13 Best Music Stories of 2024

The conclusion many critics have made for the music scene in 2024 is that it will go down as one of the best years of the decade — perhaps one of the best years of this century. If you apply it to a more regional level, like Miami and South Florida, it's hard to argue differently. This year brought so many great acts, both local and touring, to our tucked-away corner of the state.

New Times' writers spent this year covering all the unique ways music and nightlife set the city apart from the rest of the U.S. They also spoke to acts who left a last imprint on the music industry over the past 12 months.

Below, take a look at 13 stories that summarize 2024 in Miami music and nightlife.

MJ Nebreda Wants You to Feel as Sexy as She Knows You Can Be

Venezuelan-born, Miami-based neoperreo artist MJ Nebreda found critical acclaim when she released 2023's Arepa Mixtape. In early 2024, writer Grant Albert profiled Nebreda, highlighting how, in 2020, she pivoted from working behind the scenes in the music industry to pursuing her own career in music, first as a DJ and later as a singer and producer.

How Bizarrap Became the Hottest Name in Latin Music

Argentine producer Bizarrap's influence peaked this year thanks to successful collaborations with artists like Shakira, Young Miko, Rauw Alejandro, and Peso Pluma. Unsurprisingly, he headlined Vibra Urbana at the beginning of 2024, a sign of how far he had come from his days of making "Combos Locos."

How Stamped Became Miami's Unapologetic African Party

While Afro Nation did not return to Miami in 2024, it's still evident that the sounds pouring out of the African continent are here to stay. From Afropop to amapiano, global audiences can seem to get enough. Stamped, founded by Leslie "Aya" Ayafor, has become the go-to party in Miami for checking out the latest and greatest African sounds.

Ultra Headliner Nina Kraviz Isn't Done Evolving

Russian DJ/producer Nina Kraviz has been commanding the decks at clubs and festivals all over the world for more than a decade now. Ahead of her set at Ultra Music Festival this year, writer Grant Albert hung out with Kraviz at Club Space to find out how she continues to get crowds moving after all these years.

The Man Behind the Velvet Rope: Alan T Is Miami's Fiercest Nightclub Doorman

You may go to Club Space and Floyd for the DJs and atmosphere, but one man leaves a lasting imprint on everyone who walks into the venue. Since the 1990s, Alan T has been a fixture in Miami's nightlife scene, acting as the doorman at some of the city's most iconic nightclubs.

Justin Wiggins Wants to Be R&B and Hip-Hop's Next Superstar Producer

South Florida's R&B scene has been on a hot streak thanks largely to producer Justin Wiggins (AKA J Wiggs). He's worked with acts like Twelve'len, Denzel Curry, and Jahkoy. In 2024, he kept working, producing music for Loe Shimmy, Shanuka, and Jordyn Simone. Overall, what Wiggins has achieved is impressive despite only figuring out he wanted to pursue a music career in the middle of his college freshman year.

Indie Record Store Owners Speak Out About Direct-to-Consumer Vinyl Sales

Music listeners are again flocking to physical formats, with vinyl record sales seeing explosive growth, especially after the pandemic. This has been especially good news for local record stores; however, now record companies and major artists want to get a bigger share by cutting out record stores altogether and selling directly to fans. This has put independent record stores in a precarious position, losing out on potential sales because they aren't allowed to take album preorders.

Curfew Club Offers Alternative to Miami's Late-Night Clubbing

During your twenties, partying well past sunrise sounds like a fun time. But for early birds and aging millennials, nothing sounds worse. In comes DJ Jessica Who, who started Curfew Club, a party that gets an early start and will have you home by midnight.

On C,XOXO, Camila Cabello Finds Love for Her Hometown

This year, pop singer Camila Cabello returned with her fourth album, C,XOXO. While she faced accusations of diving into unfamiliar sounds, Cabello showed growth as an artist as she searched for her distinct sound after years of doing what industry executives asked of her. Ultimately, C,XOXO feels like the catalogue of a young woman returning home after years of globetrotting.

Miami's Goth Subculture Is Growing Thanks to Gen Z

The South Florida goth scene peaked in the late 1990s and seemingly disappeared in the early aughts. Luckily, Gen Z has shown a renewed interest in the scene and goth aesthetic. Writer Flor Frances examined how goths dressed in head-to-toe black champion the scene's resurgence despite the humid South Florida weather.

South Beach Running Legend Robert "Raven" Kraft Just Wants to Sing

You probably know Robert "Raven" Kraft for his daily runs on the sands of Miami Beach, but did you know he's also a musician? Writer David Rolland ran alongside Kraft to talk to him about his songwriting and music career, which goes further back than his running.

Justice Continues to Reinvent Its Sound

French duo Justice headlined III Points this year, but before that, writer Osvaldo Espino spoke to Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Augé about their new album, Hyperdrama. While you may think that the Frenchmen peaked after "D.A.N.C.E.," their fourth studio album certainly proves they aren't done innovating.

In Miami, Gen Z Sometimes Prefers Low-Key Venues Over Clubbing

Loud music, cavernous venues, and high ticket prices — Gen Z eschews all the typical nightlife trappings for something more intimate. Writer Isabel Wilder theorizes that the isolation of the pandemic has Zoomers craving more personal connections that traditional nightclubs cannot afford.