John Summit made Sarah McLachlan’s daughter suggest skipping graduation.

In an unexpected intersection of family, legacy, and the modern dance music scene, Canadian music icon Sarah McLachlan is once again in the global spotlight thanks to the resurgence of her timeless track “Silence”, now reborn through a powerful new remix by American DJ and producer John Summit.

The renewed popularity of the song has caught the attention of music lovers worldwide and even sparked a surprising family conversation in McLachlan’s own home—when her teenage daughter offered to skip her high school graduation just to tag along to Ibiza, where Summit hoped to bring McLachlan onstage for a live collaboration.

The story goes far beyond a remix—it’s a multigenerational moment that connects the roots of 1990s electronic music with today’s festival-fueled soundscape.

“Silence”: A Track That Defined an Era and Still Resonates

Originally released in 1999 as a collaboration between Delerium (the Vancouver-based ambient electronic duo) and Sarah McLachlan, “Silence” quickly became a classic. McLachlan’s ethereal vocals layered over ambient trance production created something that felt spiritual and cinematic—rare for the club scene at the time.

Over the decades, “Silence” has been remixed by countless DJs and producers, with versions ranging from progressive house to full-on trance anthems. It became one of those rare tracks that transcended genre lines, appearing in everything from underground club sets to mainstream compilations.

Now, in 2025, John Summit’s remix has breathed fresh life into the song, making it an unavoidable presence at summer festivals and across streaming platforms.

John Summit Brings “Silence” to a New Generation

John Summit, known for his deep house roots and infectious energy on stage, called the original Delerium ft. Sarah McLachlan version of “Silence” one of his “all-time favorite tracks.” His new remix retains the haunting quality of McLachlan’s voice but infuses the production with modern festival-ready energy—big drops, pulsating basslines, and carefully crafted buildups designed for massive crowd reactions.

The remix has been heavily rotated during Summit’s festival appearances this summer, from Bonnaroo to Tomorrowland, and has even made waves across Ibiza’s club scene. For long-time fans of McLachlan, it’s a nostalgic return. For younger fans, it’s an introduction to a voice that helped define electronic music at the turn of the millennium.

The Ibiza Invitation — And a Surprising Offer From McLachlan’s Daughter

As “Silence” began climbing back into public consciousness, John Summit reached out to Sarah McLachlan with an invitation to perform live during one of his Ibiza sets—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring the past and present together on stage.

The idea wasn’t just appealing to fans or industry insiders—it sparked enthusiasm in McLachlan’s own household. Her youngest daughter, Taja, was so excited by the prospect that she reportedly offered to skip her high school graduation to go with her mom to Ibiza if she agreed to the performance.

In McLachlan’s own words:

“Please go do this so I can come to Ibiza. I’ll skip graduation,” she recalls her daughter saying.
“And I’m like, ‘No, you will not.’”

It was a touching and humorous moment that illustrated not only how influential the song remains but also how music connects across generations—even within families.

A Full Summer Schedule and Other Commitments

Despite her daughter’s enthusiasm—and her own temptation—Sarah McLachlan ultimately turned down the Ibiza appearance. Her schedule this summer was already filled with important personal and professional commitments.

Notably, McLachlan has been completing work on “Better Broken,” her first studio album in 11 years, which is set to release on September 19, 2025. The album marks a long-awaited return to songwriting and recording for McLachlan and is expected to reflect her growth, resilience, and evolving artistry.

In addition, she is participating in a new documentary titled “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery,” which explores the legacy of the iconic women-led music festival she co-founded. The film is set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be released via CBC shortly thereafter.

All of this made scheduling a live Ibiza performance nearly impossible—at least for now.

McLachlan Reflects on Her Legacy and Dance Music’s Evolution

Despite not making it to Ibiza this summer, Sarah McLachlan is fully aware of the impact her music continues to have.

“The vocal is really stratospheric and then there’s that deep, intense bass,” she said of the John Summit remix.
“That’s the cool thing about mashing up all these different genres… it takes a particular song and gets you heard by people who would normally never listen to your kind of music.”

McLachlan acknowledges that while her party days are behind her, her music still lives on in the spaces where beats are loud and nights stretch into mornings. She fondly recalls her early 20s at Vancouver’s Luvafair nightclub, a far cry from her current preference for dancing at home.

Now 57, McLachlan laughs about being reintroduced to club culture through her children and their peers, many of whom are hearing her voice for the first time via the remix.

“My partner’s kids, they’re like, ‘This is so cool.’ They’re all listening to it,” she shared with a smile.

Will a Live Performance Still Happen? “We’re Working on It.”

While the Ibiza appearance didn’t happen, McLachlan hasn’t ruled out the idea of eventually performing “Silence” live with John Summit.

“We’re working on it,” she said. “But we’ll see.”

The possibility of a surprise appearance at a future festival or special event remains open, and fans are hopeful. Given the viral success of Summit’s remix, it’s not hard to imagine McLachlan gracing the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime crossover between classic vocals and cutting-edge electronic production.

Conclusion: A Timeless Voice Meets a Modern Beat

The resurgence of “Silence” in 2025 is a testament to the timeless power of Sarah McLachlan’s voice and the creativity of today’s dance music producers. Through John Summit’s remix, a new generation is discovering a song that blends haunting emotion with pulsating energy.

For McLachlan, it’s a full-circle moment—where family, legacy, and musical innovation converge. Whether she ends up performing it live or not, the story behind this remix adds a beautiful new chapter to her career and shows that some songs truly never go out of style.

As McLachlan prepares for the release of “Better Broken” and the debut of the Lilith Fair documentary, the revival of “Silence” is a fitting reminder: even when life gets busy, the music always finds a way to be heard again.

And maybe, just maybe, the next time we see John Summit behind the decks, Sarah McLachlan will be there—microphone in hand, daughter in the crowd, and history in the making.