Even in a city full of oversized egos, Miami's DJs aren't exactly short on unearned self-confidence. That's why it's so refreshing to find a beatmaker as approachable and humble as Lazaro Casanova, who has been DJing and producing music for more than a decade. Casanova first rose to prominence as the resident DJ of Miami's premier indie-dance party Revolver. But after he grew tired of the cooler-than-thou hipster scene, he moved on to house music, where he eventually hooked up with one of the city's most iconic DJs, Oscar G, who became a mentor of sorts as Casanova explored Afro and Latin sounds while delving deeper into house-music aesthetics. Casanova now travels the globe as one of Miami's best musical ambassadors. This year, Oscar G and Ralph Falcon bestowed upon him the managerial duties of Murk Records, one of the city's most important dance labels. And right now, the place to catch Casanova spinning live is at Murk Mondays at Coyo Taco (2300 NW Second Ave., Miami), where — alongside Oscar G and Ralph Falcon in person — he shows Miami every week that great, made-in-the-305 dance music is alive and well.
Readers' choice: DJ Irie