John Summit: “I want to build a community beyond the party”

Just a few weeks into his debut Ibiza residency, global dance music star John Summit stopped by the Ibiza Global Radio studios to discuss his Experts Only party - every Monday at [UNVRS] until July 27th - the creative energy of the island, his meteoric rise from accountant to one of electronic music’s biggest names, and why community matters just as much as the party itself.

Congratulations on your Experts Only residency at [UNVRS]. How does it feel to be starting this new chapter in Ibiza?

John Summit: It’s absolutely unreal. In America, I kind of just show up to a city, play a show and leave. Here in Ibiza, I’ve actually created a lifestyle, and it really feels like a dream. I’ve been working towards this goal for my entire DJ career. Growing up, I watched so many videos from Ibiza and saw all the legends play here, so it’s a true honour to have my own night. And to do it at [UNVRS], which is one of the biggest and most exciting venues on the island right now, is something I still can’t fully comprehend.

How does having a residency differ from flying in for a one-off show?

The biggest challenge is that I’m a perfectionist. After every show, I’m already thinking about how to make the next one better. Thankfully, I’ve got a great team around me, including the production team I tour with around the world.

The best part is that we can really create our own world. We bring our own production, dancers, visuals and branding. I can play exactly the music I want to play, and some of that music isn’t typically heard on the island. There’s a traditional Ibiza sound, whereas I’ve always been about pushing boundaries. That was a little nerve-racking at first, but so far it’s been working really well.

Three weeks in, what have been some standout moments so far?

The first night, I played a more traditional John Summit set, similar to what I do in Las Vegas and across America. But Experts Only is really about my club-focused sound and discovering new artists. It’s a little more underground, for lack of a better term.

I’ve been stripping things back musically and playing longer sets, which I love. Three hours is kind of the sweet spot for me. Last Monday, I played until 6am and the club was packed right until the end. It’s wild how people in Ibiza can keep going like that.

What do you want people to experience when they come to Experts Only?

I want people to leave feeling on top of the world. More than anything, I want them to feel connected to the music and to the community around them.

Do you remember your first time playing in Ibiza?

Absolutely. I played at Eden through parties with Repopulate Mars and Defected. Defected really put me on the international map when they signed “Deep End” in 2020. Suddenly I was getting support from BBC Radio 1 and hearing Pete Tong play my music, which completely blew my mind.

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and never imagined people outside Illinois would hear my music. Coming to Ibiza showed me just how far music can travel.

What does having your own residency here mean to you personally and professionally?

Personally, it’s a dream come true. I used to tell all my friends in Chicago that one day I’d have my own residency in Ibiza and nobody believed me.

Professionally, it feels like proof that we’ve made it. We’re a young team, and I think we’ve faced criticism because of that. I’m 31, which is still young by Ibiza standards. But I think the island needs fresh faces and new energy.

You’ve spoken about building a life on the island this summer. How has Ibiza influenced you creatively?

I’ve been touring America heavily for years, and after my arena tour this fall, I’m planning to take a significant step back from touring there. What excites me as an artist is trying new things, meeting new people and finding inspiration.

After finishing my last album, I felt creatively drained. But in just a few weeks here, I’ve come up with an insane number of new ideas. There’s something about Ibiza that really gets the creative juices flowing.

What does a perfect day off in Ibiza look like for you?

Starting the day at the beach, jumping into the ocean and grounding myself. Then I’ll go for a run, hit the gym, maybe do a hike and enjoy a home-cooked meal. After that, I’ll put on some music - and hopefully make some music. I’m always looking for inspiration.

Your new album, CTRL ESCAPE, has just been released. How does it differ from your debut album, Comfort in Chaos?

Comfort in Chaos was about learning to handle the rapid changes in my life. I went from playing for a couple hundred people to playing for 20,000 almost overnight. It was a very emotional record about finding stability amidst all that chaos.

