Skyscrapers and cruise ships glistened in
the marina as I taxied over the causeway to the oasis that is South
Beach. I was staying with friends Roger
and Jamie who were launching their kiwi rum brand Stolen Rum, in a
market 70 times bigger than NZ. They are close to securing a large distribution
deal in Florida and have a short term lease at the infamous Flamingo Apartments looking back to city. I stood on the deck to watch the sun set over millionaires row - where Lenny Kravitz and
P Diddy have homes - as jet skis and motorboats darted on the bay below us. I shrugged off the opportunity to join some friends for the final day of Ultra’s first installment, hoping I could catch the next weekend. Instead settled for a pint of
Guinesss and chicken wings down Lincoln Mall - comfort food in preparation for
the big week ahead.
Next day I was in registering at the Winter
Music Conference - the dance industry gathering held at Miami Convention Center. A very diverse, ethnic bunch of attendees probably given Miami’s proximity to South America and Europe. All types of studs, tattoos, hair colours, sizes - all sharing a passion
for EDM (electronic dance music) and wanting to learn more about its growing relevance, along with commercial and artistic opportunities. I wasn’t in Ponsonby anymore! Harrish was my
name – they can never get it right in this country!
It wasn’t long until I was down to Collins
Ave on South Beach to meet friends Nick and Tom and enjoy the first of the
overpriced but authentic local mojitos. The strip of art deco behemoth hotels was impressive, the 1920’s
charm still classic today. We ventured down to the pool party at The National
where old Chicago-style house DJ’s Louie Vega and friends entertained a raucous crowd, none of whom looked like they were not born
past 1980. We met a guy Gino from Chicago who seemed to be enjoying himself, pulling out some
interesting dance moves while sweating profusely, confirming Miami as his annual
winter escape. Nick D was in his element darting in and out of the crowd taking soundbites for his George FM breakfast show in Auckland.
From there it was to the neon glow of Ocean
Beach Road where friendly waiters used every one liner in the book .
Chumps like us were putty in their hands. The night the proceeded can only be
compared to the adventure off 'The Hangover' – a combination of checking out Aeroplane
at SLS, Wall at the W for Guy Gerber, Story for who knows who - by now with a
local lawyer in tow who looked like Rich Carey. We befriended a local gangster
we referred to as Biggy Smalls before making it safely back to Nick's hotel in one piece. South Beach can be a crazy place!
Nick was flown over to host the Red Bull Music Academy Radio at the Dream Hotel. It was was
a hive of activity in the make shift studio in the lobby, which was broadcasting live from midday til 9pm each day, while pool parties took place on the hotel roof. Labels such as Skrillex's OSWLA's, A-Trak's Fools Gold, along with Skream, Boys Noise, Josh Wink all calling to
say hi and have a chat to Nick.
There were loads of different events happening at clubs, pools and rooftops all over South Beach and Downtown - it was mind boggling all the festive options. From the trendy 'Get Lost' parties to the pretentious Nikki Beach to the hip-hop stylings of DJ Maseo from De La Soul. Brands like Sirius FM holding sponsored events on hotel lawns with Armin Van Buuren, to boat parties with Smog acts like 12th Planet. Swedish superstar producer Avicii even had his own hotel!
There were loads of different events happening at clubs, pools and rooftops all over South Beach and Downtown - it was mind boggling all the festive options. From the trendy 'Get Lost' parties to the pretentious Nikki Beach to the hip-hop stylings of DJ Maseo from De La Soul. Brands like Sirius FM holding sponsored events on hotel lawns with Armin Van Buuren, to boat parties with Smog acts like 12th Planet. Swedish superstar producer Avicii even had his own hotel!
