Since last October, the announcements have been steadily trickling in for this year’s Miami Winter Conference. The announcements for 2011’s gathering will probably kick off this Easter. Simply put, the annual dance music hullabaloo that is Miami just gets bigger and bigger; there aren’t many days of the year now in which people aren’t discussing it.
The Miami Conference, now in its 25th year, should once again provide fertile ground for lucrative business ‘deals’ and industry contracts, as well as serve up another exciting mix of hot new releases and sun-drenched parties. A perfect tonic, then, to the relentless pressure of global recession, and to the sub-zero, doom-and-gloom weather many parts of clubland have been contending with recently.
Who better to convey Miami’s allure, perhaps, than a relative Conference newcomer like Claudio Passavanti, the London-based producer behind multi-genre ‘dance’ combo Sunlightsquare? “The Sunlightsquare thing is a huge collective of musicians fusing Latin, nu-jazz, soul, funk and a little club” Claudio opens. “It was my first time at Miami last year and, as a musician, I had this preconception of it being really electronic, and somehow not that creative; just lots of DJs playing other people’s music. How wrong I was!”
Sunlightsquare
He continues: “The parties were absolutely amazing, DJs like Sergio Flores playing records in sync with live musicians; so creative and no boundaries. Miami has that Latino vibe, too, which lends itself to what we put out; I felt right at home.”
So much so that this year Sunlightsquare – whose fans include Tony Humprhries – will be hosting a Conference shindig on South Beach alongside French-Brazilian house whizz Mustafa – a regular on labels like Azuli and Subliminal. “It should be a great party,” Claudio explains. “It won’t finish early, put it that way!”
Studio Apartment
The Sunlightsquare bash will also feature Japan’s revered soul-house outfit Studio Apartment and a PA from sassy chanteuse Tasita D’Mour. “Miami is a big inspiration for me now; it’s a melting pot of sounds and ideas” Claudio beams. “It follows that we’ll be blending the Sunlightsquare vibe with house. The Conference is also a chance to present our new album Havana Central and the first single from it, a cover of the Jackson Sisters’ I Believe In Miracles. Miami is so open-minded; it’s the perfect place to release. It’s also a chance to talk to others about future collaboration but I’m not gonna push that too hard; I just want to enjoy the music and see what happens.”
Miami 2010 will have plenty to offer. The conference started in 1986 at one hotel with just over 80 dance industry insiders in attendance. Today it spans hundreds of parties, seminars and expos at countless venues up and down the beach. Between March 23 and 28 this year, artists, industry reps and clubbers alike can look forward to major ‘events’ such as the 20th anniversary bash for legendary NYC house label Shelter, featuring Timmy Regisford and David Morales (Mar 23, Shelborne Beach Resort;) a 15th anniversary for Josh Wink’s mighty Ovum imprint (Mar 24, Shelborne;) and DJ Magazine’s ‘Recession Session 2’ pool party with guests Nic Fanciulli, Joris Voorn and Dennis Ferrer (Mar 24, Shelborne.)
Dennis Ferrer
Later in the week, Luciano, Loco Dice and Martin Buttrich host a Cadenza vs Desolat soiree (Mar 25, Shelborne;) Lee Burridge and Danny Howells play back-to-back (Mar 26, Aero Bar;) Circo Loco comes to town (Mar 26, Eden Roc Hotel;) Sasha headlines (Mar 27, Shelborne) and Danny Tenaglia helms the infamous Conference closing party (Mar 28, Shelborne.)
All of that isn’t forgetting Defected’s own stellar ‘gig’; Strictly Defected on March 23 at Cameo – featuring ATFC, Quentin Harris, Spen & Karizma, Ben Westbeech, John Dahlback and plenty more. Nor the Ultra Music Festival, March 26-27, at Bicentennial Park, with Deadmau5, Groove Armada and Tiesto among others; and the prestigious International Dance Music Awards.
Where does it all end? Do we really want it to? With such a wide-ranging, high quality schedule of activity lined up next month, the Winter Conference 2010 really is set to be Miami nice….
Words: Ben Lovett
