Defected's Ben Lovett runs us through some of the main parties taking place in Miami next week, and looks at the continuing influence of EDM's popularity on both the US economy and event scheduling.
Miami is back and, thanks to EDM’s continuing rise, on a completely different level. As global clubland hits the Winter Music Conference (WMC) and Ultra Music Festival this week for another annual dose of networking, schooling and unfettered partying, one feels that the attention on this most important of dance music rituals is at an all time high.
EDM has, of course, been marching into mainstream hearts over a number of years now. And March-time Miami is already established as something of an epicentre for its brassy, pop-pumped styling. According to Ultra Music Festival-commissioned research conducted by the Washington Economics Group, Ultra is America’s most significant EDM revenue generator of the year. The festival has an annual economic impact on the Miami-Dade County of $79m, including $32m in labour income and $50m in GDP (gross domestic product) contributions. That’s pretty damn significant.
Speaking to the Miami New Times this week, Ultra founder Russell Faibisch agrees: “We always knew from the huge crowds we draw that we had a major impact on our local economy, but we did not realize it was this huge. Last year, people in all 50 states and more than 75 countries bought tickets to attend.”
Faibisch and his team are set to surpass themselves in 2013. This year, for the first time, the festival will span two weekends (March 15-17 and March 22-24) at each end of the, in turn extended, WMC programme (March 15-24). The line-up, identical across both sets of dates, features many of EDM’s neon-bright young things including Steve Aoki, David Guetta, Afrojack, Avicii, Calvin Harris, Swedish House Mafia and Deadmau5. Elsewhere, there are prominent spots for Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Luciano, Fatboy Slim and Sven Vath.
Ultra is more swashbuckling showcase than ever before; a highly organised concert experience at regular sojourn Bayfront Park which puts fireworks, flamboyant stagecraft and breath-taking AV first over intimate dancefloor journey to engage its audience. That audience, as Faibisch indicates, spans the globe and totals to the thousands and thousands; it is made up of fans keen to experience electronic music on an immediate, visceral level rather than a gradually building, emotive and introspective one. It is also a striking representation of the EDM movement at this very moment in time, which many commentators describe as taking its cues from rock and pop stars; not the clubbers who have built their dance scene over nearly three decades, inspired by the revolutions of underground Detroit, Chicago and New York.
Miami 2013 will cater for all electronic tastes, it is fair to say. Ultra’s influence, however, can be felt strongly across the city’s schedule of events for the next 10 days. Take Paul Oakenfold’s party on March 16 at Bamboo, which also features rising EDM protagonists Starkillers (AKA Las Vegas’s Nick Terranova) and EC Twins. The latter play Electro Jungle at Euforia the following night, trance-y Miami-based German Markus Schulz hosts a Schulz Music Group party for his protégés KhoMha, Kaeno and Denzo at Dream on March 18, Connecticut boy Audien heads the Elektro Freshman Class 2013 pool party at The National Hotel, March 19, bombastic Dutch duo The Bingo Players join Bassjackers at a National-hosted ‘Hysteria’ shindig the same night, and Steve Aoki attends The Raleigh Hotel for Dim Mak’s 10-hour 2013 showcase, March 21, backed by several similarly positioned guests.
There are further spots for EDM-associated Bob Sinclar (March 22, SET), David Guetta (he and his wife Cathy co-host F*** Me I’m Famous, March 22, Story Miami) and Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso (Refune’s 10th anniversary, March 22, W Hotel). And several of Miami’s biggest hotels and clubs will be co-ordinating other mainstream gigs in line with America’s current club tastes. According to the Miami New Times, nine local clubs rank among the 100 most profitable nightspots in the US – LIV, at number four, generates between $46m to $60m per year, confirming that the city’s association with dance music stretches well beyond March.
EDM’s relentless growth has caused issues in the run-up to this week’s festivities. Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff introduced a motion “disapproving” of Ultra’s new two-weekend plans; the politician commented that the event would “be disruptive to the local business community and area residents due to the noise, nuisance behavior [sic] of festival goers and grid-lock traffic.” He added that “about 70 or 80 per cent of these kids are on some sort of mind-drug.”
EDM looks to have raised the stakes for Miami in more ways than one. Sarnoff’s campaign was always likely to fail such is the cultural reach and economic strength of both Ultra and WMC these days. But the resolution, eventually defeated by persistent pressure from fans and high-profile artists, served to remind of just how far Miami’s annual clubland rituals have come. It also united all elements of the electronic music scene, performers and public alike.
