going on to elaborate that “I got my start in electronic music [with bass music]. My friends in college would take me to bass shows and I always wanted to do some production of it myself.”

Don't miss John Summit Presents Experts Only takeovers at Hï Ibiza 20th & 27th June. Tickets and VIP tables are available now.