March, in like a lion…out like a downpour of crazy eclectic, blossoming songs.
At least that’s how we’re doing it in Miami. Let the lambs have their boring, safe music scenes. They probably couldn’t handle our spice or our periodic games of dodge the frozen iguana.
Anyway, we’ve got twelve brand new stellar, boundary-pushing, roar-worthy tracks from Miami artists below.
Got a bead on something else we should be listening to? Hit this button right here.
Amanda Libertad — “Tanta Mujer”
Cuban singer, songwriter, and pianist Amanda Libertad possesses such an evocative, ethereal, versatile voice that it doesn’t take her very long at all to transport you to a beguiling and inspiring dimension. A little over a minute to be exact — we clocked it listening to her jazzy, beguiling new single “Tanta Mujer” about four billion times. (Libertad’s previous single, “Fortuna,” is a bit more immediate, but equally great.) “‘Tanta Mujer’ came from reflecting on the strength women carry — the tenderness, the scars, and the quiet courage that often goes unseen,” Libertad tells New Times. “I wanted the song to feel like a small but powerful statement about femininity and resilience. The upcoming EP continues that idea: blending Latin roots with modern sounds while telling very honest stories about identity, love, and freedom. It’s very personal, but also something I hope people can see themselves in.”
Amar (Featuring Diego Melgar) — “Dissolve”
Falling somewhere between dreampop and jungle — and featuring the virtuoso, left-field guitar stylings of Diego Melgar, whose brilliant swamp lily dropped last August — “Dissolve” is a soulful, rejuvenating work of otherworldly beauty. Amar’s vocals are sublime. The track didn’t come with much background info. But that’s okay. The spirit speaks louder than any description ever could.
Baladrama — “Una Fan Enamorada (Featuring Ahmed Alcántara)”
There’s always been love for sneering, unlikely cover of pop songs in punk and hardcore — “supergroup” Me First and the Gimme Gimmes cut-and-pasted a career out of it but they’re hardly alone — but Miami-based Latin punkers Baladrama are definitely bringing a new dish to the party with their “reimagining iconic Latin pop and rock classics as if they were born in a sweaty, DIY basement show.” They’ve previously done vivifying versions of Luis Miguel’s “La Incondicional,” Maluma’s “Hawái,” and Soda Stereo’s “Persiana Americana.” Now comes “Una Fan Enamorada,” which takes the iconic Servando & Florentino salsa song originally written by Ricardo Montaner and flips it “into a fast, aggressive anthem that still keeps the romantic ache at its core.”
Dave Daniels — “Mayaimi”
Miami singer-songwriter Dave Daniels’ semi-autobiographical full-length album The Cost of Living is a lovely and lilting tour through his signature brand of tropic Americana in which, he tells New Times, “all songs are tied to Florida, the splendor, the quirkiness, the mysterious, and yeah…darkness.” This particular track incorporates piano and symphonic elements for an epic “tribute to three waves of Miami Migration.” Daniels adds: “I am not a history expert — but I’ve learned a lot about it from my dad and Dr. Paul George at HistoryMiami. There are endless patchworks that make this city what it is. There is no ‘true’ Miamian. And no one group was really here first —maybe the Tequestas — and no one will be last. Except the gators and the lizards.”
Knarley Noso — “Angel Reese”
If you’re looking for a hip-hop artist who plays it safe and colors within the well-established lines, Knarley Noso ain’t it. The Miami-Based multifaceted artist and entrepreneur’s new EP Kowabunga covers a wild amount of musical and conceptual ground across its eight tracks and sixteen minutes — all of it executed with a sly, invigorating subversiveness. “Angel Reese,” for example, straps the best of ’90s industrial dance, electronica, and rap onto a rocket that streaks right over 2026 into a cooler, more eclectic music future.
Otto Von Schirach X Lamebot — “Freek”
Close your eyes while listening to “Freek” and you’ll almost certainly have visions of people running from the bar and bathroom line for the club floor dancing in your head. Von Schirach tells New Times the track is “built for loud systems and late-night rooms.” No argument here — just a note to add the energy and vibes are off the charts. “‘Freek’ is about letting people feel free on the dance floor,” Lamebot says in the accompanying press materials. “The vocal is simple on purpose — something everyone can shout back. It’s about creating a space where people can move without judgment.”
