Coming off a high from continuous jet-setting, internet virality, and headlining EDC and Coachella, John Summit was enjoying a rare moment of calm. “Being in different cities every single night is chaos,” the DJ and producer says, as we discuss his whirlwind summer. Since leaving his accounting job in 2019 to pursue DJing full-time, Summit has won the hearts—and playlists—of many. But underneath it all, the 29-year-old is still just a goofy, fun-loving guy from Chicago. “I’m a very practical person. If I have my laptop and USBs, some water, and some tequila, I’m a happy man [laughs].”

In July, Summit dropped his debut album, Comfort in Chaos, an ode to the ups and downs of his career thus far. The project will include his hit single “Where You Are” (feat. Hayla)—an infectious, bass-pulsing track you’ve probably heard in one of your favorite clubs, but the internet’s favorite DJ says that this upcoming project signals a new era in which he’s reaching the proverbial summit and is taking a moment to soak it all in.

There’s a lot for the new star to revel in. Opening my TikTok app the other day, my algorithm fed me a series of videos that showed Summit doing what he does best—just vibing out behind the booth. In an industry that can be tough to break into and even tougher to maintain your position, his talent and true-to-self personality shine through.

“Telling your parents you quit your job to pursue DJing is tough,” he says, “I had to move in with the parents during Covid. At that time, I just made music all day, every day. Then I signed with Defected Records in June 2020. From there, I released a single every month for three years and toured nonstop. I did over 200 shows a year leading up to this year. And then I decided to stop doing all of that this year and I started doing bigger shows and working on this album. So this year, I’m in a new phase of my career.”

Last December, Summit sold out his first-ever headline show at LA’s BMO Stadium, a set that he says, “Turned my dreams to reality,” and which prepared him for a series of show-stopping sets at some of the summer’s hottest festivals. “I unveiled the Comfort in Chaos production stage in the Sahara tent at Coachella. It was 32,000 people. That’s where Radiohead, Kanye, and every big artist has performed,” he excitedly reflects.

As Summit prepares for his album release, he dives into the elements of the project that allowed him to expand artistically, and personally. “I’ve been so go, go, go, so finding that comfort is definitely the main concept of the album,” he explains. “It starts pretty introspective. ‘Tears’ with Paige Cavell, it’s about heartbreak and highs and lows. Then it goes all the way to the outro, ‘palm of my hands,’ with venbee, where it ends on a high note about self-confidence. But the whole project is really about self-discovery. By the end, it’s a full-on party. That really shows the yin and yang in my life.”

Summit was about to log off to head to rehearsals for his sold-out show at MSG, but before doing so, I had to ask a question for the people. Ahead of the release of the album, the internet has already deemed this a Summit Summer—but for the man himself, what characterizes a Summit Summer?

“Well, parties, of course,” he chuckles, “I used to do these parties on those big architectural tour boats. We’d take all the chairs off the top and I’d DJ there. That was actually how I got my start in Chicago because no club would wanna book me. I feel like every weekend just gets bigger and bigger and bigger, especially with MSG coming up. But I’m finding my comfort in it all, that’s for sure.”

This story appears in the pages of VMAN 53: now available for purchase!

Photography Anna Henderson

Fashion Liv Vitale

Makeup Kevin Cheah (Kramer + Kramer)

Hair Andrew Chen (Kramer + Kramer)

Digital technician Takashi Soehl

Photo assistants Jarod Polakoff, Lamar Kendrick-Dial

Location 16 Beaver Studio