The Love Below
Credit: @Thelovebelowparty (Instagram)
EDM was a source of happiness to me most of my life. Back in Haiti, I used to listen to it a lot. When I arrived to the land of opportunity at 19, I swore to honor the wishes of my younger self, held back by circumstances. I wanted the EDM I saw on TV. And, having developed a diverse taste in music, Caribbean parties were fine by me, you know. I don’t mind experiencing ladies taking a “jab” and being on their “worst behavior’ from time to time. But, after a while, going to a “Fete” every weekend was getting old.
Being underage, I could only go to Caribbean parties. I’m on a student visa, so I didn’t want to risk getting caught with a fake ID. Not today Satan! So, once my 21st birthday came around, I splurged through EDM parties, seeking a nirvana of the progressive house sound I saw on TV back in Haiti. Yes, that one!
Ugh! But, It Wasn’t the Same!
First, EDM was not about deep house and progressive house anymore; a new breed of producers had come to the light. It was the Marshmellows, the Slushiis who were creating a sound I wasn’t very fond of. It felt like the nonsensical B.S. that was happening in hip hop with mumble rap was more contagious than I thought. Like that restaurant that gave me food poisoning, I will never go back.
Second, in Miami, party-ers in-actively participate in the party experiences.They just stand there, spend money, and get wasted socially. This is not a problem, you know! However, I, on the other hand, always knew every lyric and all the drops. And, I felt out of place. My excitement was atypical and misunderstood, and I had nobody to share this awkward mess of enjoyment with.
Ultimately, in the midst of all this, I discovered Soulection, Sango, Mr. Carmack, and di real don dada: Kaytranda on the internet. It would have never come to my mind (Jamais!!!) that they would take Hip Hop, Funk, RnB, and EDM and throw them into a blender, like that! People are out here giving birth to a whole other genres like they want to create the Esperanto of music.
So Y’all Play Tech House? BET.
Now, I have a craving for the taste of this multicultural smoothie. But, these artisan smoothies are...expensive . And, a brother isn’t rich. Until one day, I was scrolling through instagram, I saw a flyer saying: The Love Below every Tuesday at LAS ROSAS. I took a quick look at the account and THEY WHERE IN MIAMI! And, oh! By the grace of all the musically enthusiastic gods in heaven, I came across the most beautifully affordable event. It was FREE, MFers!! This was a blessing of creatives in Miami pushing the definition of D.I.Y. to the limit. When I got there, they were playing Tech House. T E C H H O U S E! These guys were sharing the gospel for free. I would have cried if I wasn’t in public.
They take risk with the music selection; I don’t see that often. I thought it was only the Haitian crowd back home, but it seems like people just don’t like novelty. You want to play Gqom to a crowd that is not used to it, and the immediate effect would be an empty dancefloor with a crazy mofo like me doing the shaku shaku and gwara gwara.
It’s hard to believe but this doesn’t discourage the resident DJs at The Love Below. They play unusual subgenres; making you feel like Miami is the melting pot that it is supposed to be.
Come To The Tuesdays Services!
If you have accepted good music into your hearts, know the musically enthusiastic gods are smiling down upon you. Come and join the services at The Love Below every Tuesday in LAS ROSAS.
Recharge yourself and listen to the world syncing on a CDJ.
The Love Below @ Las Rosas
2898 NW 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Tuesdays, 7pm to 3am
**No Cover, ID Required**