10 Women From the Gray Area Family You Can't Miss During Miami Music Week

As Women’s History Month continues, we want to feature the distinguished women in dance music who are causing a commotion in the best way possible and inspiring the next generation of female artists. With Miami Music Week just days away, we’ve compiled a list of talented women who are not only part of the Gray Area family but also guaranteed to deliver mind-blowing sets that will get you and your friends moving and grooving. High energy, lethal USBs, and remarkable crowd control are only a few of the myriad things these ladies bring to the table.

1. Chloé Caillet

Chloé is at the top of her game. She never fails to surprise us with her tasteful choices as a selector and her deep house releases. The DJ, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and record label founder of PVBLIC XCESS hit #13 on Beatport with her infamous track, “NYWTF.” Moreover, her 2023 remix of Tensnake’s “Coma Cat,” hit #1 on Beatport’s house chart only three days after the release! If you haven’t seen her yet, you have three opportunities this upcoming week as she will play: Paradise at Factory Town, Pete Tong’s All Gone pool party at Surfcomber on Friday, and at the He.She.They. party at ToeJam Backlot on Sunday.

2. Jenn Getz & Alfie

The leading dynamic female DJ-duo for the underground music scene in Dubai is coming in hot to Miami to bring their funky tech house spice and kinetic style to the 305. It took them a couple of years to establish a career in a male-dominated environment, but persistence and a grind helped them succeed. Jenn Getz & Alfie’s song “Let’s Rave,” released via Toolroom topped several charts including house, melodic house & techno, progressive house, and was #2 in the top 100 releases on Beatport. You can catch the UK natives at Toolroom’s party on Sunday at the National Hotel.

3. Arielle Free

In January 2022, we spoke with Arielle Free, and she emphasized her admiration and gratitude for powerful women in the music scene. She is a bright light for the next generation of females in dance music. Her leadership qualities have made her one of the leading presenters on BBC Radio 1. “Release I Need” was her latest release that we needed - no pun intended. Get your most excellent pair of shades and dancing shoes because she’ll be spinning at the Defected Record Pool Party on Thursday at the Sagamore Pool.

4. Hannah Wants

Also at the Defected Pool Party on Thursday is DJ, producer, and label boss of Etiquette Records, Hannah Wants. Before music, Wants was a striker for a women’s national football team for close to a decade. After hanging up her cleats, she decided she would strike the ears of dance music lovers. Her dynamic range of rhythms and basslines has raked in close to 600,000 monthly Spotify listeners, 46 charted Beatport tracks, and close to two million track list views via 1001 Tracklists. What Hannah wants, Hannah gets.

5. Layla Benitez

It shouldn’t be surprising to hear this name playing at a massive event like Paradise on Friday. Layla Benitez has long been a staple in the techno, melodic, and deep house world. Not only has she turned heads with her flavorful style in fashion and stage presence, but she is also making a splash with her unique soundscaping sets, and releases. In 2022 she teamed up with Max Milner, for “Fizzy Pop,” via All Day I Dream. The two busted Beatport’s charts, holding the #1 spot in organic house and #2 in overall top 100 releases.

6. Natalia Roth

Space resident Natalia Roth will unleash her minimal house and techno demons at Music On at Factory Town on Thursday. Miami heads are in for a treat as the emerging DJ, producer, and vocalist always deliver a memorable set enriched with textured grooves and stimulating transitions. In addition to being a fierce redhead, she is also a guitarist and pianist and a writer of songs and poems. The world is Natalia’s oyster.

7. Maya Jane Coles

Excelling in every aspect of creativity and music, Maya Jane Coles does it all. A prime example of having a boundless attitude toward her art, Coles has been streamed on Soundcloud nearly 27 million times, featured on over three thousand DJ charts on Beatport, and acquired over 500 thousand Spotify monthly listeners. Her impressive skill set encompassing engineering, producing, and mixing led her to release her debut album, Comfort, via her record label I/AM/Me. Her UK bass alter-ego Nocturnal Sunshine, also does very well, as she swept into over 400,000 playlists on Spotify, and has been streamed over one million times via SoundCloud. Immerse yourself into Maya Jane Cole’s world at the He.She.They. party at ToeJam Backlot on Sunday.

8. Miane

Miane was born in Spain and made for superstardom. Many celebrated labels have released her music, including Black Book, Saved, Knee Deep in Sound, REALM, Rawthentic, and Moon Harbour. Being nominated by DJ Mag in 2012 for best tech-house artist of the year means you consistently serve the music industry with knockout bangers. There is no doubt Miane does as her music has appeared in over 800 DJ charts on Beatport. Even her latest release, “All The Night,” reached the top 15 in techno. Miane’s diversity in sound is worth checking out at the Black Book party on Friday at Oasis Wynwood.

9. Kaleena Zanders

For a month dedicated to women and their incredible talents, it is appropriate to celebrate a woman who has been steady slaying since elementary school. Kaleena Zanders is the definition of zealous and a master at her art. The queer icon lent her angelic vocals to the 2018 Winter Olympics and SNBRN’s 2016 summer hit track “California,” which Chris Lake and Matroda remixed and skyrocketed to #1 on the house music charts. Kaleena’s charisma is undoubtedly honorable, and her sound is pure magic. Her latest, “Vibration” with Shift K3Y, is #4 on Beatport’s Hype: Mainstage chart. Check her out at Thursday’s Heldeep pool party at the Nautilus Hotel.

10. Melanie Ribbe

One of Germany’s born and Jamaica’s finest, Melanie Ribbe, is scheduled to send listeners into a lovesome groove with her magnetic performance and electrifying energy at Drumcode’s party on Thursday at M2. Her music (and her eyes) pierce through your soul. A model and a London Academy Music production graduate, Ribbe has had an epic amount of success over the years, releasing on prominent imprints such as Drumcode, Saved, Toolroom, Moon Harbour, Rawsome, TBX Limited, Woodland, and more. After lending her name to so many label’s releases, she decided to start her own. In 2020, she launched Agape Muzik, an underground imprint that kickstarted in Brazil but was derived from her German roots. Additionally, she founded her event series Unlocked, a home for underground parties. Miss Melanie is killing the game!