Ryan Cooper — “Annie Says It’s Ok”
A self-described indie country artist “hailing from the heart of the Deep South in Mississippi who has found his musical home in the vibrant landscape of South Florida,” Ryan Cooper certainly seems poised to plant a flag for Miami-based roots rock and authentic country music nationally on his upcoming full-length out next month. The latest single — a lovely, affecting ode to “a friend’s wife who has become a trusted friend through her honesty and support” — “Annie Says It’s Ok” not only showcases Cooper’s well-honed, nuanced songwriting skills, but also a stellar production courtesy Nashville’s legendary Bombshelter Studio (Black Keys, Alabama Shakes) and a crazy lineup of guest musicians ranging from guitarist Audley Freed (the Black Crowes, Led Zepplin, Wallflowers, Sheryl Crow), keyboardist John Ginty (Jewel, Santana, Whiskeytown), and drummer George Sluppick (Mavis Staples, Chris Stapleton) to bassist Cory Nichols (Lucinda Williams) and backup vocalist Crystal Bowersox (American Idol finalist).
Shush — “Pia”
Shush dubs itself the “first trilingual rock band: Español, English, y trauma” and if that resonates, congratulations, you’ve just found your new favorite band. Boasting a sound that is somewhere between ’90s driving indie and modern radio rock, these purveyors of top-shelf Spanglish heartbreak anthems don’t miss. “Pia” is very much representative — both sonically and in general emotional tenor, the latter exemplified by the blurb the band sent us about the song: “It may not be toxic to write a song about your ex. But it’s certainly toxic to write a song about your ex while you’re in another relationship… ‘Pía’ is about a three-day fling that our singer still thinks about three years later. We can chalk it up to the right person, wrong time, but that’s not true. This is the right time. It’s the only time. This is the time our band came together to make our most heartfelt song to date — our first ballad…We’re blocked from her account on Instagram (our singer, and the band too). Maybe this will get her to unblock us.” Maybe! Maybe not! But the rest of us are very much here for it.
Skyler Jay — “FACTS”
As a child, fast-rising Miami-born and raised rapper, producer, and singer Skyler Jay caught a glimpse of a Michael Jackson performance on television — and never looked back. Today, boasting an array of influences wide enough to include the Backstreet Boys, John Secada, and Stevie B alongside Tupac, Kanye West, J. Cole, and Lecrae, Jay’s laid-back flow and heartfelt lyricism on his latest single “Facts” highlights themes of loyalty, commitment, and positive relationships and is sure to hit a bullseye with fans of classic R&B infused hip-hop. Keep going!
Stereo Roux — “Modern Melancholy”
So, we’ve sung the praises of Miami indie-pop master Stereo Roux in this space before — and that sure as hell isn’t going to change with this first single from his next album, Modern Times. “Modern Melancholy” is a gorgeous track that bridges the gap between dreampop and soft rock in a way that feels both predestined and new. And all the more impressive considering the announcement on Instagram that all production would now be done “in house,” as it were. Looking forward to hearing more from these sessions.
Tremora — “Hard Luck Honey”
There are few live experiences in Miami more life-affirming than a Tremora show. Led by singer/songwriter/therapist Carlos Escanilla — whose Instagram bio includes the line, “Songs for people who feel too much” — the band has a huge sound, thanks not only to a lineup expansive enough to include a brass section and violin, but also an incandescent spirit and desire to create meaningful connections with the audience that give each show the feeling of a rock & soul revival. Tremora has started capturing that vibe in recorded songs with the above “Hard Rock Honey” and “No Quiero Más.” As I found myself thinking while watching them perform beneath the stars at the recent Coral Gables Carnival on the Mile, the sky’s the limit.
Trikstah — “You Say”
From his spoken word poetry, soulful and unorthodox R&B singing, and heartfelt bite-sized pep talks on the transformative power of arts, if you’ve been lucky enough to see Trikstah perform or host one of the eclectic and friendly Wednesday open mic nights at Thank You Miami Cocina & Beerhouse you know he’s one of the most inspiring and original figures in the Miami music scene. You’ve probably also heard him workshop early versions of “You Say,” either alone or with his partner Angie Q, a slinky, cool, instantly unforgettable earworm. Well, that jam is finally out in recorded form — with Angie and multi-instrumentalist Cristal Fire in tow, rounding out the sleek yet organic Attila Mendez production — and it was definitely worth the wait. Get yourself initiated before the next track drops.