Dude's an OG. In fact, those are his initials.
Born and bred in Miami, Oscar Gaetan started DJing at 12. And he became internationally famous in his 20s, making megahit house bangers as one half of Murk, alongside childhood friend Ralph Falcon.
So yeah, Oscar G is undoubtedly a godfather of the Miami scene. But he sure as hell doesn't think of himself that way.
"Absolutely not, man," Oscar laughs. "I will never stop trying to do cooler tracks and coming up with new ideas. I don't put much energy into status. It's dangerous to get into that kind of shit."
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No doubt, it's true. Oscar is just as vital and relevant as he was in '96 or 2000 or 2004.
Year after year, he keeps headlining major WMC parties. He keeps cranking out solo tracks. He keeps ripping out new Murk material, like 2011's "Amame" and last year's "Die 4 U." He keeps killing the 305's top clubs, from Space to Bardot to Mansion. And he always keeps it fuckin' real.
You know, like that time he called out today's club culture and told Crossfade: "DJs are going to have to grow some balls."
Of course, even if Oscar has stayed hustling and remained fresh, he's still been around our city's EDM and indie scene since there wasn't a scene.
"It's been pretty incredible," he recalls. "There was freestyle and bass, and even some house that lived in gay clubs. But as far as all kinds of electronic and other music, you had almost nothing."
Now, though, Miami's a mecca. And this weekend, Oscar will be the OG on the new scene as part of Wynwood's III Points Festival.
"I think III Points is taking a different angle than WMC or Ultra," Oscar says.
"It shines a light on more alternative-minded artists and people who are going in a different direction," he explains. "It's also going to actually put people in touch with the musicians, let them talk and interact. And that's a good thing all around."
But a multi-club, neighborhood-centric street fest like III Points wouldn't have been possible without the emergence of a new 305 paradigm.
"Wynwood's changed the culture a lot," Oscar insists. "Especially among young people, there's a totally new attitude toward music and art. I see a different state of mind in Miami.
"Just five or six years ago, there was a more superficial, everybody-wants-to-act-like-a-rock-star-millionaire vibe," the DJ laughs. "Where now, there's a growing scene that's full of people who've just turned their backs on that bullshit.
"But you know, maybe the economy's had something to do with it too," he jokes.
"There's real hope now for events like III Points and an area like Wynwood," Oscar says. "Just a more cultural, artistic approach to it all."
"But," he adds, "I don't think it's about the neighborhood, necessarily. It's more about the people and what's happening around it.
"I think Wynwood is a catalyst for a new generation. And the scene could move somewhere else. You know, I've seen so many galleries go to Little Havana in the last year. Because, part of a scene like this one is everybody's looking for the next thing.
"So it's not really about where. It's about whether the scene grows and evolves. That is what's important."
Fresh Kutz. With Oscar G and Lazaro Casanova. (Note: This isn't a concert. Described as a "talk with renowned local producers Lazaro Casanova & Oscar G about the local scene and all things Miami all while they get their hair cut.") Saturday, October 5, 2 to 4 p.m., Junior & Hatter, 2750 NW Third Ave., Miami; 305-571-8361; juniorandhatter.com. Admission is free with RSVP.
Point Blank. With James Murphy, Jamie XX, Jacques Greene, Koreless, Oscar G, and Lazaro Casanova. Saturday, October 5. Sound Stage at Mana Miami Production Village, located at the corner of NW Second Avenue and NW 23rd Street, Miami. The show starts at 9 p.m. and tickets cost $37 to $145 plus fees via showclix.com. Ages 18 and up. Visit iiipoints.com.
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