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Earlier this month, John Summit— DJ, producer, and emerging artist in both House and Dance genres — attracted an incredible turnout of young audience members to his show: “Experts Only.” Best known for hit songs such as “Shiver,” “EAT THE BASS,” and of course “Where You Are,” Summit’s name carries a certain importance in today’s music scene — you might even call it the event of the semester. The overwhelming interest and excitement about his Michigan show is a true testament to the vastness of Summit’s audience Through his record label, Summit plans “Experts Only” shows in distinctive locations, choosing the Russell Industrial Center for his Detroit show. The venue, with the commercial quality of a warehouse, allowed for the event to be entirely general admission — with more than enough room to dance. With an audience composed of mostly college aged people — many of whom were University of Michigan students I recognized — this choice reflected Summit’s understanding of his demographic.
On July 12 of this year, Summit released his debut album: Comfort in Chaos. In its 12 tracks, the album takes a journey through his career: introducing new hits such as “Stay with Me” or “palm of my hands,” and including quintessential collaborations with artists HAYLA, Paige Cavell, and more. His “Experts Only” show encapsulated the energy of his debut album: an experience that makes the listener feel something and sing along. Elevated above the General Admission floor, Summit’s booth spanned the width of the room, producing the effect of a London Boiler Room show. This layout rendered the event intimate, with concertgoers wholly immersed in the experience. With vibrant and dynamic light displays, a bass that rocked the Center to its core and “Experts Only” decorations, the event was tailored to Summit’s essence.
Once the crowd was fully adapted to the sounds of Comfort in Chaos, Summit would slowly integrate his famous hit songs. When he transitioned from a nonspecific backbeat to the introduction for Sage The Gemini’s “Gas Pedal Remix,” every single hand rose straight into the air. Even if Dance House music does not drive you, John Summit’s “Experts Only” will.
While Summit’s show was a tremendous success, his engagement with the University of Michigan community did not stop there. In fact, he also made his lecture debut at the School of Kinesiology in Sports Management 313, Business Development in Sports. The professor, Barry Klarberg, is one of Summit’s advisors. Using Summit’s career as a case study for his students to review, the two presented slides on the ins and outs of the DJ’s business and branding strategy. In his lecture, Summit addresses his marketing and strategic techniques to best reach his target demographic, thus exposing more listeners to his music. Summit explained how this can manifest in various ways, including — but not limited to — declining high-value brand deals or missing important life events for mandatory shows. His biggest priority, regardless of money or fame, is his fanbase and audience.
“John talked about how passionate he is. He told us about all the sacrifices he makes to do what he does. For example, he had to miss his childhood best friend’s wedding because he committed to a show,” said Kinesiology junior Hannah Cohen, a student of SM 313.
Such a sentiment demonstrated Summit’s level of work ethic and persistence to the students. Indeed, this level of dedication and passion was palpable in both the lecture and his “Experts Only” event. Summit’s career has skyrocketed not only because of his keen ability to produce music but also because of his ability to engage with his fanbase and prove his dedication every time he performs.
Daily Arts Writer Skylar Wallison can be reached at skylarmw@umich.edu.
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