Biography

Manic Focus is the beat-bumpin’ project of John “JmaC” McCarten, a Chicago-based electronic music producer hailing from the Twin Cities. A multi-dimensional artist with a rowdy style unbound to any one genre, Manic Focus transcends sound waves by fusing soulful blues with heavy-hitting bass, creating a resonating tone that’s entirely his own.

JmaC’s grooves run deep in a diverse array of musical influence, rooted in early classical piano training and a ruthless cultivation of hypnotic, hip-hop infused electro-soul bangers. His sound first emerged on the scene in 2011 with the independent release of Definition of the Rhythm, followed by Expanding Mind in 2012 and Distant Perspective in 2013, all of which he distributed to the masses online, free of charge. Since then, he’s toured extensively with Big Gigantic, GRiZ, Paper Diamond, Minnesota, Break Science and many more.

His fourth album, Cerebral Eclipse, debuted on GRiZ’s label All Good Records in October of 2014. Featuring Dominic Lalli (Big Gigantic), GRiZ, Michal Menert (Pretty Lights Music, Super Best Records) and many more, the release incorporates more live instrumentation than ever before. He’s also started two side projects with Pretty Lights Music veterans Break Science (Manic Science) and Michal Menert (Manic Menert).

As an artist, JmaC continues to build momentum and perfect his craft with every show. Always seeking new ways to experiment with multiple genres and future-bass concoctions, you can bet this beat magician will bring the heat to any performance.

Whether it’s a small-town venue or a world-renowned music festival, you won’t want to miss a Manic Focus throw-down.