A Night to Remember with Escala Sonora
I got to the Miami Beach Bandshell on Wednesday, October 4th with the sun still shining, excited for the Escala Sonora musical showcase. They promised a night filled with the sounds of the Caribbean, and without question delivered a memorable experience. The folks at Mishu Music clearly have their pulse on the emerging Latin talent coming out of the islands, and I’m excited to watch them continue to develop here in Miami and beyond.
Letón Pé, the rising Dominican singer-songwriter, took the stage shortly after I arrived, and admittedly there was a light crowd because of the show starting early. Letón performed with enough energy to keep everyone engaged and entertained in spite of the sun beating down on us. Her origins in the world of musical theater were fully evident in the way she commanded the stage. She made some cracks in Spanish about the heat and resulting sweat factor, which only served to endear the crowd to her more.
Next up came RaiNao, who’s loyal fans turned out just for her and helped fill in the steadily growing crowd. Her set was energetic and fun, everything from her wardrobe to the way she interacted with fans in the crowd showing her aptitude for the art of performing. It was a treat to see her pick up the saxophone a few times throughout the set and play it well.
With the sky finally getting dark by the time YEИDRY came to the stage, the venue finally felt filled out, and she brought her unique blend of Latin percussions and European electronic elements to the show. Her hauntingly beautiful songs, like “Nena,” had the crowd enthralled, and others like “KI-KI” brought the energy back up before they got too low. There were some touching moments with people in the crowd as she sat on the edge of the stage to sing at one point.
Rafa Pabön, a multi-talented artist from Puerto Rico, was next in line. His ability to seamlessly blend urban rhythms with Latin genres like rumba, salsa, and cumbia was impressive. There was a slight hiccup as he extended his set beyond the scheduled time, in the end requiring the AV crew’s intervention. While the performance was well-received, it was a reminder that managing set times effectively is crucial. Especially at a venue like the bandshell where there is a hard end time because of noise ordinances in the neighborhood.
Headliner Villano Antillano, the Puerto Rican sensation, closed the night with a bang. She kept the energy up and her unique perspective and abilities were evident in her reinvention of reggaeton. The crowd couldn’t help but sing along, creating a strong connection between the artist and her fans.
Despite the great performances, I did notice a lull between sets, leaving the audience searching for entertainment during transitions. This could be an area for improvement in future editions. Overall, Escala Sonora delivered an enjoyable night of Latin music with Caribbean vibes. The diverse range of artists showcased their unique talents, creating moments that will keep fans coming back for more. If they continue to bring in top notch talent and curate engaging musical lineups like this one, Escala Sonora should continue to be a beloved showcase of Latin music in Miami.
You can check out their next event featuring Paco Versailles at Zey Zey this Saturday November 4th: Tickets