14 OctOber 31 - NOvember 6, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | Frightening Festivities Ten DJs to catch at Hocus Pocus. BY GRANT ALBERT A round America, kids go trick- or-treating while their parents have a low-stakes Halloween shindig. Yet, Miami’s populace attends a three-day rave during the frightening festivities. Hocus Pocus, the annual Halloween festival spearheaded by Mi- ami Like Rebels and Club Space, is back with another installment and DJ-studded lineup. This year’s festival is the largest undertaking yet, with more expanding stages, production, and, of course, talent across three nights. Below are ten acts bringing a spooktacular, if not downright ghoulish, not-to-miss set to Hocus Pocus. Artbat The Ukrainian duo continues to leave their footprint in the ever-expanding melodic- techno genre. The two have been touring the world and regularly dropping their signature tracks and collaborations. As producers, Art- bat is a music-releasing machine. The latest release, “Hollow,” featuring Bonn, and in col- laboration with Morten, is the duo’s newest track. Of course, expect them to drop the tune and keep you in a trance during their slot. Speaking of which, one should also expect a healthy dose of trance to peak its head during an Artbat set. Joseph Capriati Italy’s Joseph Capriati has been spinning for the crowd for decades, constantly bouncing between house and techno. He can go full- fledged tech-house, earning him slots along- side the Martinez Brothers and Marco Carola. He can also play deep and dark with his signature big-room-styled techno. Capria- ti’s DJing credos have taken him worldwide many times over, including Ultra Music Festi- val and Club Space. His energy has made him a DJ who is always in high demand. Lilly Palmer Germany’s Lilly Palmer has had a meteoritic rise in the last few years through her exten- sive work on labels such as Drumcode. Fol- lowing her colleagues like Charlotte de Witte and Amelie Lens, Palmer is well-known for her dark and furious techno and bitter acid that leeches through the speakers. Her pro- duction has also worn well, boasting more than ten million streams on Spotify; each track is darker than the last — yet leaving am- bient breaks and vocals to give the track depth. (She has a remix of an Armin van Bu- reen on the way.) Expect her day-after-Hal- loween set to be scary and fast. Luciano Halloween cannot be all ominous. And while a noisy three-day festival isn’t exactly calming, artists like Luciano can certainly make you dance. The Swiss-Chilean artist has been a hallmark in the scene for decades. His ethereal sets, featuring maraca loops and esprit tracks, are something only he can do. The technique often requires dissecting four loops into one heartwarming tune — a Spanish vocal perhaps, maracas on overload in another, hissing hi-hats, and funky bass. Luciano has perfected a complex order of operation. Miluhska Miami’s singer and DJ has lifted into stardom over the last year. Following the disbandment of her DJ trio Roujeee Tunes, Miluhska has taken to DJing and producing solo. Her latest release is in collaboration with Jamie Jones and titled “La Musa,” a fun, bouncy tune that has passed one million streams on Spotify since July. As a DJ, her sets have taken her to Ibiza and New York to open for Carl Cox. The artist is upcoming with a glass ceiling to break through. Moodymann B2B Carl Craig Moodymann’s debut album, Silentintroduc- tion, entered the scene in 1997. The album has stood the test of time almost thirty years later with those rudimentary synths, phe- nomenal grooves, and overall perfection. As a DJ, his blend of house, funk, and disco has never rusted, a suit- ing example being his 1995 set in Paris. Seeing a Moody- mann set in person or playing Grand Theft Auto V is to witness time stuck in place. The sounds are as simple as bread and butter. Moodymann is just here to teach you how simplicity is supreme. Adding to the legacy, Moodymann will be joined by the Detriot powerhouse, Carl Craig. Few artists have been able to put Detriot’s techno scene on the map quite like Craig and his Planet E Communications label. Natalia Roth Not every local’s resume can list being a Club Space resident, playing shows across Ibiza, having a past career in modeling, and being a party creator. Yet, Natalia Roth’s te- nacity and creative outlook make her one of a kind. The DJ/producer, born and raised in Puerto Rico, offers a sound steeped in techno and minimal techno. The sleek, menacing bass lines and heady melodies give her a refined sound beyond her years. Her works have been featured on techno la- bels, like Dubfire’s Sci + Tec. While only cutting her teeth on the decks a few years ago, Roth’s experience and dedication to her craft can guarantee a fantastic show un- der the night sky. Nii Tei Always humble and always grooving, Miami’s Nii Tei is one to spin in the key of life. His perfect blend of house, Afro house, and everything in between connects him to his native Ghana while continually giving the crowd a much-needed groove. Tei, who moved to America for college, is also a producer, sampling music from Guyanese musicians while incorporating his energy with each track. Tei can spin, produce, and always brightens Miami’s nightlife with his smile and sound. Nina Kraviz The Siberian DJ/producer’s name is synony- mous with experimentation. Kraviz cannot stick to one sound in a set, and rightfully so. Naturally, her years of performing leave room for her to drop Chicago house, Detroit techno, psytrance, dubstep, and the dizzying works off her label Trip. A newcomer to a Kraviz set should expect all those aforementioned sounds as well as her own dreamy, lyric-laden tracks and remixes, such as “Tarde” and “Bailando.” The former dentist’s entire life has been spent absorbing music, a true love af- fair, and sharing her passion through her sets. Shlømo The French DJ’s sound has gotten progres- sively more frost-bitten over the years. His earliest works were subtle and more like dub techno. But today, Shlømo’s grit, and BPM, for that matter, has increased exponentially since 2015 with his album, Avadon. Hocus Po- cus attendees should expect everything fast — fast techno, fast psytrance, fast anthems. Maybe he will cool you off with a break from Deadmau5’s “I Remember,” if just for a mo- ment, to keep you daydreaming and then snap you out of it to get back to work. The Martinez Brothers B2B Jamie Jones The brothers from the Bronx have come a long way from their childhood home. Their charisma, fashion sense, and signature style of tech-house are infectious. The two con- stantly appear on lineups for events hosted by Jamie Jones — who will be joining the broth- ers that night — and enough 12-hour-plus sets across the globe that show they are true DJ veterans. Adding Jamie Jones to the decks will only ensure countless hours of house music and fun for all at Factory Town. Hocus Pocus 2024. 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Thurs- day, October 31, through Saturday, November 2, at Factory Town, 4800 NW 37th Ave., Hia- leah; factorytown.com. Tickets cost $122.20 to $232.20 via dice.fm. [email protected] ▼ Music The Martinez Brothers Quentincurtat photo Bryan Kwon photo THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL IS THE LARGEST UNDERTAKING YET. Luciano
