Best of 2013: Johnny Yono

Best of 2013: Johnny Yono.
LA-based Johnny Yono's last track 'Exodus' received radio support from Armin van Buuren on A State of Trance, Markus Schulz on Global DJ Broadcast, Dash Berlin, Judge Jules and more and charted at #12 on Beatport's Trance chart. After returning home from his first international gig in Shanghai, China, Yono acquired a coveted monthly rotation with Insomniac Events at LA's #1 dance club, Exchange LA. 

Interview was written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Music Journalist, Radio DJ

Name: Johnny Yono

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Dimitri: Can you tell us about your achievements in your music career in 2013 as DJ &/or producer? 

Johnny Yono: Sure! 2013 has been the biggest year yet for me since I started DJ'ing and Producing. Kickstarted the year with 'Ambrosia' - my first of two collabs with Hungarian talent and good friend Mike Danis. Followed up with a remix on Lange Recordings titled 'Sucker Punch' which won me the 'Push the Button' vote on 'Group Therapy Radio' with Above & Beyond. Soon after came my single, 'Orion' (also on Lange Rec) which gained massive support from Armin (ASOT), Paul van Dyk and many others as well as being included on Armada's 'Trance World Vol. 18' - mixed by Protoculture as well as the Lange Recordings '100' compilation. After that came remixes for Dinka, Noah Neiman, my debut vocal single, 'Try A Little Harder' and my newest single, 'Exodus' which once again gained support from Armin as well as Markus Schulz, Paul van Dyk and many more. I am closing off 2013 with 'Blast' -- my second collab with Mike Danis which was picked up by Garuda Music and has already been heavily supported by Gareth Emery, Paul van Dyk + more. 

                                                       

As a DJ , I've achieved all the goals I set up for myself at the beginning of the year. I made my Hawaii debut playing alongside Aly & Fila and I also played my first international gig overseas in  in Shanghai, China and gained a monthly/bi-monthly rotation at LA's #1 dance club, Exchange LA (Insomniac Events). 

Dimitri:  If you look back on 2013, are there any events in your music career that you wished you had done differently in order to get a better outcome? 

Johnny Yono: Well, things could always be better of course, being the perfectionists that we are but, I really can't recall anything that I would differently. 

1) Best Track: 

Johnny Yono: Shogun feat. Tania Zygar - Find Me

                                                        

2) Best Artist (DJ & producer):
Johnny Yono: Beat Service

                                           

3) Best Remix:
Johnny Yono:  Johnny Yono - Orion (Jamie Walker Remix)

                                            

4) Best Remixer:
Johnny Yono: ilan Bluestone

                                         

5) Best EDM Album:
Johnny Yono:  Lange - 'We Are Lucky People'

6) Best EDM Compilation:
Johnny Yono: 'Trance World Vol. 18' mixed by Protoculture

7) Best artwork/cover of an album or compilation:
Johnny Yono: Armin van Buuren - 'Universal Religion: Chapter 7'
                                     

8) Best lyrics in an EDM track:
Johnny Yono: Simon Patterson Feat. Lucy Pullin - The One (Original Mix)

                                                  

9) Best Vocalist/Singer featured on an EDM track:
Johnny Yono: Ana Criado

                                                        

10) Best EDM Label:
Johnny Yono: Lange Recordings

                                              

11) Best Online Social media network:
Johnny Yono: Facebook

12) Best music composition software:
Johnny Yono: To each their own

13) Best Event or Open Air Festival:
Johnny Yono: EDC

                                                       

14) Best personal DJ Gig:
Johnny Yono: Honolulu, Hawaii @Aloha Tower alongside Aly & Fila on 4/20/2013.

15) Best DJ set of the year from another DJ?:
Johnny Yono: Eric Prydz - Epic 2.0 at The Hollywood Palladium.

16) Best country in which you have performed: 

Johnny Yono: United States

17) Best Radio show: 

Johnny Yono: Intercity Radio with Lange

18) Best Radio station: 

Johnny Yono: Digitally Imported (DI.FM)

19) Best Online Record shop where you usually purchase your music: 

Johnny Yono: Beatport

20) Best Website that you visit regularly: 

Johnny Yono: Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud

21) Best smart phone/mobile/App: 

Johnny Yono: Instagram

22) Best DJ/Producer product (software or hardware): 

Johnny Yono: Native Instruments Massive (production)

23) Best Twitter or Facebook message you received from a fan or friend or you have read from someone else: 

Johnny Yono: A fan  sent me a personal message last year telling me that my single, 'Fairfax' got him through a very rough and dark time in  his life…I was very grateful after reading that.

24) Best piece of News you heard this year related to Electronic Dance Music: 

Johnny Yono: That some of the European festivals like Tomorrowland (TomorrowWorld) and Sensation were breaking ground here in the US and festivals like EDC  (Electric Daisy Carnival) were taking place in certain cities and countries they were never held in before -- it's a necessity for this business to grow in this market and attract more exposure in order to open up the beauty of  'EDM'...particularly to the American people who are still predominantly hooked on Top 40/Pop. 

25) Best personal achievement related to Electronic Dance Music:
Johnny Yono: Playing an overseas gig in Shanghai, China

26) Best piece of advice you got in relation to your career:
Johnny Yono:  'Find your own sound and stay true to it.'

27) Best Movie of the year preferably related to EDM or inspired you to compose a track.
Johnny Yono: Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks.

Dimitri: 2014 is ahead of us; would you like to tell us your plans for future releases, tracks, albums, collaborations or DJ gigs.

Johnny Yono: Several collaborations with very well known and talented artists and some big singles and remixes as well. Looking to head back to China again for more gigs as well as making my return to Hawaii

Dimitri:  Thanks very much for for taking the time to reply to this interview.

Johnny Yono: Thank you for having me! Happy Holidays!

Thanks very much to Erin Osovets at Theory X Pr for her support to organise this interview

Additional info:
www.facebook.com/johnnyyonomusic
www.twitter.com/johnnyyono
www.soundcloud.com/johnnyyono