John O'Callaghan

John O’Callaghan is at the forefront of quality trance producers. The creator of high energy, big room classics, deep, tech-driven tracks and a master of precision mixing, he is responsible for putting Ireland on the map as a source of excellent DJ and production talent. With his flawless ability to discover haunting vocal singers and merge them with uplifting melodies and big bass lines, his productions have earned him a place amongst the trance elite where he continues to rise and impress with the type of music that can’t fail to bring you out in goose bumps.
John’s unique ability to conjure up both instant classics such as ‘Big Sky’ and ‘Find Yourself,’ and deeper, tech tracks with a darker edge has earned him huge following and much respect in the industry. John has achieved so much already but this is just the beginning of his trance legacy.
From beginning
John was DJing from the age of seventeen, inspired by the likes of Mauro Picotto, Ferry Corsten, Mario Piu and the music he heard when on holidays in Spain. His first gig was playing on Irish radio station, 2FM on New Year’s Eve in 2003.
Originally signed to John Askew’s Discover label, he then released on Armada. His early releases such as ‘The Chamber’, ‘Space and Time’ and ‘Exactly’ remain firm favorites with DJs and clubbers today.
In 2007 John released ‘Live As’ on Discover and his first artist album, ‘Something to Live For’, which featured ‘Big Sky’, the instant classic that captured clubbers hearts and was voted number one dance tune of the year on ASOT.
His success continued with a Radio 1 Essential Mix in 2008, he was one of only four trance DJs featured that year. He became the first Irish person to play at Trance Energy and shot into the DJ Mag Top 100 at number 60, then jumped dramatically to 24 in 2009. He is the only Irish DJ in the poll and currently sits at 82, a number that does not adequately reflect his success and following. He has won three Best DJ awards along with two Best Producer titles at the Irish Dance Music Awards. He was voted number 5 in the Tranceaddict chart in 2013, jumping seven spaces from the previous year.
Productions
John’s rise to superstardom has been paved with high-octane productions, from the big room vocal anthems to his edgier creations. He consistently delivers flawless tracks that show the versatility and varied reach of his producing talent.
A number of his tracks such as ‘Surreal’, ‘Out of Nowhere’, ‘Save This Moment’ and ‘Never Fade Away’ have further cemented his position in the hearts of trance fans. His newer offerings such as ‘Boban’ and ‘Mess of a Machine’, as well as ‘Glyph’, ‘Where’s the Initiative?’ ‘I Believe’, and ‘Under a Sea of Birds’, under his Joint Operations Centre alias, have proven popular with his many fans.
Subculture Label
John is the creator of the Subculture brand. Set up in 2010, the Subculture label has earned a reputation for producing high quality tech-trance, uplifting trance and deep, bassy progressive tracks. It boasts a number of high caliber producers and promising up-and-comers, and has consistently turned out strong releases such as Sneijder and Bryan Kearney’s ‘Proper Order’, Jamie Walker’s ‘Boulevard’, and John and Ronski Speed’s massive ‘Sincerely JORS’.
While the EDM scene moves into the commercial world, John's Subculture label stays true to its name and consistently dishes out the pinnacle of underground tech trance.
Radio
For the past seven years John has treated his followers to a monthly fix of the latest trance and techno on his radio show and podcast Subculture, broadcast on DI.FM. The Subculture radio show presents a crystal-clear monthly snapshot of John’s club sound, as he explores the outer reaches of electronic music.
Events
Subculture events have been a huge success around the world. 2013 saw a meteoric rise for the popular nights, with sold out clubs, arenas and concerts spanning the globe and spreading the label’s robust, booming sound from Australia to Argentina.
This summer, Subculture is partnering with Future Sound of Egypt to bring a two-day trance-filled event to Amsterdam with a monster line-up sure to satisfy any trance fan.
Collaborations and Remixes
John is an excellent collaborator, combining his unique talent with other great producers, such as Full Tilt, Bryan Kearney, Neal Scarborough, and they’re just his fellow Irish producers. His collaborations are always different, and result in an amazing combination of talent and imagination, which is evident in the songs that result, such as ‘Ride the Wave’ with Giuseppe Ottaviani, ‘Las Lilas’ with Heatbeat and ‘Breathe’ with Full Tilt feat. Karen Kelly.
Although his studio career carries more of an original production bias, John is an in-demand remixer, and is responsible for many outstanding productions. His first effort with Agnelli and Nelson’s ‘Shiver’ in 2005 set the standard for further exceptional re-workings such as Dogzilla’s massive hit, ‘Without You’ and The Doppler Effect’s ‘Beauty Hides in the Deep.’
More recently he has shaken up tracks from Solarstone, Emma Hewitt and Armin van Buuren, who first asked him to remix two songs from his 2008 Imagine album, and requested his touch for the opening track on his Mirage album. His 2012 remix of Gareth Emery’s ‘Concrete Angel’ went straight to number one on Beatport.
Albums
John has produced three artist albums, Something to Live For (2007), Never Fade Away (2009) and Unfold (2011). He has released four Subculture albums, all testaments to his great ear. Subculture 2013 perfectly captures the essence of trance music today and reflects the label’s direction for the future. It features John’s mash up of ‘Whatever Happened to Puzzle Piece’, his remix of Paul van Dyk’s ‘I Don’t Deserve You’, and ‘Crispy Duck’, his collaboration with OrjanNilsen.
There is an array of excellent tracks packed onto the release, particularly from Full Tilt, Jorn van Deynhoven, Aly and Fila, Giuseppe Ottaviani, Alex Morph, Sneijder, Photographer, Armin, Chris Metcalfe, Bryan Kearney and Solarstone.
Tours
From the DJ booth he has gone on to throw trance-fire onto the floors of some of the world’s highest-profile clubs, arenas and festivals. The past year saw John travel across Canada, Europe and the States, where he played a number of venues to hoards of enthusiastic clubbers. He also made his South Africa debut and returned to Argentina, Brazil & Australia, to name but a few. John also took part in massive events such as Full on Ferry Russia, FSOE Mexico & ASOT 600 at Den Bosch & Beirut. He is a regular at many European festivals such as Global Gathering, Creamfields and Tomorrowlands, and is a favourite at the hugely popular Cream nights in Ibiza.
2014 is set to be as triumphant as previous years for John and the Subculture brand, with upcoming tours of Europe, Asia and the Americas, as well as some exciting collaborations and captivating new releases.