JOHN SUMMIT HAT the world in his hands. From his sold-out first concert at Madison Square Garden in two hours to his headlining performance at Coachella to the recent release of his highly anticipated debut album, Comfort in chaosThe star’s rapid rise to fame is still not over.
Summit took time out of his hectic schedule to chat with Dr. Gregory Scott Brown via Instagram Live. Friday sessions Series. Live from his couch in Miami, the DJ talked about everything related to his career, his mental health and how he keeps everything under control.
At just 30 years old, Summit has already had several careers. Summit started out as an accountant in Chicago: “I had to make money and pay rent, and I did the accounting against my will,” he reveals. After losing his job as an accountant, he devoted himself to DJing full-time.
When asked for advice for his younger self when he was going through the challenges of starting out, he said, “You have to do what you have to do to make ends meet. I mean, any job sucks when you start out. I mean, DJing was really hard at the beginning. I wasn’t making any money, you know… but if you’re passionate, you just keep going. But you have to find your passion in life first and then pursue it. It took me a while. It took me a while.”
A typical day is never the same for the artist. With hits like “Shiver,” “Go Back” and “Where You Are,” he travels the world bringing people and moods together. He’ll usually play at a party until four in the morning and then get up to catch a seven in the morning flight to the next venue. Summit jokes, “It’s definitely not good for the body.” With his nonstop schedule, Summit can thank his stamina for getting through it all.
“How I hold things together, I don’t know. I guess I’m kind of an endurance athlete… I guess you just have to be built differently.”
Despite his resilience, Summit can still get into a negative mood, especially when it comes to social anxiety. The DJ isn’t shy when it comes to talking about his experiences with social anxiety, and behind the cool, laid-back, party-loving persona he presents to the public, he says, “I suffer from the worst social anxiety ever,” Summit says.
“That’s why I’m a DJ, so I can stand behind the decks and so on.” In a way, the DJ booth is a protective shield for him against the vulnerability and intrusiveness that often comes with being noticed in public.
Summit then goes on to say that to overcome your fears, you “just have to force yourself out into the world.” At his recent headlining performance at MSG (followed by a 5am performance at the Brooklyn Navy Yard), the DJ said, “I went to MSG to show myself and force myself that I can do it.” Summit says he does this by going out and surrounding himself with different people, cultures, and parties. Not only does he prove to himself that he can face his inner fears, but he also stays inspired and encourages more creativity for his next project.
As for upcoming projects, Summit insists there is still a lot to come. With the announcement of his own record label Only for experts In September, Summit will have the opportunity to promote emerging talent in the house, electronic and techno scenes. This latest venture will provide the artist with more opportunities to collaborate, as he says there can sometimes be drawbacks to putting on shows alone.
“When I’m just doing my own shows, it feels very self-centered. It’s not fun. Who am I high-fiving? It’s not fun. I want this shit to feel like a team sport,” he says.
There are no limits for Summit, and although he has already found his way to the top, it is obvious that Friday sessions that the DJ is just getting started.
Listen to Summit’s new album Comfort in chaos below:
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