Miami Beach, FL – January 17, 2017 – Merging their love of music with the city’s diverse culinary palate, Poplife will be bringing the first ever FM Festival to the sands of Miami Beach. The community driven two-day celebration will take place on January 28th and 29th right on the beach adjacent to the North Beach Bandshell. FM Festival will bring the best of locally-sourced culinary delights alongside a roster that commingles indie-rock, electronic music, international acts and hip hop all under one beautiful sky. FM Festival has partnered with Miami’s favorite restaurants, chefs, neighborhood bars, bartenders to create the  Culinary & Cocktail Village. FM Festival is set to showcase the eclectic mix of flavors Miami has to offer, elevating the typical festival culinary and cocktail experience.

World Red Eye caught up with the two masterminds behind Poplife and the FM Festival, Jake Jefferson and Aramis Lorie, who give us an insight into how they chose their headlining acts and what goes into creating such a memorable experience.

WRE: How did you get involved in the music industry?

JJ: I’ve always gravitated towards everything music related. I started off producing music in a rap group and then it was kind of a whirl wind from there.

WRE: What influenced you to start FM Festival?

JJ: This has been something we have been discussing for a long time, never really wanted to force it though. We really wanted the perfect storm to come together and I think food and music were the right ingredients to bring it all together.

AL: This is something that Jake and I threw around for years and we thought that the timing now was right since the cocktail and food scene in Miami is really taking shape. We co-mingled this with our passion for music and FM Festival was created.

The driving force behind FM Festival was really to create a platform that Miami could come together and celebrate the best it has to offer in food music and cocktails.

Jake Jefferson, co-founder of FM Festival

WRE: What were the biggest challenges you faced when creating FM Festival?

JJ: Not sleeping.

WRE: Is there a specific musician that has influenced your career path and that inspired you do get involved in the music industry?

JJ: I think Prefuse 73 had a huge impact on my career. Back when I was just a kid making beats he took me on my first U.S. tour which really opened my eyes to all facets of the business: touring life, clubs in different markets, etc. I came back really inspired.

WRE: What are some of your inspirations that went behind this years FM Festival? How did that influence your decision on the artists that will perform at the venue?

JJ: The driving force behind FM Festival was really to create a platform that Miami could come together and celebrate the best it has to offer in food, music and cocktails. We wanted to keep the lineup as diverse and the food and drink programs at the festival, which is why we went with a multi genre music lineup and plan to keep diversifying that in years to come.

AL: We were reminiscing about all the great shows Poplife did at Grand Central and how diverse the programming was and this inspired the line-up. Hot Chip, Bomba Estéreo, Los Amigos Invisible and all of the acts performing we’ve worked with before.

This is something that Jake and I threw around for years and we thought that the timing now was right since the cocktail and food scene in Miami is really taking shape. We co-mingled this with our passion for music and FM Festival was created.

Aramis Lorie, Co-Founder of FM Festival

WRE: Can you tell us a bit about what goes into developing a music festival?

JJ: Lots of work and little sleep.

AL: First, as most things one has to conceptualize a clear message that will be understood by people in your local community. Everything else is a lot of calls, emails and favors.

WRE: What are some of the obstacles you’ve had to face throughout your career?

AL: Deciding on which bars and restaurants to work with. We’re blessed that Miami’s culinary and cocktail culture is really expanding.

WRE: What is the biggest risk you took in your career? How do you think that made you into the influencer you are today?

JJ: I think every move in the business we are in involves risk. There is not many safety nets in the concert and events game, so it’s definitely helped me grow a thick skin and adapt to a variety of different situations.

WRE: How has your previous work helped you prepare for this music festival?

AL: Poplife has been producing concerts, parties and all sorts of activations for private and corporate clients. This definitely helps in understanding logistics, sourcing and event development in general.

WRE: In what ways do you believe that you have contributed to the music industry?

JJ: I think Poplife since its inception 18 years ago has always helped bring music to a Miami audience that has at times felt somewhat neglected. In the beginning it was all about convincing band to make the trek down to South Florida, which usually required heavy deviation from their typical tour routes. Now, its about investing in a lot of new talent and putting on shows that help contribute to the growing music scene Miami has cultivated.

WRE: Were you inspired from other music festivals and if so which ones really touched you and stood out to you? Did you use your past festival experiences to successfully create FM Festival?

JJ: Always taking inspiration from different all kind of events and experiences around us. Some notable festivals have been Sonar and Primavera in Barcelona, Lollapalooza in Chicago, Day for Night in Houston, Sweetlife in Maryland, and the list goes on.

WRE: What would you say gives you the most gratification from hosting this fantastic celebration of music?

JJ: The most gratifying moment is when you get a free minute to walk the grounds and live in the event for a minute. In that one minute all the hard work makes sense.

WRE: Was there a specific music genre you were trying to stick to when planning FM Festival?

JJ: I tried to really keep this years festival divers in the musical genre.

WRE: What would you say is your favorite part of a music festival experience? Do you have a specific situation that has occurred to you?

JJ: The moment a band takes a stage and the reaction from the audience. There’s nothing better in the world than seeing people truly having a great time.