That whirlwind welcome was only fitting. His debut album Passaporte, out now via Altafonte/The Orchard, isn't just an album. It's a movement. A musical collision of cultures. A high-voltage passport stamped with the rhythm of Rio's favelas, the swagger of Santo Domingo's dembow, and the polished fire of house and EDM. Built for dance floors, driven by curiosity, and rooted in authenticity.
"Miami reminds me of home," he says, flashing a grin under the scorching August sun while in conversation with New Times. "This weather? It's just like the Gold Coast. But musically… Miami is next level. It's where cultures merge and things explode."
A Sound Born from the Street, and a Jazz School
Don Dali's path to Miami didn't begin in nightclubs, but in classrooms. Specifically, at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied jazz."I love jazz, but during my time at Berklee, I found myself drawn to something else," he explains. "I started listening to Brazilian funk and EDM, and it just hit me, I wanted to create something bigger. Something that could move crowds and shake speakers."
That realization was his turning point. Instead of following the safe route, Dali pivoted, chasing the rhythms that made his heart race. "I'd study the way DJs controlled a room, how they created energy, how they made thousands of people move in sync. I knew I had to do that," he remembers.
His gateway into the world of baile funk came through collaboration — not just studying it from afar, but diving in headfirst. He started working with major funk MCs in Brazil: MC Pipokinha, MC GW, MC Magno, and MC Deluxe, just to name a few.
"That was my foot in the door," he says. "Working with these top-tier artists gave me credibility, but more than that, it gave me access to the sound from within. I wasn't just remixing funk — I was building with the people who defined it."
It was that foundation that led to the breakout single "Beita," a track that paired Brazilian funk with Dominican dembow and featured Angel Dior and MC GW. "There had never been a collaboration quite like it," Dali says. "When it dropped in February 2024, the reaction was massive. Millions of streams. I knew people were hungry for this fusion."
Passaporte: A Sonic Collision
That fusion is the lifeblood of Passaporte, an album that feels like a whirlwind tour through sweaty clubs, street festivals, and beach parties. Every track hits with intention — bold, bass-heavy, and built to transcend borders. "In Brazil, you have subgenres like rave funk, mega funk, mandelão, they mix electronic elements with funk," he explains. "But what we did on Passaporte pushed it even further. We wanted a true blend that would feel familiar to fans of EDM, but still grounded in the rawness of funk," he says.It works. The album isn't just a playlist; it's an experience. And for Dali, it's also deeply personal. "This project speaks to everyone," he says. "Because it reflects everyone — the people of Miami, the international audience. I can walk down Brickell and hear Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian… that's Passaporte. It's a global mirror."
The numbers don't lie. Passaporte racked up 1.7 million streams in its first week. But more importantly, it's changing the conversation around funk carioca.
"For a long time, funk was underground, raw, rebellious," he explains. "But now it's viral. It's all over TikTok, Instagram. It's ready to go global. Just like reggaetón did with Daddy Yankee. I used to dance to reggaetón in Australia as a kid. Now I want kids in Australia dancing to funk."
Though far from home, Dali sees Miami as the perfect base. "I feel like this city is where L.A. was twenty years ago," he says. "A growing creative hub, especially for dance music and Latin music. Artists aren't just touring through Miami anymore; they're living here. Building here." And Dali is doing just that.
In addition to his studio work, he's quickly gaining a reputation for his electrifying live sets. In April, he performed at the Unsin Festival closing party, one of the city's underground gems. He's also spun at celebrity private parties, including several for the legendary Marley family.
"That was surreal," he recalls. "I grew up on reggae. To be playing for that family, here in Miami, just a week after arriving from Australia, it was wild. It made me feel like I made the right move."
Party Time: Boho House This Sunday
This Sunday, August 10th, Don Dali will take over Boho House with a late-night set from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The event is free with a reservation through Boho House's website and promises a rare opportunity to see Passaporte live in an intimate outdoor venue."Boho is perfect for this," he says. "It's small, it's vibey, it's international. I want to test how people move to this album in a more personal setting — see the faces, feel the energy, respond in real time."
Expect a mix of the unexpected. "I might throw in some unreleased stuff, some remixes, maybe even bring out a surprise guest or two," he teases.
With food, drinks, and that signature Miami magic, it's shaping up to be a passport-stamped night to remember.
So… is Don Dali living the American dream? "I think so," he smiles. "Like many immigrants, I came to the U.S. chasing opportunity. Australia is amazing, but there's nothing like the creative space that America offers. It's like the Roman Empire of the arts — people come from all over to create here. And I'm lucky to be one of them."
As for what's next, Dali says Passaporte is just the beginning. "I want to keep building bridges. More collaborations. More cultures. More dance floors. That's the vision." And this Sunday, that vision lands in Miami — with sweat, bass, and a whole lot of rhythm.
Don Dali Live at Boho House. 10 p.m. Sunday, August 10, at Boho House, 111 NE 20th Ter, Miami; 786-762-2625; bohohousemiami.com. Free with RSVP.
