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In the Mix: DJ Mario Clavasquin Talks Growth, Sound & Spirit

Written & Published by Angie LaGuardia Interview conducted by Imani Ogden DJ Mario Clavasquin has become a heartbeat of Miami’s Latin electronic scene—where every set is a celebration and every beat carries soul. A proud Venezuelan native with deep roots in Doral and Wynwood, Mario brings an unmistakable blend of Afro-Latin house and cultural authenticity to Miami Music Week. His presence behind the decks isn’t just electrifying—it’s intentional. With nearly a decade in the game, Mario spins to inspire, to connect, and to amplify the pulse of his people. “Music is movement. It’s joy. It’s how I connect with people—even if we don’t speak the same language, the rhythm always finds a way.” — DJ Mario Clavasquin GROWTH & CREATIVE PROCESS For DJ Mario Clavasquin, the journey has been one of intentional evolution. “I used to think it was all about playing what people wanted to hear,” he shares, “but over time, I realized the power of curating an experience.” Mario now spends countless hours digging through tracks, producing his own music, and blending Latin percussion with deep house and electronic textures. “Every time I play, I want it to feel like a spiritual experience — like you’re not just dancing, you’re feeling something.” His process is guided by both discipline and heart — a dedication to the craft that’s as technical as it is emotional. CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY & CULTURE For Mario, music has never existed in a vacuum — it’s always been about people. He speaks with passion about the responsibility DJs carry: “We set the tone, the energy. It’s more than a playlist — it’s a conversation with the crowd.” Raised between Venezuela and Miami, Mario’s sets are layered with cultural meaning. “In Miami, you feel this pulse — this mix of sounds, languages, and roots — and I try to bring that into every show,” he explains. Whether he’s spinning for packed nightclubs or local charity events, Mario remains deeply grounded in his community. For him, every performance is an offering — a chance to give back, uplift, and celebrate Miami’s multicultural spirit. THE HEARTBEAT OF MIAMI “Miami will always be home base,” Mario says. “It’s where I learned, where I grew, and where I keep finding new reasons to love the craft.” As Miami Music Week continues to evolve, so does Mario — blending the traditions of his past with the innovations of today. His story isn’t just about sound, it’s about spirit: staying rooted, staying humble, and letting the music speak for itself. For those watching Mario from the dance floor, it’s clear — this is more than a set. It’s a celebration of identity, rhythm, and the power of bringing people together through music. “Music is how we connect, how we move, and how we remember.” Words by Angie LaGuardia  |  Interview conducted by Imani Ogden This feature is part of our Miami Music Week series, spotlighting the artists shaping the rhythm and legacy of the city’s ever-evolving sound. 🎧 Listen to his latest mixes on @djmarioclavasquin on Spotify.

Arts, MSM Online, MSM Spotlight

The ART of Sydney Maubert

Sydney Maubert sports an impressive resume and is gifted with creative talent. She is a MArch II graduate student at Yale’s School of Architecture class of 2022. She just completed her BArch at the University of Miami’s five year program and is also the owner of Sydney R. Maubert LLC, art under which she’s completed two murals in Wynwood. She hopes to use her educational, professional and personal experiences, in practice and pedagogy to design equitable spaces for marginalized students and users.  How did you get involved in the world of art?   I got involved in art through my parents who really supported my interests in art by buying me all the paper, canvases and brushes as a kid. My Dad especially fostered my interest in art by giving me lessons through his own talent and the books he bought me. I think my skills were refined in architecture school at the University of Miami.    What art do you most identify with?   I’m not sure which genre I’d be in. I am a portrait artist, an Afro-latin artist. I use acrylic paint to convey personality and emotion, and it’s clear that I have an interest in identity and exploitation through my own lens and identity. It’s an expression of myself more than mimicking a particular style or person. I have a loose classical background from architecture school but my style is constantly changing as a result of me being self taught. I mostly look at people I know for inspiration, mainly writers and professors, like Cornel West or Angela Davis.    Professionally, what’s your goal?  I want to be an architect, an educator and an artist. In all my work, whatever artistic media, I have always been fascinated by humanity’s changing forms. I hope that I can use the education and opportunities I receive to open doors for other students, and potentially remain a student for the rest of my life. It’s why I invested in additional education at Yale. I’d love to see myself as dean of one of my alums one day. I hope my art continues to be shown in public venues. I’m trying to create a legacy for my students and children.  Your mural at Syndicate Kava Bar… Why did you create this particular art media?  I really enjoyed this mural project because I enjoy painting at larger scales. It allows me to play with form, color and lighting more playfully than the challenge of a smaller surface. Given that it was my second mural with them, I began to grow my confidence and have kind of a first taste of being public. I do sell paintings to friends or anyone who finds me online, but I haven’t been publicly shown in the way that an outdoor mural warrants. Murals are my favorite and I hope to do more. As for the three music artists represented, the owner really loves music, and I tried to accommodate both of our music genres.  How does your art stand out from other art from today?   I think that the wonderful thing about artistic expression is that it captures the intangible in a comprehensible way. Even though two people might look at my paintings or designs and notice different things, they might interpret my soul or the subject’s humanity in a way that sometimes the banality of life doesn’t allow. It allows suffering to speak in a beautiful way. I don’t know if that translates in a simple portrait but it’s what I feel especially when my paintings are more charged, more of a conversation piece.    What do you love about Miami’s art scene?    I love Miami for its culture, honesty, charm and vulnerabilities. I didn’t really feel like an artist until I started to notice Miami in its full richness, its culture, wealth and poverty, the beautiful and the inequitable. I visit Wynwood a lot to learn from what other artists are doing or saying. Being Cuban and Haitian, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the food, music, art, architecture, the vibrance of the Caribbean, and its people. I have a deep love for people, but especially my heritage, so Miami allowed me to relish in both cultures. A lot of my curiosity and passion revolves around people, art, architecture and education which all revolve around capturing and analyzing the human mind, body and spirit.  To learn more about Sydney and her work, visit her website at www.sydneyrmaubert.com Follow Sidney on Instagram @sydneymaubertarc  

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