34 June 27- July 3, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times b e s T o f m i a m i ® 2 0 2 4 over. Visitors can mingle with friends at the bar or head to the dance floor under a shim- mering disco ball. Since its debut in May 2023, this diminutive nightclub has been delivering a one-of-kind dance experience that doesn’t rely only on big-name DJs, instead offering lo- cal talents time on the decks. BEST DJ (DANCE) Pressure Point Instagram.com/pressurepoint.mp3 You never know what you’re going to get from a Pressure Point set — from hard-hitting break- beat bangers to iconic pop songs — but you’re going to break a messy sweat every time. The DJ is otherwise known as Akia Dorsainvil, a trans- disciplinary artist whose musical selections have ranged from jungle and East Coast club to Miami bass and pop edits. Dorsainvil not only brings the beats; he’s a cofounder of the collec- tive Masisi, a Miami arts and events organiza- tion that ensures that Black, queer Miamians have a social space to call their own. BEST DJ (AFROBEAT) Jason Panton instagram.com/jasonpanton soundsoftheshrine.com DJ and self-proclaimed culturalist Jason Panton is the mastermind behind one of Miami’s most popular Afrobeats parties, the Shrine. Panton started curating parties back in 2013 when he spearheaded the reggae sound system event Dubwise in Kingston, Jamaica. He soon brought the concept to Coyo Taco in Wynwood, where it’s rallied weekly for almost a decade. After be- ing introduced to Afrobeats at a family party in 2016, he decided to start the Shrine with collab- orators like DJ Moma of the global event series Everyday People. The party is anchored at Red Rooster’s iconic pool hall, where he blends Afro- beats, amapiano, dancehall, reggae, Haitian konpa, and hip-hop alongside resident DJs Walshy Fire, Jumbee, and Milli Marv. He fuses diasporic genres, sticking with his DJ mantra: “The music is better blended together.” BEST LOCAL ALBUM Back Then I Didn’t but Now I Do Jonny From Space jonnyfromspace.bandcamp.com If you only know Jonny From Space as one of Club Space’s resident DJs, you might be sur- prised by the quietly joyful IDM album, Back Then I Didn’t But Now I Do, that he dropped on Anthony Naples’ Incienso label. Combining trip-hop, dub techno, video-game soundtracks, and the sun-dappled, outdoorsy electronica of early Four Tet and Boards of Canada, Back Then exchanges the dark confines of the club for a wide-eyed ramble through nature, yet neverthe- less retains the bass thunks, acid wobbles, and left-field rhythms found in Miami’s rave scene. BEST PRODUCER Nick León nicknoexit.bandcamp.com DJ and producer Nick León is at the helm of the evolution of electronic music in the Magic City. A great musician in his own right, he has a cata- logue that includes lauded releases like his 2016 debut album, Profecía, and 2022’s Xtasis EP. This year, he also released Projections of a Coral City, an ambient project with marine-biology- meets-art collective Coral Morphologic. In ad- dition to working on his own music, he’s contributed beats to Spanish star Rosalía, Mi- ami-bred rapper Denzel Curry, pop experimen- talist Tama Gucci, neoperreo act MJ Nebreda, and, most recently, indie pop singer Empress Of. With that impressive list, it’s undeniable that León is one of the most notable talents making and producing music in Miami today. BEST RECORD LABEL Schematic schematicmusiccompany.bandcamp.com Founded in 1996 by Romulo del Castillo and Josh Kay, Schematic has been championing weirdly wonderful electronic music out of South Florida and from around the world for decades now. Over the years, the label released music by acts like Soul Oddity, Otto von Schirach, Dino Felipe, Nick Forté, Ossa, and Phoenecia. Look, you can spend all day and night devouring Sche- matic’s catalogue on its Bandcamp page, and we wouldn’t judge you for it — it’s just that good. From techno and IDM to ambient and noise, Schematic has released it all and continues to unleash new music to this day. Perhaps this ac- knowledgment feels more like a Hall of Fame in- duction, but we can only imagine where Miami’s music scene would be today without Schematic — and, trust us, it would not be pretty. BEST RECORD STORE Sweat Records 5505 NE Second Avenue Miami, 33137 786-693-9309 sweatrecordsmiami.com Can you believe Sweat Records is almost 20? The Little Haiti stronghold has thrived for nearly two decades in a city not known for its longevity. That’s because it has so much more to offer than just records. To be sure, Sweat boasts a massive selection of new and reissued