Jonasu Talks Sunshine, Freedom and French House: Inside the Making of ‘IYWML’ with Tobtok
- Tony Allen
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Jonasu and Tobtok have teamed up for a new single that captures the heat and happiness of a proper summer dance anthem. Out now via Perfect Havoc, ‘IYWML’ (If You Want My Love) is already making noise across the scene. KISS picked it as a Dance Anthem. Apple Music playlisted it in Future Dance Hits. And there’s good reason for the buzz. Buy/Stream it here: https://perfecthavoc.lnk.to/IYWML.
Jonasu, known for his Brit-nominated Top 5 hit ‘Black Magic’, has a knack for creating feel-good, floor-filling moments. With millions of streams to his name and a growing list of global collaborations, he’s not short on credentials. But for him, ‘IYWML’ is more than just another hit.
“We were chatting about the feeling of classic house music from the 2000s,” he told us. “Then started sending ideas back and forth. So we weren’t in the same studio – he was in Stockholm and I in Berlin – but I had a lot of fun in my studio and pretty quickly the whole thing had a positive vibe. It just made me think about my past summer.”
He added, “Pure sunshine is such a good description! I am sure Tobias had just as much fun, cause every time he sent an update, it was just spot on.” That sunshine runs right through the record. Built on warm disco-house grooves and a smooth vocal, it leans into a French house sound that brings a nostalgic kick.
“I had a big French House phase in my life around 2008, and I think Tobtok’s story is pretty similar,” said Jonasu. “It was all about going back to those days we both fell in love with house music. All those records have such a cool loopy-ness about them. It just feels so good to hear the same thing over and over again; it’s such a strong feeling.”
For Tobtok, that throwback energy connects directly to his roots, too. The Swedish producer came up through Kitsuné and has since racked up hundreds of millions of streams. From ‘In Control’ with Oliver Nelson to remixes for Joel Corry and Robin Schulz, he’s honed a signature that balances charm and club power.
Perfect Havoc saw the potential in the collab early. The label, which has built a reputation for blending underground edge with mainstream success, helped shape the rollout. Jonasu praised the experience.
“They are really great guys, and they were really hands-on with the whole thing.”
With a past that includes writing and producing for Tiësto, Karol G, and Sam Feldt, Jonasu’s been behind some serious chart-toppers. But when it comes to his own artist project, he says the approach is different.
“I definitely have more freedom to explore. I am able to make all decisions during the process based on my taste only, which is amazing, but also challenging. Sometimes it is a lot easier if someone gives you a direction or just feedback.”
That creative control shows. His recent track ‘Healing’ caught fire on TikTok with over 30,000 creations. But even with viral success, he says it’s not about chasing the next big one.
“A couple years ago, I really was chasing hits, and having had those achievements, I really felt like the hard work was paying off. Right now, I am definitely not ‘chasing’ as much any more, and it actually feels really good.”
“I want to release music I am proud of, and that is already a really big achievement… and if I have another big hit again, that would just be a bonus.”
Even with a background as a trained multi-instrumentalist, he keeps it lean when producing dance records. “Over the years, I learned to be more minimalistic. Even if I don’t play many or any instruments on a dance track and instead work a lot with samples, the musicality is something that is always with me, and I can not switch it off, even if I sometimes wish I could.”
He also keeps an eye on the role of social media, especially after seeing how ‘Healing’ blew up. “Emily and I went super hard on TikTok; we really worked it like a full-time job. It was really amazing to see how much you can achieve with that.”
But it all comes back to the feeling. “In the studio, while making music, all I can rely on is what resonates with me,” he said. “Then you just have to hope it resonates with your audience as well.”
‘If You Want My Love’ does exactly that. It’s warm; it’s nostalgic, it hits the sweet spot. And it sounds like two artists having real fun. That’s the energy that sticks.
Jonasu
Perfect Havoc
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