Miami Electro-Pop Veterans Afrobeta Play Propaganda Tomorrow

While Miami's had ample opportunity to move their bodies to the experimental, electro-pop sounds of Afrobeta in the near decade they've been a band, it's not as often that we're treated to a visit from the funky and unpredictable dance duo on our own turf.

If you've never heard of them, expect to have your mind expanded and your hips doing things you never knew they could do as you take in Afrobeta's unique, genre-defying take on electronic dance music this Saturday at Propaganda.

“We were more dance-music-sounding six years ago," Afrobeta's Cuci Amador recently told New Times writer Elvis Anderson. "We’re more indie electro now. We’re more downtempo. Our new single, 'Dream About You,' is more chill...We’re certainly not mainstream dance music. We’re definitely a hybrid. Sometimes I wonder if it’s better to narrow our focus."


In their earlier years, Afrobeta's Smurphio was a backing musician for Pitbull, while Cuci was "freestyle battling at Tallahassee’s Cow Haus while attending Florida State." Brought together by a "mutual love of classic songwriting, Cuban pastries, and dancing till 5 a.m.," Smurphio and Cuci's symbiotic musical marriage eventually landed them the coveted titles of Best Electronic Act, Best Songwriter, and Best Band by our sister paper Miami New Times concurrently in 2010. Now, they're touring in support of their latest full-length release, Dream About You, which they quirkily distributed on USB bracelets back in August ("CDs are dead," Smurphio told New Times).

While the influence of their native Miami is still evidenced by the electronic, body-moving sounds of their music, Afrobeta haven't been confined by their hometown. Over the last couple of years, they've played massive festivals like Glastonbury, Burning Man, and Ultra Brazil, and rocked alongside artists including Holy Ghost!, Booka Shade, and Hercules and Love Affair.

Afrobeta are a colorful, shiny example of the sort of musical magic Miami is capable of cultivating, and their evolution over the last ten years shows that besides beat drops and booty music, the city can produce matured, interesting artists too.

Afrobeta
With Telekinetic Walrus, Seizure Machine, and more. 9 p.m., Saturday, November 14 at Propaganda, 6 S J St, Lake Worth 33460. Tickets cost $10 at the door, $6 advance (email [email protected]). Bring a gift card or canned food donation for the upcoming holiday to receive discounted entry. Visit Facebook for more information.