We spoke to award-winning Swedish producer Johan S about his new release, ‘A New Generation’, his career spanning over 30 years, music production, and much more. He also recorded an exclusive mix for the Klubikon Podcast.
Swedish mainstay Johan S started out in the late 90s, working with local legends from StoneBridge and SweMix to world-renowned artists such as Todd Terry and Robin S, and has since earned multiple gold and platinum record awards across a thirty-year career. 2024 showed no signs of slowing down for the Swede thanks to a slew of releases via Toolroom, Voltaire Music, and his own Subtractive Recordings imprint, and now he returns to Junior Jack’s Adesso Music with dancefloor-ready ‘A New Generation’.
Listen to the 182nd Klubikon Podcast, mixed by Johan S, as you read his thoughts on his new release, his career spanning over 30 years, music production, and more.
Hi Johan S, thanks for joining us today! Your career spans over 30 years in the industry. How do you feel your sound has evolved from your early days with StoneBridge and SweMix to your current productions?
Hi. Thanks for having me! In a technical way my sound has evolved a lot – back in the day I didn’t have so much technical knowledge, it was more like mixing on a feeling and hoping it would sound good. Fortunately most of the time it did haha. But I don’t think my sound hasn’t changed that much really. It has always been – and still is – all about energy and feel good vibes.
Tell us about the mix you recorded for Klubikon Podcast.
For this mix I wanted a more underground vibe featuring some of my favourite current tracks compared to the more commercial mixes that I’ve done.
You’ve achieved multiple gold and platinum records throughout your career. What do you think has been the key to maintaining longevity in such a competitive industry?
Sticking to my sound at the same time as being able to adapt to how house music evolves. And being interested in music technology, always wanting to learn more and to improve my skills. But also, and it’s a little saddening to say this but being very tough is crucial as this is, just like you say, a very competitive and hard industry!
Your latest release, ‘A New Generation’, dropped in February on Adesso Music. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the track and the creative process that brought it to life?
Yeah I’d love to tell you about that! In ‘A New Generation’ I wanted to put words to the creative process when writing a track and try to express all the different mental states I need to go through when making music. Joy, pain and suffering all mixed. And when it’s all done the new generation of DJ’s and clubbers will judge your work! Not all tracks are like this of course but ‘A New Generation’ definitely has a story! The sound for this I wanted to be a bit softer than my usual heavy kicks and basslines so ‘A New Generation’ has a more fluffy feel to it but still maintaining a strong groove.
You’ve worked with house music icons like Todd Terry and Robin S, and you’ve been part of massive projects like Alcazar and BWO. What have been some of the most defining moments of your career so far?
Oh there are many moments, small as well as big ones. Receiving gold and platinum records is one, that recognition is very important. The joy of seeing one of my tracks do well in the charts or play one of my own tracks in a club and see it go off, that is so rewarding. When Alcazar’s ‘Crying At The Discoteque’ really took off, that was amazing. And when Low Steppa dubbed me as ‘The King of Kick Drums’ haha. I also remember one time when I went to the local car repair shop and they were hammering my remix of Todd Terry’s ‘On My Way’ on the speaker system, it was like ‘yeah that’s my track’ haha! But perhaps the most important thing of them all is to know that my music can make someone happy, to touch them, that they feel something when they are listening to my music.
With releases on labels like Toolroom, Defected, and Adesso, how do you decide which labels are the right fit for your music?
Oh this is a tricky one, especially nowadays. I can of course have an idea of where to send a specific track that I’ve made but many times tracks have ended up on another label that I didn’t expect them to be on! So it’s all a bit of a gamble and also I try not to overthink stuff. If a track truly is good most labels will like it and would want to sign it. A good track is a good track I suppose and all labels want hit records more than a specific sound.
House music is constantly evolving. How do you stay inspired and keep pushing boundaries in your productions while staying true to your signature style?
Good question! Well I think being curious about how music, and not only house music but music in general evolves is the key to stay on top of things. Listen to a lot of music, be curious and try not to get stuck basically! House music has so much history embedded in it and as I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up with it from the early Chicago days to where house music is today makes me understand house music and where it’s coming from. That helps when choosing sounds and expressing feelings. Exploring new sounds and experimenting is important too of course but when doing so you also need to take a step back in that process and ask yourself if this is still you and your sound so that you don’t get lost and confuse your fans and listeners. Inspiration is a funny thing – it can come from anything really like going through my promos or watching a movie or simply by taking a walk just to clear my head.
Vinyl or digital? Do you use and collect both?
Digital 100%. I think it is so funny when some people still desperately hang on to vinyl haha. I don’t miss vinyl a bit – carrying those heavy cases around to gigs and always worrying about the needle jumping, horrible feedback noises and crackles. No thanks! I still have some essential vinyl records stowed in a box somewhere but I don’t own a record player any more – only CDJ’s so I can’t play that vinyl anyway haha! But I have transferred all the essential stuff to digital so it’s all good.
When touring, do you have some essentials that you can’t live without?
Hmm, let me think… Plenty of water and some Haribo sweets for a good sugar rush haha. And a nice and clean DJ booth with all equipment working is always a good thing!
What’s next for Johan S? Can we expect more releases, collaborations, or live performances in 2025 and beyond?
Yeah I have 2 new releases coming up on Wh0 Plays, I’m working on a new track for Toolroom and also one for Adesso. And some quite exciting collaborations that I can’t reveal just yet… I will also focus a lot on my own label Subtractive this year, trying to sign the right tracks and mastering them for the label. And also releasing own hot new material on Subtractive. Last year I didn’t spend so much time on developing the label but that will all change this year!
Find the tracklist for the 182nd Klubkikon Podcast, mixed by Johan S, HERE.
Follow Johan S on SoundCloud, Spotify and Instagram.
