John Summit

Chicago, Illinois, USA

John Summit's rise from an exhausted accountant at Ernst & Young to one of the world's most in-demand DJs is a story built on obsession, risk, and relentless work. While studying at the University of Illinois, Summit discovered DJing and began playing small local shows. After graduating, he moved to Chicago and took a full-time accounting job — but the passion he felt behind the decks quickly overshadowed the monotony of spreadsheets. He spent nights producing music and weekends performing, effectively living a “double life” as his tracks began gaining traction online. As his music buzz grew, his performance at work declined. Summit admits he often arrived late and sleep-deprived, not from partying but from producing tracks all night. Realizing he couldn't keep splitting himself between two worlds, he saved $20,000, quit his job, and committed fully to DJing. That leap paid off. By 2019, Summit's releases were circulating globally, and despite the pandemic forcing him back into his parents' home, he kept producing nonstop. His breakout years followed quickly — international touring, millions of fans, and a reputation as one of dance music's most energetic performers. Summit's DJ career eventually evolved into brand ownership. In 2025, he launched Experts Only, a label and global movement built around genre-defying house music. The brand expanded into unconventional live events — caves, mountains, beaches — and attracted major artists like Mau P, Kaskade, Odd Mob, and Layton Giordani. Today, Summit is not just a DJ but a festival architect. Partnering with Medium Rare, he co-owns the Experts Only Festival, a massive New York event built on a 50/50 profit model that gives artists real stake without financial risk. Summit credits his accounting background for the financial literacy that protects him from industry pitfalls — but it's his all-in commitment to music that transformed him from desk jockey to global headliner.