MIAMI MUSIC WEEK ARTIST FELLOWS

In Celtic mythology, everyone knows the magical AWEN, but there are disagreements about what it is and, mostly, what it can do.

Some believe it’s a spirit that gives glimpses of the future, while others affirm it’s a symbol of balance between opposites. However, for most people, it is a woman, the muse of creativity - and the artists she touches act like they were possessed.

When singer-songwriter AWEN chose this name, she wasn’t aware of these implications. But, strangely, she couldn’t have picked a better one: she embodies all of these ideas.

AWEN has always navigated between distant worlds. Born in Paris from a French mother and a Malian-Senegalese father, she’s long been torn between her passion for singing and her successful career in Hong Kong as a lawyer. But when her father passed away in 2016, she decided to give up her job and move back to France to try to become a professional artist.

Building upon her cultural heritage and her musical tastes (she grew up listening to artists such as Nina Simone, Bob Marley and Marvin Gaye), AWEN started to produce her unique style of Afro-house. It mixed electronic instrumentation with timeless melodies - and a touch of spirituality.

“In Western Africa, our family name has a special perception”, she explains. “It’s the name of a legendary sorcerer king; that’s why I describe myself as an Afro-house witch”, she laughs, before adding: “but I mostly like the fact that, nowadays, witches have become icons of feminism and freedom.”

In 2019, AWEN released her first solo album, Redemption. It was followed by 6 EPs and singles, including collaborations with upcoming afro-house stars such as Floyd Lavine, Daniel Rateuke or Enoo Napa. It includes “Your Voice” with Caiiro (2020), a song that channels raw feelings of faith, love and hope with such intensity that many listeners wondered if the lyrics were about God - AWEN actually wrote them as a letter to her son, who was unborn yet.

“Your Voice” gained a cult status that made it unescapable among house fans - with the exception of Adam Port. Strangely enough, the legendary DJ/producer only heard it for the first time two years after its release (!), while he was in a bar in Istanbul. Impressed, he shazamed it and proposed to produce a remix. Released in 2022, his version confirmed the song as a global sensation: it dominated the Beatport charts and took Coachella by storm when AWEN performed it on stage.

“My son was born after I wrote “Your Voice” for him”, she says. “All the blessings I get from this song... I feel like they are gifts from him.”

With her other hits “Gold” and “Kusimama”, plus a release on legendary label DFTD (“Time”, with Christoph), AWEN’s futuristic blend of empowering lyrics and mysterious universe seduces an ever-growing global audience. “My dad came from Africa, my mom is European, and I lived several years in Asia. I feel like I belong everywhere”, she says with a smile.

One of the other reasons of AWEN’s success is her ability to transcend her repertoire on stage. Standing at 1m83 (6 ft.) with her signature braids and a deep voice, the artist is a commanding presence that captivates concertgoers across the world. “I’m mixing, I’m singing, I’m proposing a visual experience”, she details. “I want my performances to be a whole experience. I want to give Afro House the global visibility it deserves.”

It might just be a question of time. Because when your name is a call to the divine, some things are just meant to be.

LINKS

INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY

Val Fleury is a DJ/Producer, Liberian-born and USA based, who has earned acclaim from AfroPunk to NYLON for her energetic performances and globally resonant Afro-warehouse fusion of House and Techno with her West African roots. Passionate about showcasing under-represented and international talent, she adds an extra layer of inclusivity and depth to her sets.

Val's musical catalog has amassed 700K+ streams on Spotify. Her 2024 singles: "Statues," "PST,"  "Ride On Time” and “Technically” earned nods on editorial playlists from Beatport, Amazon Music, KCRW, Apple Music and Spotify, including an honor as Spotify’s Fresh Finds Dance Artist of the Month. She has more music on the horizon in 2025. 

Val's performances span 7 continents and 10+ countries captivating audiences at Berlin raves, Shanghai fashion events, New Delhi radio shows, Antarctica boat parties, Mexico City pop-ups, and renowned festivals like Coachella, Miami Music Week, Roots Picnic and SXSW.

LINKS

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | SOUNDCLOUD | SPOTIFY

CTRLZORA is a music curator, black femme event and artist collective co-founder, DJ, musician, and dance music activist from Chicago. They aim to contribute to keeping the electronica dance scene alive and soulful through house, techno, world music, and more. Paying homage to the history and liberation of music within communities of color across genres is their central focus, alongside perpetuating the tradition of house music in its originator, Chicago, and black and queer culture. They've spearheaded activism efforts to preserve historical venues of Chicago like The Post and The Warehouse, pushing to keep the integrity and history of the music's roots alive.