In turn, WMC 2013’s official and fringe schedules still pander to a wide variety of sonic tastes and tipples far beyond (or should that be below) Ultra’s frothy pop frolics. The Conference itself this year will offer a swathe of industry seminars, panel debates, technology exhibits and workshops on themes including production innovation, distribution and future music trends (featuring everyone from Murk’s Oscar G to Hot Creations’ Lee Foss). There is also space for a DJ Spin-Off in association with Pioneer and Stanton, VJ Challenge and, of course, the 28th IDMAs (International Dance Music Awards). Taking place March 21 at the Colony Theatre, the IDMAs are one of clubland’s biggest, most significant ceremonies. Defected sits prominently among nominees (also including Calvin Harris, Deadmau5, Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler) with shortlist commendations for Pirupa (Best Breakthrough Artist – Solo, Best Underground Dance Track), Yousef (Best House/Garage/Deep House Track) and its Defected Most Rated 2012 and Most Rated Miami 2012 compilations (Best Compilation).
Key ‘official’ WMC parties will include Def Mix’s at The Vagabond, March 16, featuring David Morales and Frankie Knuckles; Made In Stereo at the Lords Hotel, March 19, featuring Tony Humphries and DJ Spen; and Soul On The Beach’s 13th anniversary at The Clevelander, March 19, featuring Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez, DJ Spinna, Terry Hunter and Bobby & Steve. There is more soul-house flavour from Morales, alongside Danny Krivit, at Score’s Paradise Garage remembrance bash, March 20, whilst Gonzalez and Krivit return with Todd Terry for a Baoli Miami soiree, March 21. Louie Vega and wife Anane host Dance Ritual on March 21 (The Vagabond), South African sensation Black Coffee throws a Soulistic Music showcase March 22 (The Lords Hotel), Armand Van Helden plays for X-Mix, March 22 (Cameo), and Terry and fellow dancefloor legends ‘Jellybean’ Benitez and Arthur Baker play in memory of producer Mark Kamins (pivotal in launching Madonna’s career) March 24 (The Vagabond).
There is a wider array of underground house and tech activity on the ‘fringe’ meanwhile. Expect Josh Wink, DJ Sneak and Cajmere at Ovum’s Treehouse Miami gig, March 16; Seth Troxler at Behrouz’ W Hotel gathering, March 18; all-star DJ basketball (with MK, MANIK and Lee Foss) at the Miami Beach Jewish Community Centre, March 19; Carl Craig and Kevin Saunderson at the Detroit Premiere Artist Showcase, Treehouse Miami, March 20; and Solomun’s Diynamic Neon Nights affair at Nikki Beach, March 20.
Troxler returns with Craig Richards to launch their new Heel To Steel vinyl-only label on board boat the Biscayne Lady, March 20, and Jamie Jones’ unstoppable Hot Creations crew rock up to the Ice Palace on March 21. Troxler appears once more with Visionquest buddies Ryan Crosson, Shaun Reeves and Lee Curtiss for a Super Pleasures shindig at Villa 221, March 22; whilst Richie Hawtin hosts super successful Saki-inspired party ENTER at Mansion, March 22 and the Marco Carola-curated No Added Sugar festival washes up on Nikki Beach for two days, March 22-23, featuring Carola, Marc Antona and Michael Woods.
The opening date of No Added also includes an extra special Defected In The House stage, from 9pm. It is Defected’s first appearance at Miami since 2010 and an impressive demonstration of international house talent, the likes of Dennis Ferrer, Reboot, Yousef, Pirupa, Dusky and Noir all confirmed to play. The festival coincides with Defected’s 50th In The House compilation, Miami 2013 – a three-disc epic mixed by Pirupa, Flashmob and Supernova.
There are a few further highlights on the remaining days. Get Lost: 8th Session is one, which, taking over intimate Miami joint Electric Pickle with a typically eclectic, underground line-up including founder Damian Lazarus, Carl Craig, Cassy, Tiga, DJ Sneak and Eats Everything , offers the perfect, rebellious counterpoint to Ultra. Same day, Sasha hosts the Never Say Never pool party at the SLS Hotel, and M.A.N.D.Y throws a Get Physical showcase at Treehouse Miami, featuring Catz ‘N Dogz and Defected faves Hot Since 82. That leaves an exclusive, specially extended Carl Craig set at The Delano, March 23; Last Resort, featuring Solomun, Dixon and Maceo Plex at Villa 221, March 24; and, finally, the return of the Giant Throbbing Electric Pickle, March 24, which (at the Electric Pickle naturally) promises the ‘All Star Myster?o DJs’ – bearing in mind the Pickle’s usual smart, forward-thinking clientele (think Crosstown Rebels, think Wolf + Lamb....) this should be a fond Miami farewell, for this year.
But, of course, the frivolity hasn’t yet begun. And, thankfully, Miami is still Miami. The city continues to embrace EDM but has, rather impressively, maintained its stylistic balance and broad electronic appeal. Time then, to down tools and face the music - an exciting 10 days awaits, sure to live long in both body and soul....
Words: Ben Lovett
