
- I specialise in writing & producing popular music for all continents. - Records that I have co-written and produced have just surpassed 10 million total streams as of April 2026 - I have had top 10s in Korea and Japan, a top 50 in Sweden, a No.1 in Malta and Itunes World Chart No.17 - My music has been placed in media worldwide e.g. Love Island
Hi all, I'm John from Kerfo Music.
I’m based in the UK and work full time in the music industry. I am a music producer and songwriter. My studio is in the beautiful Derbyshire countryside in the Midlands.
I play drums, piano, guitar and I sing.
I started out playing in bands at the age of 10 upwards, from performing vocals and playing guitar in a 4 piece rock band in my teens to drumming for Jon Eno’s Screaming Kicks Big Band, playing around the UK, with a tour to Atlanta and France.
I started producing music at age 15 and had my first release on a record label that year. That’s right you guessed it, I started my producing life as a 4 on the floor EDM kid who’s goal in life was to turn up to a gig with a USB stick instead of a whole drum kit. Just over 2 years later I was working with Universal Music MENA after winning a remix competition for their artist Anthony Touma on his track “Walk Away”.
Fast forward a decade and I now spend the majority of my time producing for new talent and established artists both signed and unsigned. I have worked with artists in the Western and European markets as well as in the Asian markets.
Commercial discography here: https://credits.muso.ai/profile/5589d067-b079-4784-a884-76fd799c45f1
I absolutely love what I do and wouldn't have it any other way. Believe me, we're just getting started. Lets work together soon! - Kerfo
Send me a note through the contact button above.
Credits
Endorse Kerfo Music2 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client
check_circleVerifiedReally great working with John. Hugely talented and very professional producer. Thanks for everything John. Look forward to working with you again :)
check_circleVerifiedHugely talented. Really professional, very flexible and understanding. This is massive coming from me because I know i can be quite difficult at times to work with. Thanks so much John.
Interview with Kerfo Music
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Signed and independent artist projects. Music for sync libraries for TV and film usage. K-pop and J-pop projects for the Asian markets. I am grateful to always have at least 6-8 weeks work ahead of me so please contact me well in advance of any release deadlines you may have for collaboration.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: You will be happy with the result.That's my promise, and I won't stop until you are happy, be it a full production w/vocals, a top line, mix or fully produced instrumental.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: What job? Every single day is so different, even if I'm working within the same genre for weeks on end it never gets tiring to me. But most of all, I love to hear the excitement and passion from a client when a finished project is delivered to them. As well as this, the feeling that the music we write together will end up being played to people all over the world to sing along to and feel good is a sensation that you just can't get anywhere else.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Do you use AI? - No, not for writing, not for producing. I don't have/use Splice or similar either.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: It's just a formula. If it was just a formula, everybody could make hits. The right song and production has got to be a perfect mix between what people know and surprising them. 80% comfortable, 20% out of the box. It also has to tackle a current issue or have a sentimental meaning that millions of other humans have also felt or are feeling in their lives. To top this off, the correct sounds, rhythmic feel and harmonic/melodic content, that actually complements and supports the initial song idea, mood and theme of what you are trying to say is vital to a songs worldwide success.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: An acoustic guitar, a drum kit, a bass guitar, a multi-instrument keyboard and a singer! No distractions, right?
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Professionally songwriting and producing since 2012. It began with EDM releases back in 2012 on independent labels and grew from winning remix competitions and then getting those remixes released on Universal. Full time songwriting and producing since 2024. Performing in live bands and DJing since 2010 Playing instruments - It all started at the age of 4 with a set of cardboard boxes and old pots and pans tied up with string! That was my first ever drum kit.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop, Electro pop, Dance, RnB, Country, Hip Hop, Dubstep. - Anything that has a mix of emotion, but is also full of energy and will make people sing and move. Those are my favourite projects to work on. Please check out my previous work in my credits playlist & on my profile.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Knowing what to do with the simplest idea and working it up from the very bottom into a full finished production. I hear finished productions in my head in detail when a talented artists sends me a song demo.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: It doesn't matter, as long as it suits what you are trying to achieve musically.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: This is usually song specifics and tying in song ideas with their artist image and asking them what they want to express through the music. That's the most important thing, as music is an emotional release, not just a beat. It has the power to change our emotions in a second, so I always make sure I ask prospective clients what their musical goals are to make sure that I would be a good fit to help them in the stepping stones of their career.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: I'm here for the music and for individuals careers. There's no such thing as succeeding alone in this business. Having an amazing team around you as an artist, songwriter, producer or manager is everything you need to ride the ups and downs and stay motivated. If you are driven, and know that you will one day succeed no matter how long it takes, then I would really love to help you in any way that I can and be a part of your team.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Emotion and energy combined, not one or the other. I love to try and write/produce in a way that will make people euphoric as well as jump up and down, scream out the top line when they hear it on the radio. My productions, unless working on a ballad or similar style, are always full of groove. If it doesn't make me move then I'm not happy with the track.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: `No names in particular, I'd love to just work with any amazing artists out there who are really driven, confident in their style, have a vision for where they want to be and that want to really make it in music, a successful and happy career as well a financial living.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: It's not about EQ compressor makes and models, none of that matters if the initial song idea isn't good enough, no matter the style of music. Begin with an amazing idea and you will end up making the right production choices. Let the emotion in the music lead you, not scientific choices on how something should sound.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: Emotion and energy together. I love to combine the two for a greater effect. When writing a track, I always love to make sure that the track is making me dance around the room, or alternatively making me well up with tears, or both at the same time! That's the only way that I know a tracks songwriting, top line and production choices are fitting together. I can't explain it, you just know. That said, I'm really not afraid to tell myself that something I have created is rubbish, or to change that "bit" in the track whatever it may be. There is no such thing as that'll do, I can't stand that every time I hear the song on the radio! :)
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I'm totally flexible to however the client would like to do things in their own creative way. My workflow is entirely suited to you.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I have a home studio setup where I do all of my recording and producing from.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Max Martin, Ilya, Quincy Jones, Cirkut, Johhn Ryan, Julian Bunetta, Steve Mac, Red One.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: -Songwriting catchy and energetic radio ready songs in all popular styles (see reference tracks) -Producing full, vocal and radio ready instrumentals in all popular styles (see reference tracks)

I was the co-writer, music producer, vocal producer, mixing and mastering engineer in this production
- ProducerAverage price - $500 per song
- Full instrumental productionAverage price - $500 per song
- Top line writer (vocal melody)Average price - $200 per song
- Track minus top-lineAverage price - $500 per song
- Songwriter - MusicAverage price - $250 per song
- RemixingContact for pricing
- Beat MakerAverage price - $500 per song
Any royalty splits discussed prior to project commencement.
Revisions are not a problem within reason e.g. necessary small adjustments to the production or mix from artist/client feedback.
- Cirkut
- Max Martin
- John Ryan
- NEW RELEASE on UNIVERSAL 28/02/2020Feb 28, 2020
Another release with Hadi on Universal. Hope you like it :)
I was the co-writer, producer & mixer/master engineer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2VHffKBako - NEW RELEASE on UNIVERSAL 20/01/2020Feb 04, 2020
Here is a new release out on Universal Music called "Can't Sleep" by Hadi x Kerfo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCU0VCi7LYA
I was the co-writer, producer and mixing/mastering engineer for this record.
Support:
-Played on radio & Music TV worldwide
-Supported by music blogs
-Added to a number of the biggest streaming playlists.Please do let me know what you think. :)
John



