A Perfectionist’s Path: A Q&A with Jono Stephenson

 sits at the intersection of contemporary club culture and visual design. A multidisciplinary artist and producer originally from South Africa, Jono blends melodic techno with influences from architecture, fashion, film, and street art — creating a body of work rooted in texture and detail rather than digital polish.

His early musical foundation came from a home filled with live instruments and classical influence, setting the stage for a project now recognized on a global level. His breakout track “I Can’t Save You” quickly passed 1 million streams, and he has since released on respected imprints like Zamna Records, Purified, Impressum, and Siona. His 2024 release “Lose Myself” on Siona features emotionally resonant vocals that continue to gain traction among new listeners.

The last couple of years have marked a pivotal stretch for Stephenson, with new collaborations lined up with Korolova and Sevenn, and continued momentum following the release of “Memory Leak” with Henri Bergmann and Layla Benitez. His productions have earned radio support from BBC Radio 1’s Pete Tong, Virgin Radio, and KISS FM, and coverage in publications like Dancing Astronaut, Deep House London, Ibiza Spotlight, and FAZEmag.

With a global tour schedule underway, Stephenson continues to share his analog-forward sound and immersive vision with dancefloors around the world.

South Africa

melodic techno

melodic house

progressive house

Jono Stephenson

Italy

19:26

indie dance

Henri Bergmann

PAGODA

Doubleheader

Gray Area is pioneering the "Doubleheader" event series, drawing inspiration from back-to-back baseball games to showcase artists with similar styles but unique fan bases. By having one artist follow another and culminating in a collaborative back-to-back (B2B) set, Doubleheader aims to create a powerful platform for musical discovery and cross-pollination. Embracing the "B2B" spirit, the initiative seeks to introduce audiences to new sounds while strengthening the dance music ecosystem.

United States

The Room at Superior Ingredients

DOUBLEHEADER: 19:26 & Henri Bergmann

lo-fi house

Laurence Guy

Germany

detroit techno

microhouse

minimal techno

swedish electronic

techno

Aril Brikha

Netherlands

deep techno

dutch tech house

Miss Melera

Brazil

tech house

Classmatic

Sam Blacky

organic house

Saqib

deep minimal techno

italian techno

Markantonio

United Kingdom

Argy

chillhop

japanese chillhop

lo-fi beats

Saib

electropop

indie soul

nu disco

uk dance

vapor soul

SG Lewis

Jono Stephenson

Articles

Other artists