Mentored by the very architects of soulful house and techno, such as Ron Trent, CTRLZORA carries a sound that cannot be confused for anything short of authentic and raw, spanning from the furthest corners of Midwestern dance music all the way to the expansive sounds of the African diaspora and beyond, often collaborating with the creator of the original Warehouse and Music Box Chicago, Robert Williams.

Zora has frequently played and spoken at venues and on platforms such as Smartbar, The Lot Radio, the Silverroom Block Party, The Frankie Knuckles Festival, Chicago House Music Festival, Art Basel, The Post Chicago, Podlasie Club, The Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, and various venues and radio stations throughout the city and beyond. Zora has also had the honor of playing alongside greats such as Lil Louis, Juan Atkins, Gene Hunt, Duane Powell, Celeste Alexandar, and Ron Trent. Infusing their own spiritual associations with music, Zora aims to create an energy that brings somatic healing not only to themselves but also to their listeners. Quick to draw from the archives while blending with modern reiterations, Zora shares their open love letters to music and mutual sonic communion with every crowd. Join Zora's journey into the future of music—experience their live performance and be part of the movement!

LINKS

SoundCloud | Instagram | Linktree

DJ and music producer HAI-LIFE brings a unique and fresh perspective to the electronic dance scene with her signature sound that embraces both nostalgia and modernity. Through her immersive visuals and unique ability in world-building, she is able to transport listeners to different eras and places. While the electronic music world can often feel repetitive and hypermasculine, HAI-LIFE aims to infuse more femininity and imagination into the space. Following the success of her independently-released single “All I Wanna,” which has close to 200K streams (featured on Global Club Music, Fresh Finds, New Music Friday, Radar US) and Call Me Baby (featured on New Music Friday and Shuffle Syndrome), HAI-LIFE is determined to make her mark with new releases on the way and DJ performances. You can often catch her spinning at Elsewhere (New York’s best electronic dance club) and festivals like Countdown NYE and GrooveCruise.

UPCOMING RELEASES

Baddie (Release Date: May 3, 2024)

Know Ur Down (Release Date: Summer 2024)

LINKS

SoundCloud | Spotify | Instagram | Linktree

Joanna Magik, with the two-tone hair and athletic energy, is a DJ and producer with releases on influential house music labels and performances at iconic North American clubs and festivals including Shambhala Music Festival. Her music has been featured on Spotify’s Dance Rising, Bangers and Operator and featured on Diplo’s Revolution and Insomniac Radio. She’s an ambassador for LP Giobbi’s and Hermixalot’s ‘Femme House’ working to raise awareness of under-represented genders in dance music through DJ workshops. Joanna Magik’s background as a professional athlete and sports announcer (including the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games) explains her big energy and advocacy for health and movement. She’s a 2023 winner of the Pete Tong x Apple Music DJ Mix series and named 2023 for ‘Future of Dance’ by 1001TrackLists.

LINKS

SoundCloud | Spotify | Instagram | Website

Senaerya is an electronic music producer and DJ who keeps the energy high on the dance floor while tapping into the emotional side of dance music through her selections. As a producer, she blends organic and electronic sounds with different elements of genres like house, drum and bass, and breakbeat. Her DJ mixes take audiences on a musical journey through these genres.

LINKS

SoundCloud | Instagram

New York partygoers might catch Chloe Battelle behind the decks sharing her vision at Manhattan and Brooklyn's most acclaimed dance floors. A Bay Area native, Chloe later moved to the east coast to catalyze her DJ and production career. Chloe's commitment to learning from the city's diverse musical culture is evident in her craft, paying homage to her personal inspirations (Moby, Fatboy Slim, and Tinlicker) while offering tribute to the local underground scene. In post-pandemic NYC, Chloe began her journey playing with Deeproot Tribe and other local collectives. Building up to multiple shows a week, she has earned a name in the local scene and has opened for some of the biggest names in dance. Beyond DJing, Chloe has worked to promote inclusivity and representation in the industry through installations of all-women lineups at local clubs with collectives "Support Women DJ" and "Only Femmes". In the last year, Chloe has made strides as a producer, gaining traction on Soundcloud surrounding her first two releases. Working to finish her first EP, build her brand, and unveil her new artist moniker all in the next year, Chloe's growth as an electronic trailblazer is just beginning.

LINKS

SoundCloud | Instagram