CTRL ESCAPE tells a broader story. It’s about leaving my accounting job and breaking out of the matrix, so to speak. It documents the journey that led me to where I am now.

How important is vulnerability in your music?

It’s essential. Being an artist means putting yourself out there, and that’s not always easy. There are plenty of people who make party records, and that’s great, but I think to be a true artist you have to put your soul into your work, no matter how uncomfortable that might feel.

That said, I like balance. There are emotional moments on the album, but there are also records designed for the dancefloor.

What does this album say about your evolution as a producer?

I explored a lot more genres this time. I recorded a Latin track in Spanish, worked with The Chainsmokers on a drum & bass record and collaborated with artists from different musical worlds.

I think a lot of people in dance music stay in their lane too much. Lately, I’ve been looking outside electronic music for inspiration because so much of dance music sounds the same. The more diverse your influences are, the more interesting your music becomes.

How do you stay balanced while living such a fast-paced life?

Working out is a huge part of it. Getting outside, swimming in the ocean and staying active keeps me grounded. The other thing is surrounding myself with good people who will call me out when I need it.

It’s important not to have only “yes” people around you. You need friends who will tell you to go to bed if you haven’t slept for three days. I’ve seen too many artists lose themselves because they didn’t have that support system.

Do you ever stop and reflect on how far you’ve come?

Not enough. I recently attended a friend’s wedding and switched my phone off for 24 hours. It was one of the first times I’d done that in years.

The couple actually met at one of my shows, and hearing that during their vows made me realise that there’s a real impact behind what I do. It reminded me that music genuinely connects people.

Looking ahead, what are some of your long-term goals?

Scoring films is a huge one. I’m already working on some music connected to film projects, and it’s a world I’d love to explore further.

Hans Zimmer is one of my biggest inspirations, and Christopher Nolan is one of my favourite directors. Eventually, I’d love to create music for films and balance that with touring.

What’s one track that won’t leave your USB this summer?

“Don’t Believe It.” It’s from CTRL ESCAPE and features an incredible emerging artist. I actually started the chord progression back in 2020, so it took six years to finish.

What can people expect from Experts Only at [UNVRS] that they won’t find anywhere else?

Authenticity. A real sense of community. We want people to feel connected, not just during the party but beyond it as well.

That’s why we’re organising things like running clubs, hiking groups and beach clean-ups. The parties are incredible, but it’s also about bringing people together and creating something genuine that lasts beyond a single night. 

What inspired your most recent beach clean-up here in Ibiza?

A few days ago, while hiking to a remote beach for a swim, my team and I came across something that stopped us in our tracks. Even though the beach was incredibly secluded and had barely been visited by people, it was covered in microplastics and debris that had washed in from the sea and accumulated over the years. Seeing that first-hand made the issue feel a lot more real. It was a reminder that environmental impact is not always about what gets left behind directly in a place, it can travel across oceans and still end up affecting some of the most untouched corners of the world.

For me and my team, we are guests on this island, so it felt important to give something back in a simple, direct way. We had not planned to organise a clean-up at all, but after seeing the condition of that beach we felt we had to do something. We worked with our friends at Ibiza Hike Station and recruited 25 people to return and help clean it up.

How did it go?

It was honestly amazing, but it was also far from a normal beach clean-up. The hike was extremely challenging, taking us back to a hidden, hard-to-reach stretch of coastline that is rarely accessed. Once we collected the waste, we then had to carry everything all the way back up the trail. It made you appreciate just how much effort goes into cleaning areas like this and how difficult it can be to reverse years of accumulated pollution - even with a large group of people helping.

When you spend your life in front of massive crowds and then step into something that quiet and grounded, it hits differently. It does not take away from the energy of performing, but it balances it out and reminds you that all that shared energy still exists within a real environment that needs looking after. I do not think artists have to be perfect about it, but if you are in a position where people listen to you, it feels important to do more than just talk about these issues.

Catch John Summit on Ibiza at Experts Only - every Monday until 27 July 2026 at [UNVRS].