Miami Underground Experiences Evolution

Miami Underground Experiences Evolution

7 February, 2008 | 12.00PM

• Written by: Brian DeLaFunk
• Filed under: Music News : alvaro garfunk, dj ology, eric kraffman, gino guentes, kg house

Every DJ Generation (which I estimate to be about every 4 years) has them: the underground warriors.

Those DJs, promoters, and partiers who never tire of the music, the people or the parties we all love so dearly, and strive to push the limits just a little bit further.

These are men and women who put their own money, time, sweat and tears into their music and parties, all for “the beat.”

In Miami, a handful of people have pushed the limits of its underground to reach more people, mostly with Podcasts and the radio.

Just over a year ago, two friends decided to combine their passion for spinning records.  This partnership resulted in a label under their direction, KG House Miami Recordings, and a podcast with the same name. Eric Kraffman and Alvaro Garfunk were high school friends who grew up going to South Florida parties and raves.  Garfunk began spinning then, and, like so many of us “House Heads,” the rest just became history.

A couple of years and a bunch of gigs down the line, Kraffman and Garfunk are both getting ready to graduate from Florida International University.  Garfunk decided to go to SAE, the well known Audio Engineering school, and graduated in the top of his class at both FIU and SAE, respectively.  Kraffman decided to buy some DJ equipment himself, and set off to master it.  Now, Kraffman resides on the West Coast of Florida, attending Medical School, but still somehow makes the time to produce tracks, create mixes, and help run a label.  These two DJs represent the kind of deep passion for music that relies in few.

The KG House Miami podcasts have featured guests like Spirit Catcher, Lutzenkirchen, Mowree, Chaim, Phonique, and very soon, Timo Maas. “The best thing about the Podcasts is our ability to network with others not just locally, but globally, sharing our music on a much larger scale”, stated Garfunk. Garfunk also works within the Miami Underground Movement (a.k.a. M.U.M) that pumps out weekly podcasts, and tours to spread Miami flavor to South America. Rod B. is also a driving force behind M.U.M., he and the Movement will be featuring DJs at the local Miami label, Behold Records, party March 27 during the WMC, showcasing some of the best Miami has to offer.”

Like podcasts, good ‘ol radio waves help to pump out the underground style and music to the masses.  In Miami, you’re going to have to wait until Friday to get your fix though.  Unlike Miami’s Y-100, who features club broadcasts, and the lack of a full time EDM station since Party 93.1 folded, 88.1/95.3 WRGP Radiate FM is carrying the torch through the dark night.  Radiate FM is the radio station for Florida International University. In fact, Garfunk hosted a show on Radiate when he was attending FIU.  For the past couple of years two DJs, who also happen to be friends, have hosted EDM shows, with big-time guests coming through the station, and of course, live mixes. Radiate FM received the Miami New Times best Radio Station of 2007 award, and it is well deserved.  Also running talk, news, Rock, Indie, and of course, Hip Hop programming.  The Hip-Hop show is example of how the underground Hip-Hop scene is thriving as well, residing in the #1 spot for listeners. “Party 93.1 has just ended it run, and I wanted to do something so people could [still] hear electronic music.  I just wanted to keep some part of the scene alive, and give people what the love,” said Ology.

DJ Ology and Gino Guentes are the duo who helped bring the Ultra Music Festival to FIU for their official pre-parties, and have resided in many clubs in the area, spinning at Miami’s top parties.  Their performances at Ultra have made people stop dead in their tracks while walking by the Florida Local’s Tent, both drawing decent sized crowds.  Gino’s show, The 3rd Realm, is on 4-7 pm, and Ology’s show, The Burrow, is from 10pm-1am EST. Both DJs are expected to return to the Ultra Music Festival in 2008, and are currently organizing the next Ultra Pre-Party at FIU.

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• Check out DJ Ology on Beatport