Manic Focus is the electronic music project of John “JmaC” McCarten, a Denver-based producer with roots in funk, soul, and new-era hip-hop. A multi-dimensional artist with a rowdy style that spans multiple genres, Manic Focus fuses soulful blues with heavy-hitting bass, creating a tone that’s entirely his own.
Originally hailing from the Twin Cities, JmaC grew up with classical piano lessons from an early age, developing a trained musical ear and laying the groundwork for his future in beat production. In his teen years, he developed a deep appreciation for hip-hop music, citing musical influences such as Atmosphere, Brother Ali, and MF Doom. In high school, JmaC began producing hip-hop music using Logic software, making beats for his friends to rap on. He transitioned into making electronic music 5 years later, combining his love of hip-hop with electronic sound design and future bass influences.
Over the last 10 years, JmaC has released six full-length albums, each one a new evolution in sound and approach. The producer continues to push himself to new musical limits by incorporating original, sample-free recordings, which is especially apparent in the material from his last full-length album Lost in a Digital World, released in September of 2019. Since then, JmaC has released 15 singles and a handful of EPs, including collaborations with Break Science, Mersiv, SoDown, K+Lab, ProbCause, and Marvel Years. McCarten has also completed a slew of official remixes for notable artists such as Louis the Child, Zed’s Dead, Pretty Lights, GRiZ, The Floozies, Umphrey’s McGee, PLS&TY, Lettuce, and Minnesota.
Recent live highlights include performances at Lollapalooza, Hulaween, North Coast Music Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Camp Bisco, Wakaan Festival, and Summer Camp Music Festival. Previous performances of note include Electric Forest, Bonnaroo, The Gorge Amphitheater in WA, and numerous Red Rocks performances supporting Zhu, Emancipator, Pretty Lights, and more.
