How Nick León Became One of Miami’s Most Exciting Producers

Sitting in a booth at the Anderson, Nick León sounds slightly timid and unsure when talking about himself. It’s not unexpected. The 24-year-old hasn’t exactly had much practice touting his work to the media. He’s definitely confident about the work he produces but still blushes at compliments. Asked if he…

Twelve’Len Crafts Soulful R&B

When it comes to his music, Twelve’Len is a man of discipline. Case in point: While the rest of the world seized upon Frank Ocean’s hotly anticipated Blonde last fall, he waited a full year to listen to it. “I was like, I don’t wanna listen to any Frank Ocean,…

The Best Concerts in Miami This Week, November 20-26

Things are a little quieter this week thanks to the Thanksgiving holiday — but it’s not completely dead. Right before you’re set to chow down on some turkey and pumpkin pie, Trap Circus is bringing hip-hop’s reigning queen, Cardi B, to the RC Cola Plant. The “Bodak Yellow” rapper shot…

Life in Color Announces 2018 Lineup With Zedd, 21 Savage, and Others

Zedd, the DJ/producer who landed the December cover of Forbes; “Bank Account” rapper 21 Savage; Frédérik Durand, the Canadian DJ/producer better known as Snails; and hip-hop artist Blackbear top the list of talent whose beats will reverberate through ravers’ skulls as they’re doused with neon paint and try not to lose their minds watching colored smoke float through the fest.

Lucky Records Finally Brings a Record Store to Wynwood

Wynwood’s transformation from industrial zone and Puerto Rican barrio to hip neighborhood written about in the New York Times travel section is almost complete. Residential buildings are going up, bars and restaurants dot the area, and national brands such as Warby Parker and Shinola have moved in.

Tamboka, Gypsy Latin Band, to Play at New Times’ Tacolandia Saturday

The Miami band Tamboka plays a unique fusion of flamenco, cumbia, swing, jazz, and bossa nova. According to guitarist Tyrone Iregui, the musical mixture came together in 2011 outside the Wynwood gallery Plant the Future. “I was friends with the owner,” Iregu recalls. “I said if I played music outside, I could bring people into the store. We got 200 people to come out and dance.”

Lauderhill’s XXXTentacion Allegedly Jumped by Migos

The decline and fall of South Florida’s once-rising, now-sinking rap star XXXTentacion continues: It was disclosed Tuesday that he’s apparently been attacked by none other than Migos. In a series of now-deleted Instagram posts, a visibly bruised XXXTentacion claimed he was jumped by the Atlanta rap group while he and his entourage were leaving a hotel room in Los Angeles. He also claims they pulled a gun on him and posted video, which was republished by TMZ, of the group leaving the scene

RJD2, Pioneer of Instrumental Hip-Hop, Brings the Beats to the Ground

Songs with lyrics tend to be specific and topical, says Ramble Jon Krohn, who records and performs under the moniker RJD2. Purely instrumental music, though, is different for him. Without a vocalist telling the listener what to imagine and how to feel, everything is up for interpretation. “The beauty of…

Ed Droste on Grizzly Bear’s Art-Rock Symphonies: “It’s Chaos, but It Works”

If there is something orchestral and old-timey about the music of Grizzly Bear, it might be due to osmosis. That’s according to the band’s singer and founder, Ed Droste. “My mother was a music teacher, and her father was a music professor. From as long as I can remember, they would gather around the piano and we’d sing old songs like ‘A-Tisket A-Tasket.'”

House of Creatives Music Festival 2017: Winners and Losers

Over the weekend, the second edition of House of Creatives Music Festival took place on Virginia Key, bringing indie favorites such as Metronomy and WhoMadeWho, as well as beloved crossover acts Alt-J, Washed Out, and MGMT. Turbulent weather made enjoyment of the last act — the weekend’s most anticipated performance — difficult. Rainfall and the threat of lightning strikes forced MGMT to take the stage more than an hour after the band’s scheduled time, resulting in a set that was as short as it had been anticipated.

The Best Concerts in Miami This Week, November 13-19

After making its live debut in Miami in 2013, Grizzly Bear returns for another show. The band had been performing long before its appearance here four years ago and had released its debut album, Horn of Plenty, in 2004. Grizzly Bear is touring in support of its fifth LP, Painted Ruins. Catch the quartet at the Fillmore Miami Beach this Thursday.