John Debo

A passionate, dedicated creative with an academic and practical knowledge of recording technology and contemporary music production techniques, John Debo is always surfing a wave of artistic experimentation where the beauty of simplicity is everything—a headspace where the creative process is stripped back to the essence of true individuality, where a single instrument often dictates an entirely new workflow and a spiraling web of creative possibilities.

Since 1990, Debo has played an instrumental role in pioneering electronic dance music culture in the U.S. His three-pronged role as artist, DJ, and club promoter gives him unique insight into both current and future music trends. He was among the first in America to recognize and embrace the underground electronic dance music movement happening in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe. His weekly club nights at Venus de Milo, Axis, Avalon in Boston carry legend status, and laid a strong foundation for the now flourishing electronic dance music scene in the United States. A known tastemaker, Debo served as a member of the confidential Remixer Craft Committee, a panel of artists and DJs carefully selected by the Recording Academy’s 12 chapters to assist with the Grammy Awards process, ensuring that recordings of note entered into the Grammy process are not overlooked by voting membership. He was also selected for a coveted position as a Billboard's Hot 100 Dance Hits chart reporting disc jockey, where his weekly club play chart was used to determine the world-wide weekly Hot 100 dance hits.

As a producer, Debo is a master of his craft. With a career spanning three decades and counting, he has brought his signature touch to an array of mainstream artists including Blur, Everything but the Girl, Modern English, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood, to name a few. His studio skills as a writer, producer, and remixer landed him a place on groundbreaking labels, including John Digweed’s Bedrock Records, Pete Tong’s FFRR Records, Deep Dish’s Yoshitoshi Recordings, King Britt’s Archives, as well as more than a few on his own long-running Mindwarp Records imprint. Whether in the studio, on the decks, or sharing experience and experiences in the classroom as an assistant professor in the Songwriting Department at Berklee, one constant remains: the music is everything.

With a steady flow of writing and production projects and collaborations in the works, an inspired and exceptionally creative John Debo will continue to be one to watch.