Route 94

One of the UK’s most exciting and versatile young talents, Route 94 has been cultivating his sound for 10 years, first getting to grips with music production when he was 13 years of age. In the time that has passed since those early days the Londoner has performed all over the world from Mexico to Miami, Amsterdam to Dubai, Sydney, Ibiza and many more locations around the globe. Route 94’s sound is distinct, and evident in his diverse range of productions, moving from deep, emotive cuts to more dance floor-orientated material with ease. A whirlwind few years have seen him go from hitting the No.1 spot in the UK charts to performing at some of the most-respected clubs on the planet, but he’s unaffected by the attention, keeping his head down in the studio and injecting his energy into a series of projects that allow him to maintain his creative flow with panache. Still only 23, Route 94’s story is only just beginning to unfold… Route 94, real name Rowan Jones, represents the very best of British, London’s beat flows through his veins. The city’s rich musical history informs all of his work, giving him his unique fingerprint. Growing up in London exposed young Rowan to a wide range of music and he made his first mark on the city’s clubbing landscape as a dubstep producer under the alias ‘Dream’. One of his early EPs was snapped up by Skrillex, with support from Chase & Status and collaborations with Benga and Katy B. In 2012 he took on a new moniker, Route 94, and began to experiment with house, falling in love with the music after experiencing it first-hand in London’s clubs. Within a couple of years he’d achieved a career-defining moment when he made ‘My Love’ (featuring Jess Glynne), a beautifully crafted track with universal appeal. Little did he know when he made the track as a free giveaway for Annie Mac that it would reach the top of the UK pop charts, catapulting him into the public consciousness. However, rather than transform himself into a pop star, Rowan kept things largely underground and remained anonymous for a while, letting the music speak for itself. A bold move, but soon after his overwhelming success he performed at some of the world’s most respected clubs; fabric, Sub Club, Dance Tunnel, Space, Ushuaia and DC10 in Ibiza and, more, recently, Straf_Werk (Amsterdam), Chinese Laundry (Sydney), Bar Americas (Mexico), Flash Factory (New York) and lots more. Alongside his club bookings, Route 94 has also transferred his sound to the big stage, delivering standout performances at a long list of festivals from Glastonbury to Creamfields, DGTL and Extrema Outdoor (Netherlands), Snowbombing (Austria) and BPM (Mexico) among many others. His time on the road not only allowed him to spread his sound to a wider audience, but also fed back into his studio sessions, inspiring extended jams resulting in a mind-boggling amount of music. In fact, Rowan’s productivity has led to the creation of 300+ tracks in recent times. Since his first encounter with music production, via Cubase when he was 13, he has built up an impressive studio where he often spends days on end refining his sound, experimenting with styles and composing new music ready to be road tested every weekend. His unflinching love for music is clearly evident in a lifestyle that revolves around making and playing it: week in, week out. There is no question that Route 94 is 100% devoted to music and the result is a huge collection of tunes. Since ‘My Love’ hit the streets, his release schedule has only comprised two EPs in 2014; one with the mighty Leftroom and the other on the legendary Defected, plus a free release, via fabric in 2016, called ‘A Brand New Day’. All three releases showcase Rowan’s ability to work across a range of styles while maintaining his identity. At the heart of his productions lies a bass-heavy groove, which is quintessentially London – there’s no mistaking that sound. His use of vocals also evokes a truly London-centric feeling, though, like so many Londoners that have come before him, Route 94’s sound resonates with music lovers all over the world and his forthcoming releases are set to ignite dance floors around the world and boost his already huge following. For some, a No.1 hit is the recipe for disaster, but Route 94’s level headed, low-key response means he has remained consistent, in-demand and ever present in the minds of fans all over the planet. With an abundance of new material about to drop and a packed calendar of gigs already booked in for the coming year, it feels like the beginning of the next phase of his musical career. Naturally-gifted, musically astute and a total studio hound, Route 94 has already assured himself a place in the history books, where he goes from here is all in his own hands…