11 New Songs by Miami Artists to Listen to in April

“Everything is made new in the spring,” Anne of Green Gables author L.M. Montgomery wrote. “Springs themselves are always so new, too. No spring is ever just like any other spring.” 

That is especially true in the Miami music scene — we all know we’re gonna have bountiful releases blooming, but the specific songs and artists are as delightfully unpredictable and varied as ever. So, find shelter, shake off that umbrella, and dig into the eleven songs you absolutely need to hear before the month is out.

Got a bead on something else we should be listening to? Hit this button right here.

5LOKO — “Couch”

So, yes, the chorus for the new single from these self-described pioneers of flo-pop — i.e., Florida pop — declares “F*ck the party!” Reality is, this impossibly catchy, effervescent, melodic, smooth jam is more likely to launch (and elevate) a thousand shindigs than play pooper to a single one. It’s a bit reminiscent of the heyday of ’90s hip-hop-infused electro pop and bodes well for the group’s forthcoming third album, Fredonia. Oh, and boasting production by former Criteria Studios engineer Isaac Diskin (Rosalía, Lana Del Rey, Mitski, etcetera), it sounds top-notch as well. Check them out at this weekend’s BIG: Arts & Culture Festival this weekend in Gainesville, which we cover here.

Eddy Gatoe — “Away From U”

The upcoming solo album from Magic City underground music scene mainstay Eddy Gatoe has been one of the most hotly anticipated local releases since he dropped the epic earworm “The Path” last summer. Well, the second bite has come in the form of “Away From U” — and it is just as tasty, showcasing Gatoe’s ability to infuse pop, rock, and virtually any other genre with a signature off-center punk sensibility. It’s an infectious mix, and the rest of the record can’t come soon enough. “[‘Away From You’ is] a song about letting go of toxic situations regardless of how painful it seems at the time,” Gatoe tells New Times, “but it’s over a poppy-acoustic-punky ragtime rhythm.”

Hazél Mulan — “Happily Ever After”

Even in a city that has a well-deserved reputation as a bit of a mecca for pop R&B torch singers, the wildly versatile voice and unorthodox-yet-beguiling delivery Hazél Mulan stands out. (Mulan’s official bio suggests she comes by her deceptively easy ability to bridge subgenres honestly: Her love of artists ranging from Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Beyoncé to Nicki Minaj, Donna Summer, and Rihanna was leavened by the music her jazz musician grandfather Ricky Thomas brought into her orbit.) While fantastic 2025 singles like “Sugar” and “Feral” suggested a major talent emerging, “Happily Ever After” shows Mulan is not only continuing to evolve but really just getting started. 

Helio — “Feel the Power”

Last October, we praised the EP Affirmations in this space as a near-perfect mélange of “gospel, pop, and classical from which Helio’s dynamic, assured R&B vocals build up, up, and further up.” Guess what? This otherworldly talent wasn’t done rising — not by the longest of longshots: Helio has, in fact, returned with not one, but two EPs. We’re streaming the soul-stirring EDM-based title track from the first above; the second, Follow Me, can be found on all streaming services. Between the two, which continue and expand upon Helio’s restless explorations and uplifting lyricism, we have a true statement of purpose. (Check out his collaboration with Amara La Negra “Dance All Night” for good measure.) 

Inmate 305 — “My Unfair Lady”

Man, Miami’s premiere ’90s throwback alternative rock outfit Inmate 305 really does an amazing job of capturing that moment when grunge began to meld with pop. And those vibes extend to lyrics, apparently: “‘My Unfair Lady’ is about having a casual relationship that you wish would become serious,” Inmate 305 multi-instrumentalist mastermind Cai Schwartz says, “but the other person doesn’t care about what you want.” Luckily, Schwartz and Co. are able to squeeze excellent fuzzy, angsty lemonade out of such sour rejection.

Jessi Campo — “Y Hoy Como Ayer”

Bilingual singer/songwriter Jessi Campo makes a triumphant (not to mention steamy) return with Boleros, a new collection of smoldering, romantic Cuban standards assembled, at least in part, to honor her Cuban heritage as well as the musical legacy of her father, Giovanni, who performed with legends such as Beny More, Tito Puente and Perez Prado in Cuba and New York. “I’m thrilled to be able to share the music that continues to inspire everything I do,” Campo says. “I can only hope to continue in my father’s footsteps and further champion the cause of Cuban music through this release.” Check out “Y Hoy Como Ayer,” originally by Pedro Vega, above and come out to the Boleros release party at Books & Books in Coral Gables on Friday, April 17.

Kayla Isabelle — “Cry to Her Now”

If you’ve seen Kayla Isabelle pop up at venues across the city you are already well aware that her evocative, affecting voice possesses the power to reduce rooms to hushed silence, and elicit both tears and cheers from audiences. It feels like an event when she gets on the mic and, while, sure, you appreciate the intimacy of the performances, it also is clear Isabelle is justifiably destined for bigger stages. Anyway, it’s been a minute since we’ve had a new single from her — a deficit that is beautifully rectified with “Cry to Her Now,” a track that is somewhere between indie pop, ’70s soul, and modern country. It’s about as bittersweet and elegiac, yes, but also lovely and strengthening.  

Nucay — “Disfruto (Carla Morriso Remix)”

Over the last couple years and a few incredible singles – 2025’s “Sakura” being an excellent starting point — Dutch-Dominican DJ Nucay has established herself as a pioneer in a boundary-defying sound that curates the most rousing, vivifying, mesmerizing elements of Afro, Latin, and European rhythms and melodies from across the globe and synthesizes it into something that feels both familiar (in the best way possible) as well as wholly unique. Now, she’s back with this stellar remix of a Carla Morriso song she calls “one of my favorite tracks of all time” — you can definitely feel the love — and which we can only hope is a tantalizing foreshadowing of imminent releases to come. 

Phoric — “Forward”

Are you ready for some dreamy, lilting electronic dance pop crossed with heartfelt, passionate crooning? Rising Miami electro-troubadour Phoric is here to tug on your heartstrings, let you know you aren’t alone, and invite you on an actualizing journey — both sonic and emotional. “‘Forward’ is a song that explores the tension between nostalgia and ambition,” he tells New Times, “between wanting to hold onto the past while realizing growth requires moving forward.” Sign. Us. Up. 

Sasha Atlas — “Home”

The Sasha Atlas set at the recent Music Industry Meetup gathering at Sable in Wynwood a few weeks ago was a revelation, full-stop. Her hybrid approach to electronic music — a massive, propulsive house foundation serving as canvas for her astonishingly potent and moving live vocals and keyboard playing — feels like the next step in the evolution of music, re-centering humanity and feeling (not a surprise the duo behind Electric Glue were on hand for her Sable set) even as the driving beats and strains of melody improbably expand any room into a stadium. (Not for nothing was she handpicked to open for Gioli & Assia at the DAER Nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel.) Apparently, Atlas cut her teeth as a producer and DJ in New York, but she’s our now. And that, my friends, is a big get. 

World Islaand — “Skylark”

Come sail away! God, is this Miami-based project “blending indie rock with Caribbean and Latin rhythms” — mission accomplished, btw — life-affirming and joy-inducing. There’s a lot of layers here, but “Skylark” never feels busy — the vibe is definitely more transportive, hypnotic, and basically flawless. This track could be the soundtrack to a better, more culturally intertwined world.