vinyl, as well as all the accoutrements needed to play your records. But the soul of Sweat is owner Lolo Reskin’s dedi- cation to building community through scene-de- fining events, like the annual Miami ’80s Prom, and by giving music lovers the tools and wise staff to get their hands on the wax they want. Manager Daniel Blair, known by his signature daisy dukes and for getting people riled up on the dance floor as DJ Hottpants, is also part of the draw. If you want to remember why you love this scrappy town or to fall in love with it for the first time, swing by Sweat Records for some well-seasoned homegrown inspiration. BEST MUSIC RADIO PERSONALITY Papa Keith instagram.com/papa_keith A lot has changed for this veteran radio host since he was last named Miami New Times’ Best FM Radio Personality in 2005. After several hia- tuses in the aughts, he returned to 103.5 FM The Beat in 2010 as the voice of the afternoon rush hour segment. He became a voters’ rights advo- cate during the 2016 presidential election and platformed local grassroots organizations like the New Florida Majority. He launched the an- nual free People Matter Fest a year later to “save lives” through hip-hop with a 24-hour non-vio- lence ceasefire and other community initiatives. He also partnered with Miami-Dade County Parks and Guitars over Guns to open the Papa Keith Music and Media Studio at Gwen Cherry Park. It provides state-of-the-art technology to students to create and learn about music and digital production. Despite this evolution, Papa Keith’s signatures remain: He’s Trini to de bone, and his slick commentary on culture is why Mi- ami trusts him as their go-to man on the mike. BEST EMERGING ACT Camp Blu instagram.com/campblu12 Cuban-American duo Camp Blu is reinvigorat- ing indie rock in Miami. Singer Angelo Ruiz and guitarist Frank Ferrer have been steadfast in giv- ing their robust and dreamy punk-meets-indie- sleaze sound a touch of 305 urban grit. The two have gone from sharing stages with under- ground icons like Ekkstacy to collaborations with major indie artists like Fat Nick. Their big- ger hits like “Bloody Kisses” and “Bad Luck” have excited III Points audiences and gotten more than 30,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. As they bring fresh fervor back to Miami’s indie rock scene, their latest creative pursuits are slowly but surely stacking up in recognition. Not to be cliché, but catch Camp Blu live while the band is still accessible. BEST SOLO MUSICIAN Hurricane Yellow soundcloud.com/hurricane-yellow With his solo project, Hurricane Yellow, psych rock outfit Jai Alai frontman and guitarist Oscar Sardiñas has opted for something quieter and a bit more introspective. His debut single, “Mid- night,” came out last year, taking listeners on a sonic journey into outer and inner space as he reflected on the experience of being a new fa- ther. Influenced by Beck’s quiet records and by a couple of Beatles who went solo, “Midnight” is a five-minute toe-dip in an exciting, brand-new direction. Thankfully, this isn’t a breakup omen for Jai Alai. Sardiñas instead will have and will offer the best of both worlds. BEST SONGWRITER Alexa Lash alexalash.com The first thing you’ll notice at an Alexa Lash concert is her distinctive and impressive pipes; then you’ll hear the wide array of inspirations woven together in her melodies and poetic lyr- ics. Her between-song patter is often a song- writing seminar, as she goes into intimate details about the muse for each track. The subjects can be heavy, like in the folky song “Missing,” a story of childhood trauma rife with double meanings. They can be lighthearted, as she playfully ex- plores neurosis in “Fuck that Noise” or with “Sage and Wine” on bonding with friends while sniffing sage and sipping wine. But there’s no need to light up sage for this New Times’ Read- ers Choice for 2023 Best Musical Act. Lash is all good vibes and a leader in her craft. BEST HIP-HOP ACT iCandy soundcloud.com/icandy-davis instagram.com/iamicandy iCandy’s TikTok viral hit “Keep Dat” took the app by storm last year with celebrities like Lizzo, Tia Mowry, and Chloe Bailey using the breakup anthem to soundtrack their videos. The Pom- pano Beach native isn’t an overnight viral sensa- tion. She started making music at 14 and credits her whimsical, tongue-in-cheek persona to Mi- ami pioneers like Trina and Disney’s most fa- mous pop star, Hannah Montana. She followed up that momentum with an all-star, all-girl re- mix featuring GloRilla, Kali, and Big Boss Vette. Last September, iCandy released the Lil Mama