The Winter Music Conference was different from SXSW in that it was smaller and more niche conversations and panels - strictly about electronic music. As I understand it was one of the original catalysts for the industry being in Miami end of March, but it is now dwarfed by Ultra and the loads of side parties which have now taken focus. Although the speakers were world class, the attendees appeared amateur and up-and-coming, many looking for inspiration and networking opportunities, as I was. Most of the real business is surely done poolside, or in hotel lobbies of signature hotels like the Delano or the Raleigh.
The conversation and discussion however was fantastic. Local hero Pit Bull's management spoke about how hard
he works in the studio with 4/5am starts, that is now paying massive rewards as he is a true global star
with in key markets Europe, South America and USA, featuring on some of the big pop and cross over dance hits in the
last few years. Legends Carl Cox and Danny Teneglia spoke about life
as a travelling DJ - the pressures of travel on health and relationships, but
how the love of the music has driven their career. Laidback Luke and Sander Van Dorn speaking
about their intricate production techniques. Dutch management and label bosses spoke with confidence about their clients and the European industry, confirming how influential the country is, hosting the other prominent industry gathering Amsterdam Dance Event in October. DJ Irie from the Miami Heat
spoke about his commercial partnerships, and how despises the growth of bedroom DJ's - undermining the art form he has taken 20 odd years to perfect.
I enjoyed the touring panels, with agents, managers and promoters discussing about how EDM artists are now going
out on the road in the US like rock band once did, with tour buses full of crew and
production. Markus Schultz is taking his
brand of trance to small US town's like Oklahoma City and Tuscon, many towns who don't even who don’t even possess any LED lights and lasers, but have a hungry crowd wanting the full blown dance experience. Other artists like Hardwell and Skrillex doing substantial arena runs across mainland Canada and US. It is estimated the potential market
is only 18% developed in middle America, compared with that of 85% in Southern California, where big promoters like Insomniac hold the leading US festival 'Electric Daisy Carnival' for 300,000 people each June.
The conference ticket also included an invitation to the International Dance Music Awards, which were
held in an art deco Colony Theatre on Lincoln Mall. Krewella,
Armen Van Buren, Hardwell. Tomorrowland were the big winners in what is a really popularity contest, but the votes don’t lie. Van Buuren alone picked up around 6 including Best Radio Podcast and Best DJ. Was great to see a number of the
big players there accepting their awards and thanking the fans and industry. The night was hosted by DJ Irie and Daniel Glass of
Glassnote Records who has taken the likes of Temper Trap and Mumford and Sons to the top of the indie rock world. The legacy award was presented to
Nile Rogers from the 70's band Chic for his epic contribution to the dance community.
And it was Nile Rogers held the closing key note
speech of the conference the following day. I wasn't all that familiar with his work, but it clear became when he
recounted his career writing songs for Chic, David Bowie, Diana Ross and the B-52's what a legend he was! As he said he
wrote the biggest tunes of these artist's career, along with his own song ‘La
Freak’ which is the biggest selling single on Atlantic Records. He spoke about
the inspiration behind this particular tune coming from getting locked out of Studio 54 one New Years Eve.
He spoke about getting hit up by artists like Adam Lambert and Sam Sparrow on twitter, and how he was fresh out of the studio with Chase and Status. He was coy about his dealings with Daft Punk recording one of the most hotly anticipated albums in year, saying that they knocked on his door in New York and had the most memorable but natural recording experience. They even text him during his speech, confirming the relationship is on going. At the end of the his songwriting philosophy was simple - it came down to devising a formular to get bums on the d-floor. He ended by jamming out a couple of his hits and had the crowd singing along. One of the most memorable and inspiring people I have ever been in the presence of.
He spoke about getting hit up by artists like Adam Lambert and Sam Sparrow on twitter, and how he was fresh out of the studio with Chase and Status. He was coy about his dealings with Daft Punk recording one of the most hotly anticipated albums in year, saying that they knocked on his door in New York and had the most memorable but natural recording experience. They even text him during his speech, confirming the relationship is on going. At the end of the his songwriting philosophy was simple - it came down to devising a formular to get bums on the d-floor. He ended by jamming out a couple of his hits and had the crowd singing along. One of the most memorable and inspiring people I have ever been in the presence of.
