I Flew to Miami for Three Reasons: to Eat Cubanos, to Drink Piña Coladas, and to See JMSN Live
April 25, 2025 | Alberto Aliaga
I couldn't resist the chance to escape the end of winter in Colorado and head to Miami, where cold weather feels like a myth. JMSN - the immensely talented, largely indefinable vocalist, songwriter, and instrumentalist - was slated to perform at ZeyZey. The indoor-outdoor venue incorporates a sprawling array of music stylings, local cuisine, and a quintessential Miami cocktail menu. Inside, there’s a cozy vinyl listening room, while the main stage sits outdoors, shaded by a sprawling Banyan and surrounded by palm trees. The thought of all those tropical elements harmonizing around JMSN’s sweet and sultry melodies inspired the urge to book an early flight. Despite running on nearly no sleep on Saturday night, the excitement of returning to Miami and diving head first into its “sleep when you’re dead” mentality kept me going.
Arriving just a couple of hours before showtime, I made a pit stop at La Carreta for a quick cafecito and a Cubano. It was a nostalgic recharge, dipping buttered Cuban bread into my coffee. After dropping my bags at the place I’d be staying for the next 42 hours, I slipped on a white linen shirt - the quintessential Miami uniform - and made my way just outside Little Haiti to ZeyZey.
A venue with a proper menu, I grabbed a couple street tacos to pair with a Piña Colada and a shot of tequila for a little extra fuel. Although I was a couple miles from the beach, my first sip and an ocean breeze transported my soul straight to the sand. The crowd was sparse for a while as I headed to the front of the stage to secure a prime spot for the show. In true Miami fashion, everyone flooded in just minutes before it actually began. What was once a clear path to the bar was now a sea of concertgoers filling the space, ready for JMSN, who himself was fashionably late. That only gave the crowd more time to enjoy drinks and get settled into the space. Just like JMSN and the music he makes, the setting was intimate, sexy, and just a little gritty.
JMSN crafts his own brand of R&B and Neo-Soul, seamlessly blending influences from all over the 70’s, 80’s and '90s; from all across punk rock, gospel, and hip-hop. His sound is intimate, timeless, and soaked in emotion. From the introspective depth of Drinkin’ to the funk-fueled Inferno, and the Sunday Service Soul of Love Me, his music traverses every musical corner and stirs every human emotion. With sultry vocals that glide effortlessly over any stylistic space he chooses, JMSN’s true magic is how his messages are projected onto the listener.
Seeing JMSN perform live is an experience all its own. His stage presence radiates raw emotion, embodying the “Dance like no one is watching” mantra. He moves as if lost in his own world, and plays the guitar as if it’s his final time. His ability to captivate an audience is unmatched, whether through playful crowd interactions, his effortlessly smooth vocals, or simply surrendering to the music and letting it speak for itself.
Backed by a trio of bass, drums, and his own guitar, JMSN and his band played like men possessed. They tear through tracks like Cherry Pop, where punk rock energy explodes with wailing guitars and pounding drums. They seamlessly shift into the down-tempo funk and Neo-Soul feel of 2 High. He highlights fan favorites from his latest project, Soft Spot, while ensuring that staples from his entire discography also make an appearance. No matter the song, the band brings the heat to the stage. It could have been unseasonably cold in Miami, and the crowd still would have been hot and heavy, moving in sync with the music.
JMSN’s passion for his art speaks for itself. His voice, his playing, his presence all beam with authenticity. And it’s that authenticity and unapologetic individuality that continues to grant him such a cult following. At shows – particularly the one at ZeyZey where the surroundings feel designed custom for a JMSN show – the audience feeds off his energy, singing every lyric back to him, creating an atmosphere that feels as much like a shared experience as a performance. Whether in the studio or on stage, he never fails to bring a listener deeper into their emotional responses to music. He contains that rare ability to sound like a raw talent that has yet polished his signature over years of dedication, creative evolution, and an unwavering adherence to his title as an independent artist. So, if you ever see his name on a venue’s calendar – especially if that venue takes you on a journey somewhere either new or nostalgic – take the opportunity. You just might find your new favorite artist, both in the studio and on stage.
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