3 weeks ago
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Miami-based duo Vampire Sex shares insights into life on the road, their recent acclaim among significant artists, and their vision for the future of dance music.
South Florida has been filled to the brim with plenty of artists making waves in the house scene, and Vampire Sex has begun carving out quite a niche for themselves. Their genre-bending nature has seen them deliver tunes ranging from tech house and deep house to pop and hip-hop, leading to releases on labels including House of Huemans, Nervous Records, Papa Black Records, and more.
A year and a half after their debut EP Love at First Bite, the Miami-based duo celebrated its success by paying homage to the standout track, “Disco Party Baby.” They looked to talented artists in the scene like Eskuche, Galo, Tres Mortimer, and more to put their spin on the tech house heater last month in a collection of remixes, all of which are well worth the listen.
With their rising popularity among music heavyweights like Adam Ten, PAWSA, and Jamie Jones, the Colombian-born artists sat down with us to get spooky this Halloween. We caught up with them to chat about life on the road, their recent acclaim, and their vision for the future of dance music. showcasing an exclusive mix of all Vampire Sex originals and unreleased IDs.
Stream EDMID Guest Mix 443 || Vampire Sex on SoundCloud:
Hey Vampire Sex, thanks for chatting with us! You’ve got some exciting new releases on the horizon, and we’re eager to hear more about them and your brand. Let’s dive right in! From Miami to Denver to San Diego, you’ve been on the road a lot lately, playing exciting shows. What’s the travel experience been like for you both? And what has it revealed to you about the current state of dance music and its recent trends?
It’s not what it looks like. It’s a lot of fun but not all fun and games. You have to be dialed in and focused, you can’t miss flights, and you can’t go to every afterparty and get messed up. Everything is kind of romanticized or over-embellished; trying to keep a relationship is hard as hell on the road.
As for the state of dance music, I’ll tell you what—it seems like it’s getting better. It’s crazy to think that some of these small (and large) cities we’ve been playing in know the music. They know artists like Prunk, SOSA, m.O.N.R.O.E., Damelo, and so many other underground artists. When we go to other cities, the people there talk about artists we know, and not just dubstep; it shows that dance music is developing.
You’ve gained recognition from major players like The Martinez Brothers and Dennis Cruz. How does it feel to have this level of support, and what impact has it had on your career so far?
Oh yeah, that changed everything, and it feels validating as hell. Those are idols in our eyes, and to see them playing our music on the biggest stages in the world is wild. What’s even crazier is that they play it so much that people ask us if we are signed to them. Even more surprising is how many people know our track and send us their own personal videos of these major artists playing it. Like, they recognize the track on their own in the crowd all over the world.
Miami’s vibrant Latin culture clearly influences your music. How intentional are you about incorporating Latin elements into your production, and in what ways does Miami’s culture shape that creative direction?
I think it’s just in our blood; we don’t even do it on purpose. We’re both Colombian, and the vibe in Miami is Hispanic, so I guess it just blends in naturally.
Let’s talk about the upcoming Disco Party Baby remix pack. What can listeners expect from these remixes, and how did you approach creating them?
Well, we made the original kind of short on purpose, and then we were hit up by so many respected producers asking for the extended mix so they could play it, but we didn’t even have that. So we made it, and that led to the remixes. A bunch of artists really loved it and kept telling us, like Eskuche, for example. So we gave them the STEMS. Many other artists told us the track was perfect as it was, and they didn’t want to touch it. That was cool to hear, and we heard that a lot. The remix pack has a good variety of sounds; we kept to the minimal vibe, but some remixes are definitely more clubby/ravey. We are excited to see what gets played out in the clubs the most.
Do you have pre-studio rituals that help you get into the creative flow?
We are in the studio all the time; we practically live there. Sometimes, we’ll be vibing for hours before we even start the track because the vibe just isn’t there. Sometimes, Reef will be playing Call of Duty, or I’ll be playing FIFA or watching movies, and then we get a sample in our heads or whatever. It could be something as serious as a gangster movie or a lighthearted kids’ movie.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you, and how does that aspect of who you are find its way into your music?
Well, NICCO actually doesn’t mess with vampires at all, and Reef uses Fruity Loops. [Laughs]
I was lucky enough to catch your set in San Diego, and I have to say, your on-stage energy is extremely entertaining. You two seem to enjoy bringing the audience a fun, lighthearted vibe. How would you describe your on-stage dynamic for those who haven’t seen you live, and how does that dynamic translate to the music you produce?
We are just very in the moment. We’re just trying to have fun up there ourselves, too. When we have these big shows, and we can see that there’s clearly a group of people who came for us and know the tracks, that’s the best. That gets us going. We love meeting new people and contributing to showing them new music—that’s a big part for us. That’s why most of our sets are all originals or unreleased. When we connect with people at the shows, it helps us get a sense of what they are going to like.
Looking ahead to 2025, what are some of your goals for Vampire Sex? Can you share any upcoming collaborations or projects we should be watching out for?
We have a recording coming out on CUFF and also a remix for Shermanology on their label D’eaupa before the end of the year. And, of course, the Disco Party Baby remixes. We also have a secret collab project we are going to launch with one of our favorite producers and friends. Keep an eye out for some major records coming out with the homie Damelo and many more.
Finally, in your opinion, what’s missing from the world of dance music right now? How do you hope to fill that gap with your unique sound and energy?
More originals, less remixes. More producers, fewer DJs. Everything sounds the same; everyone uses the same loops and samples. Picasso said it: good artists copy, great artists steal. By that, we mean everything’s already been done. Even though you stick to yourself and do what you do, it’s going to be original, but it’s already been done. Just throw your flavor into the mix and trust that that’s enough to get the attention of the people who want to hear that. Everyone’s waiting to hear something they just don’t know yet.
English (US) · 