Miami Horror: The Australian Electronic Indie Pop Architects

Miami Horror is an Australian electronic music project masterminded by producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Benjamin Plant. Hailing from Melbourne, the act achieved significant international recognition with their debut album "Illumination," which charted in Australia and spawned several indie dance anthems that defined the late 2000s synth-pop revival.

Early career

Miami Horror began in 2007 as the solo studio endeavor of Benjamin Plant. The project's name was inspired by a fascination with 1980s Miami and its associated aesthetics, blending them with French house and indie disco influences. Plant's early demos and remixes for artists like Datarock and Yeah Yeah Yeahs quickly garnered attention, leading to a signing with the influential Australian dance label EMI Music Australia in 2008.

Breakthrough

The project's breakthrough arrived in 2010 with the release of the debut album "Illumination." This meticulously crafted record, which featured collaborations with vocalists like Kimbra and Alan Palomo of Neon Indian, peaked at number 21 on the Australian Albums Chart. Its lead single, "Sometimes," became a staple on alternative radio and in clubs, solidifying Miami Horror's signature sound of sun-drenched synths and funky basslines.

Key tracks

Sometimes — This breakthrough single from "Illumination" is a quintessential indie dance track that propelled the band to international festival circuits.

I Look to You — Featuring Kimbra, this song showcased the project's knack for sophisticated pop songwriting within an electronic framework.

Real Slow — A collaboration with Sarah Chernoff, this single from the 2015 album "All Possible Futures" highlighted a refined, disco-inflected evolution in their production.

Leila — An earlier fan-favorite single that perfectly encapsulates the project's initial blend of French touch and psychedelic pop elements.

Following their debut success, Miami Horror evolved into a full live band for touring, with Plant remaining the creative core. The sophomore album "All Possible Futures" arrived in 2015, exploring more nuanced disco and funk territories. A shift toward a more collaborative and organic process defined their third studio album, "The Shapes," in 2021, which featured a wide array of guest vocalists and live instrumentation, demonstrating the project's continual growth beyond its electronic foundations.

Fans of Miami Horror's blend of shimmering synth-pop and indie dance rhythms should also explore other innovative Australian acts. Empire Of The Sun shares a flair for grand, theatrical pop and lush electronic landscapes. The Presets offers a darker, more aggressive take on Australian dance-rock and electro-house. Cut Copy operates in a similar space of expertly crafted indie electronic anthems rooted in Melbourne's vibrant scene. RÜFÜS Du Sol delivers a more deep-house oriented but equally atmospheric and melodic style of Australian electronic music.

The vibrant, retro-futuristic sound of Miami Horror finds a natural home on the eclectic playlists of modern alternative and indie electronic radio stations. Their tracks are frequently featured on online radio streams dedicated to new wave revival and dance-oriented indie pop, providing the perfect upbeat soundtrack for listeners worldwide.

You can experience the infectious grooves and sunny synth textures of Miami Horror by tuning into the radio stations featured on our website. Explore the diverse selection of electronic and indie music stations available on onairium.com to discover their key tracks and latest releases.