Mirror John Roberts

John Roberts creates music that is meticulous and loose, evocative and innovative. Raised in the so-called heart of America, John's parents, both amateur pianists, exposed him to classical and jazz music at an early age and encouraged his fifteen-year training on drums and violin. During this formative period in Cleveland, Ohio, John discovered ghetto house music through bootleg cassettes imported from Chicago. Slowly he began collecting records and eventually chose to relocate to Chicago, where he developed a taste for the city's highly influential 80s house music. As he began to gain interest in contemporary European house and techno, John felt it necessary to contribute his own production efforts. Setting out to recreate the energy and experimentation of the mix tapes and records from his past, John began working with analog synthesizers, antiquated sequencing software, and reel to reel tape recorders at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. Four years later he temporarily relocated to Berlin to be amongst fellow producers, DJs, and the city's thriving music community. Soon after, John found himself in New York City where he spent most of his time continuing to perfect the production of his rhythmically challenging, melancholic tracks.