Critic's Notebook

Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m., the Standard’s employees get the chance to spin records as part of a weekly series spotlighting staff talent.

Anthony Blackman says music, specifically hip-hop, substantially influences how black and brown people are affected by gun violence. He wants to change the messages in music to reflect the awareness society is waking up to politically, spiritually, and creatively. For him, it’s about relaying the message of unity through all genres of music, not just hip-hop but also jazz, soul, reggaeton, rock, and others.

On the surface, Jozzy might seem like an overnight success story, a byproduct of her involvement with Lil Nas X’s runaway hit, “Old Town Road.” In reality, the rapper/singer/songwriter from Memphis has been linked to some of music’s biggest names for years. Now, following the success of “Old Town Road,”…

Aymber took three years off from the Miami music scene to hone her craft, but she’s back with a new R&B single that is a perfect reminder of how R&B used to sound.

At the Citadel in Little River, there was always a long-term vision of creating a community gathering place for dining, shopping, and entertainment. That vision is becoming a reality with the launch of the Citadel’s Summer Series on the Rooftop.

In the Miami-Dade suburb of Westchester sits a shopping center on Bird Road whose name makes an idyllic reference to the local demographics: Las Americas Plaza. From 1983 to 1985, in a corner of the parking lot, there was a teen nightclub known simply as the Beat Club. But it wasn’t any ordinary teen club.

For those not familiar with some of the new additions to the Rolling Loud lineup, DaBaby is definitely one to know. The rapper from Charlotte, North Carolina, has been making major waves this year and already boasts a rabid fan base that will undoubtedly be lit at his May 10…

Last year, a group of music festival veterans announced plans to stage a three-day event on the sands of South Beach. Originally scheduled for 2018, the festival was delayed due to concerns from residents and city officials. That seems to have been sorted out, because…

With the end in sight for Miami’s most beloved alternative venue — 229 Warehouse — Sister System and other Miami DJs are bringing in outside help to throw down one more time.

What do Los Amigos Invisibles and Aterciopelados have in common? The former is a Venezuelan group that plays tropical pop spiked with funk, disco, and acid jazz. The latter is a Colombian rock band specializing in punk and the native folk sounds of its Andean homeland. But though their styles…

The experimental local label marked Record Store Day 2019 with its first physical release.

Michael Orta, the celebrated jazz pianist who taught for 26 years at Florida International University, graduated from Miami Dade College and University of Miami thanks to full music scholarships. Now, four months after Orta’s death from brain cancer at the age of 56, his jazz colleagues have found the perfect…

Record Store Day, the one part Comic-Con, one part Black Friday audiophile extravaganza, had a festive feel this past Saturday at Sweat Records. The Little Haiti shop earlier in the week had announced that a rent increase would force the Miami vinyl-boom pioneer to relocate. So this would be one last hurrah in a…

In its 14 years of existence, Sweat Records has endured everything from hurricanes to break-ins. However, it’s no match for Miami’s latest disaster: gentrification, which is quickly sucking the city dry of any unique characteristics. According to Sweat cofounder Lauren “Lolo” Reskin, the landlord has given the record store until this…

What makes Kendall such a perfect neighborhood for these backyard shows to run rampant? Perhaps it’s the distance away from the city that gives people the feeling they can do what they want, or the common suburban drone that sparks the energy for young music lovers to wild out in a stranger’s backyard. Either way, the 305 should be proud of the music that comes from Kendall.

If you’re coming to the Magic City for Miami Music Week and Ultra Music Festival, you have Winter Music Conference (WMC) to thank. From 1985 to 2010, the week in March when the entire dance music community descended upon Miami to shake off the winter chill, network, and, of course,…

JG Wilkes, half of the legendary Scottish DJ duo Optimo, discusses Electric Pickle and saying goodbye to beloved nightlife institutions.

Every year, Miami Music Week boasts an unfathomable number of pool parties, warehouse raves, and all-night club showcases promising a utopia of beats and beautiful people – for a price. But everyone loves a free party, and just like previous editions, Miami Music Week 2019 brings a fresh batch of bashes…

You’ve heard it from your friends in bands: “Bro, I need to get out of Miami.” Perhaps they’re thinking about the woes of constant low-paying/unpaid gigs or the weekend drone of hopping from Las Rosas to Gramps to Churchill’s, or maybe they’re just dreaming of taking their talents to a new place. Though most Miami musicians don’t skip town, these local artists have moved on to pursue their passion elsewhere.

Like many South Floridians, Matthew Redler found there were more local events he wanted to attend than he could afford. “I was priced out of exploring all the sports and music events Miami had to offer,” the Plantation native and University of Florida student says. Out of that disappointment sprang his eureka moment…

At a holiday party this winter, Miami musicians Nick County and Juan Ledesma commiserated over the city’s lack of multimedia platforms for live performances. They longed for the kind of sleek, curated web content produced by beloved indie institutions such as Seattle’s KEXP and NPR’s Tiny Desk, but for Miami. “Nick…