It All Starts In Here
John Van Ride as DJ/Producer
About Me
Joanis Gjonaj (Born in Tirana, Albania, January 13) Better Known As John Van Ride, he lived in Greece for almost 25 years, where he continued his saxophone studies and due to his great passion for music, he became interested in performing as a DJ. John Van Ride is an experienced music producer and DJ with a career spanning over two decades, starting in 2000. After returning to Albania, he took a break as a DJ and focused mostly on productions as a composer, lyricist, and music producer, but his passion for electronic music has made him come back as a DJ with his own productions.
John has a rich history of producing songs which include genre of Electronic music , Deep-House, Progressive- House, afro-house etc. Some of the Songs are :”ODA “ “Language of god” “Sen Gelmez Oldun” “You & Me“ ; “En La Cadena Alimentaria“ ; “Sunset Orange” ; “And The Heavens Agree” ; “Memories” ; “My Feelings in which lately he has collaborated with the Label Café De Anatolia.
Professional Experience
Johkoba Group
The foundation of the Johkoba group is the fusion of live instruments with electronic beats, creating a truly unique musical experience. As the DJ in the group, I perform alongside two instrumentalists, and together we build an atmosphere that deeply connects with the audience.
Our performances are recognized for their energy, musicality, and creativity — delivering a live show that’s both soulful and rhythmic, with ethnic and modern elements beautifully intertwined.
Solo Performance
As a solo DJ, I have performed in various clubs and events, delivering a mix of deep-house, progressive-house, and afro-house music. Beyond live sets, I have also produced and composed tracks that reflect my personal style and passion for electronic music.
As a solo DJ and producer, I’ve always aimed to create music that connects deeply with people — both emotionally and rhythmically. Over the years, I’ve released several tracks that truly represent my artistic identity.
Notable solo tracks include:
Awards Through The Years
Awards Through the Years
International Recognition through Label Partnerships. His collaboration with Café De Anatolia and the global reach of his music have introduced his sound to audiences across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.
Best Dance Award – Kënga Magjike Festival (2016)
John Van Ride received the Best Dance award at Albania’s prestigious music festival, Kënga Magjike, in 2016, for his work on the song “Veten Dua Gjallë” performed by Aurela Gaçe, one of Albania’s most iconic vocalists. He also composed and produced another powerful song for her titled “Vagabonde.”
Collaborations with Top Albanian Artists
John has worked as a composer and music producer for numerous well-known Albanian singers, contributing to some of the most notable hits in the Albanian pop scene.
Live Performances with Johkoba
John’s performances with Johkoba have been praised for their cultural richness, blending the energy of a DJ set with the soul of live instrumental performance — often described as “ceremonial” or “transcendental.