As I stepped into the pulsating heart of Miami Music Week, I was immediately engulfed by a whirlwind of energy, colour and sound of the city. I could sense what the week had to offer. It felt as if you were walking along the streets of Vice City on GTA back in the day with the pimped up yellow cabs and buses. Even the police cars were all pimped up to an extent, such a nostalgic effect/feeling when you’re cutting about heading to the rave.
Officially Miami Music Week is better known as Ultra Music Festival on paper but beyond that there is a quirky platform for industry networking and music enthusiasts which has blossomed into a diverse array of events throughout the week featuring in underground clubs, outdoor spaces and pool parties. You will find your groovy minimal beats all the way to 140 BPM filled with bondage and leathers as each crowd come together to the rhythm.
My first stop was the iconic club Space Miami which I attended ANOTR No Art event. Space Miami is located Midtown near Wynwood. As I meandered through Wynwood’s labyrinthine streets, I was immediately struck by the colours that adorned every surface. Graffiti and street art covered the walls, Wynwood I would describe as the Hackney of Miami.
I stepped into the fixated atmosphere of Club Space, I knew I was in for a night unlike any other. The renowned nightclub was hosting a special event in collaboration with the famous Dutch duo ANOTR which known for their energetic and dynamic house music sets where recognised for their skillful mixing and engaging performances. They’ve built a reputation for delivering highenergy sets that keep crowds. The two have hosted their event worldwide in places such as London, Amsterdam, Ibiza, Rio and many more so it was a real privilege to experience the event in Miami.
The energy in the air was palpable as I made my way through the dimly lit corridors of Space. The walls were adorned with avant garde installations and projections, setting the stage for a collective experience that would tantalise all senses. Not to mention the no phone policy which brought a real sense of intimacy. It made you forget about everything beyond music for that night until morning as you were free and careless. It reminded us what the feeling of music is really about. It was raw to see everyone lose themselves in the music without having a phone in their hand.
I entered the main room, the pounding bass of the music reverberated through my chest, drawing me towards the dance floor like a magnet. ANOTR, known for their groovy beats and funky sound, they commanded the decks with a blend of house and tech. Each raver was filled with energy from the crowd and vibe. But it wasn’t just the music that captivated me, Club Space had transformed into a gallery of sorts, with stairs which had “No Racism, Be Kind” and so on written across every step on the stair case, expressions like this promote total equality in the venue. The abstract neon graffiti murals across the club added an extra layer of depth to the sensory experience.
A few days later the rain came down hard and the weather turned dark, which threw a spanners in our plans for Factory Town, which was the venue for Jamie Jones’s famous event at Paradise, an outdoor space. However, that didn’t stop us or anybody else. We danced the night away in the rain and ponchos. Factory Town is huge, with five distinct stages and a capacity of 20,000 people. Due to the rain, Paradise took over the main outdoor stage. Everyone was drenched and I had to wade through puddles to get to the toilet with a ciggy hanging out my mouth. Despite the tornado warnings, it was unreal to see how many people didn’t seem to care about all the mucky puddles and were too bothered purely for the music.
The night continued into the early hours of the morning and it felt as though time stood still. That’s when I heard Archie Hamilton at the other paradise stage fire some serious beats, it was somewhat like being in DC10 garden especially with the dusky sky. The only way to describe Factory Town is like a small festival it has characteristics like Day Zero Tulum or Zamna Festival Tulum with all the artwork and presentations of the stages. Factory Town much like Disneyland for grown ups. You can lose yourself in the music and make connections with like minded people amongst all the funky deco.
I was thrilled to even see that the Berlin duo DJ Heartstring had show at a very intimate club in Wynwood. When I arrived at the venue it was in a small warehouse by a car park in the ghetto. Walking into the venue I was amazed to see how the rawness and authenticity of what was unraveled throughout their set whilst they played their euphoric trancey vibe. It was unusual to be in America in such a random venue hearing these beats as appose to be in places like London when their gigs are ultimate sell outs. That’s what made the experience even more thrilling and special the fact knowing the small selective people that were there was there for the sound.
Charlie – “Something so intimate and personal, nothing like I’ve ever experienced before in a rave! Probably one of my favourites of music week”
During the days of Music Week we would frequently attend The Sagamore Hotel hosted by DJ Mag. With it’s poolside setting and luxurious vibes, it provided the perfect backdrop for these daytime events. At Glitterbox, the pool area was transformed into a glittering paradise, with disco balls sparkling in the sunlight and funky beats filling the air. The crowd, decked out in their most extravagant attire, danced as DJ’s spun classic disco tracks and modern remixes. We were looked after by some of the Defected team. Head of Radio – Lois Marshall and Head of Publicity – Lucy St John who both coordinated us through the event and made sure we could completely enjoy ourselves.
Knee Deep by Hot Since 82 brought a different energy to the poolside, with deep house grooves and infectious rhythms that kept the party going well into the afternoon. Although it started to rain that afternoon it didn’t affect the music and vibe which was going off.
Towards the end of the week on March 24th we attended a private event at a venue called “Do Not Sit On The Furniture” for the event Disco Disco. Seth Troxler and Kerri Chandler played us for an unusual all-disco B2B to wrap up Miami Music Week in style. The venue’s cosy atmosphere and funky interiors created an inviting energy drawing us in with its old-school charm. As Seth Troxler and Kerri Chandler took to the decks for their all-disco back-to-back set, the energy in the room reached a fever pitch. The crowd, consisting of around 300 groovers, burst with energy as the iconic DJ’s delivered into a journey through disco classics and underground gems.
It was coming to end of Music Week and the final show we attended was the ultimate Space Closing which started on the Sunday night and didn’t finish until Tuesday morning. Heavy I know! The club held a 36 hour continuum with DJ’s such as Marco Carola, Paco Osuna, ANORT, Seth Troxler, Carlita, Chris Stussy, Ben Sterling, East End Dubs and Rossi.
When we arrived on Monday at 1pm, the queue was still stretching out of the entrance and down the street, and ravers were excited to get into the spirit of things. As soon as we walked into the club, we could sense the enthusiasm and vibe of the crowd. The daylight streaming through the roof instantaneously energised everything, which is what made it impressive. It was a have to be there type of moment, and everyone was on such a high that it’s difficult to put into words to describe the feeling of being part of it.
In between the dance floor, we took a moment to recharge in the club’s chill out area, where an old school Pac-Man arcade game provided a welcome respite from the sensory overload. It was moments like these that added to the magic of Space Closing. As the hours went by and the morning approached, I found myself reluctant to leave, wishing that the night could stretch on indefinitely.
Conor – “Space closing is a mega shift, magical time. I would do it in a heartbeat again”
Concluding the week and taking some time to reflect over the experiences I had participated in, it was obvious that Miami Music Week had exceeded all anticipations and created a lasting impression on my recollections. Every event, from the outdoor events to the underground parties, served as evidence of Miami’s thriving and varied music industry. Looking back on the week, I realised that Miami Music Week wasn’t just about the music it was about the sense of community and connection that I felt everyone around me.
Photography by Louis Nesbitt, We Are Here And Now and Adinayev