I wasn’t going to be in Miami and miss out on Ultra Festival so made
my way over early on the last day to hustle a ticket. Happened to meet a production crew member outside in Bayside who was happy to sort me a ticket, so enjoyed a couple cold
beers at Hooters until his call came at 5pm.
I entered to catch Porter Robinson drop ‘Language’ throngs of fluro
mayhem, and managed to catch up with Jane Hector and friend Alice from London in the Heineken lounge. Great viewing!
Steve Aoki started his EDM set complete with cake throwing and champagne spraying. His remix of Kid Cudi's 'Pursuit of Happiness' provoked a huge singalong, the all-American crowd familiar with the hip hop anthem. Hardwell was like an aerobics instructor, every track had a huge euphoric drop, his remix of 'Don’t You Worry Child' drawing huge cheers in anticipation for the swedish finale ahead.
Steve Aoki started his EDM set complete with cake throwing and champagne spraying. His remix of Kid Cudi's 'Pursuit of Happiness' provoked a huge singalong, the all-American crowd familiar with the hip hop anthem. Hardwell was like an aerobics instructor, every track had a huge euphoric drop, his remix of 'Don’t You Worry Child' drawing huge cheers in anticipation for the swedish finale ahead.
On the live stage Snoop Lion was testing out his new reggae
numbers before Pretty Light's downbeat show, a contrast to the big room extravaganza happening on main stage. I poked my head into Armin Van Buuren, with
his disciples in a state of trance as the LED globes glowed on the roof top above them, every second
person making love hearts with their hands. Shudder. Knife Party and Wolfgang ripped it up to throbbing crowd, showing the profile and popularity for a tougher heavier sound.
As the night drew on I made my way over to Swedish House Mafia finale. Alesso who is being groomed as the new Swedish hope warmed things up. Tongy came on stage to hype the crowd before the curtain dropped to show a three leveled LED wall, with the DJ's stuck like flies in a glowing fly trap in the middle. The main stage was bottled necked with trees and fencing as the crowd surged forward, but the vista of tall buildings around was a spectacle to behold. The production was unreal with fireworks loaded to the hilt, detonated in time with all the big tunes and drops. I left before the finale encores to catch my lift home arriving at South Beach as the remaining shells fell on the no doubt emotional crowd. They’ll be back I'm sure.
My overall thoughts of EDM in the US. The scene doesn’t feel as natural or organic
as say Ibiza, with its rustic and cool European stylings, and respected, familiar history and culture. But it might not
be a matter of time til the US make EDM their own, just as Rock and Roll - with
its Jack Daniels and Fender Stratocasters - became a national institution. Time
will tell! The appetite and the potential audience is mind-bogglingly huge. In the mean time it made me excited and proud to be playing a small part in a market with huge
scaleability and media coverage, global superstar artists in the making and a burgeoning, sustainable festival
market.
As the douche bags and bikini-bound chicks left town, I stayed on for an extra day to catch up on emails, washing and enjoy a quieter dinner in Espanola Way. Experiencing the energy and pace of Miami Music Week and all its offerings aas a bit overwhelming first time around, but now I know the lay of the land will definitely be back. Maybe next time I will be poolside at the Delano, and even doing some big deals done over a couple of mojitos, paid for by some powerful agent :)
As the douche bags and bikini-bound chicks left town, I stayed on for an extra day to catch up on emails, washing and enjoy a quieter dinner in Espanola Way. Experiencing the energy and pace of Miami Music Week and all its offerings aas a bit overwhelming first time around, but now I know the lay of the land will definitely be back. Maybe next time I will be poolside at the Delano, and even doing some big deals done over a couple of mojitos, paid for by some powerful agent :)
Thanks Miami – see you again...bitch!
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