Hot and humid nights have been plaguing Miami, but amidst this broiling crockpot of alcohol, clubbing, and partying twinkles a gleaming band onto the local music scene: Awktober.
Described by Miami New Times as a fusion between “pop-sensibility and Afro-Caribbean swing”, the alternative jazz band Awktober has been busy serenading Miamians.
You might have heard angelic vocals and a groovy bass/drum combo simmer the evening in venues like ZeyZey, Las Rosas, or Lincoln’s Beard, but let’s go beyond a superficial listening and really sit down to chat with the voice behind the band.
Joining us and representing Awktober is frontwoman Vix, who so kindly, along with her director Jorge, were able to give us a few minutes of their time to chat it up.
Hi Vix, we’re so grateful for your time and for you coming here, can you please tell us a bit about your band?
“My name is Vix, I’m part of Awktober. I’m still figuring out if Awktober is me or if Awktober is us. But, I have myself on vocals, and then we have Mario Lemus on Bass and Derek on Drums. We used to have our guitarist Tristan Cata, but he has sailed away to LA to go follow his dreams over there; so we are guitarless, but nonetheless, we are complete.”
From what I understood, you were originally from Atlanta, Georgia right? With the band?
“No, so, I am originally from Utah, I moved to Miami in ‘08. I started out as a solo artist, I was under the name ‘Vix’, but then Vix became so many other things. I became
‘Awktober’ last year. I killed Vix off essentially; I did a goodbye death-to-Vix show, at Las Rosas, actually. I was reborn as Awktober, which was supposed to be a solo project, but I did record my EP in Atlanta.”
And that EP was “Vicious Cycles” correct?
“Vicious Cycles, correct.”
How was the recording process for that?
“Ooh, It was vicious, it was vicious–just cause it was my first time having to, like, direct producers and direct a band. And I am not very seasoned in…I mean now I can say I am but at the time I wasn’t very seasoned in directing. Just cause, I think I was afraid of terminology, because I didn’t really pass any of my music classes. I dropped out of college and whatnot to go full throttle on this. It was a little scary to go up there and work with friends–but professional friends and people I look up to and respect in the industry, so having to direct them and tell them what the hell I was thinking which no one can ever decipher, not even myself, was an adventure of its own, but it was a great, amazing time.”
The first single of that was “Didn’t Know”, correct? Can you tell me a little bit more about “Didn’t Know”–how did it start?
“‘Didn’t Know’ is actually the first song I ever wrote. I wrote that song back in like 2016. I had just got out of a very long, toxic relationship from high school; it was my high school boyfriend. As soon as that really ended, I was on the rebound, as one does. I just didn’t care about anybody’s feelings. That’s what that song kinda talks about. It’s just really saying: ‘What a shame. You got comfortable with me, you got attached to me in some way and I don’t feel that way, so, sorry’. And I uh, skinned that man alive, and left that man with nothing.”
Another one of your sessions, I believe it was called the El Cuartito session which you did in October of last year right?
“El Cuartito actually happened in January of 2024, but I did another session with them in September of 2024, if I’m not mistaken.”
How was that?
“It was so fun, it was so fun! That was another very challenging time. They hit me up. They wanted a song that we could cover with a different flavor. Naturally, I gravitate to jazz. I chose an Esther Philip song called ‘Wish You Love’. I don’t think it’s by her but it was her version that I shopped to them. I had never worked with them before. I had known Nemo; I knew about Nemo but I had never worked with Nemo and the Cuartito boys in general. Again, having to walk in there and be a little uncomfortable because it wasn’t my usual ban. And my usual band [are] the people that would say ‘this is the key you’re singing in, this is the tempo’…so I kinda had to get there and figure it out. Although [El Cuartito] were so, so helpful and amazing. It was another challenge on its own but it was beautiful and I learned a lot in that session.”
Let’s talk a little bit more about presentation. I’ve seen your instagram; you have a lot of fabulous outfits. How much does aesthetics play into your performance?
“Ooh, I think it’s one of the most important parts of my performance. I don’t want to get into star signs here, but I’ve heard libras are all about aesthetics, and I am a libra, so I think it’s naturally embedded in me. I, myself, am a very visual person…I’m not textbook smart is what I’d like to say; like if you show me something I’m going to know what you’re talking about more [than] if you read it to me or if I listen to it. So, that is another way I can express myself; [it’s] through my outfits, through my set design. I always like to dress according to my mood or dress according to who I would like to be at the end of the day–how I would like to finish my day. So to answer your question, it’s probably the most essential part, besides the music.”
Let’s take a little step back into your evolution into the person you are today. How did you get into aesthetics, fashion, make up, music, jazz and all that?
“Music, I think I was born into. It’s not that I have family that are musicians per se; actually, I don’t have any family members that are musicians, I think I’m the only one. Now I have cousins who dance and act and are more the theatre part of things. But, I started performing when I was four. That’s when I started singing. That’s when I can remember when I would put on shows for my family during the holidays. I would force them to watch me sing, read poems, act, do a dance–like whatever, I just needed to perform. That’s how that started. Then, I gravitated a lot towards Britney Spears. She inspired a lot of [how] maybe I present myself. She was beautiful, carefree…and then Christina Aguilera who was just more like ‘fuck you’ to the industry, and I was really, really brought in by that. I want to say that’s the root of it all but my dad introduced me to Queen…Freddie Mercury was all about his aesthetics and his outfits. I think I’ve just always gravitated to visual artists, people with an ‘aesthetic’; I think that’s where it really comes from.
“Christina Aguilera and Freddie Mercury are the ones that introduced me to jazz. She had an album called ‘Back to Basics’…I started finding out more about Billy Holiday, Sara Vaughan–through her, Ella Fitzgerald, then, I fell into Amy Winehouse, who is one of my biggest inspirations. Then, she introduced me to more jazz. Then, I had a former boyfriend who introduced me to even more jazz. It’s just that jazz has been brought into my life little by little and that’s how I got into that.”
Atlanta V.S Miami, how would you describe that? Both the good and the bad?
“That’s tough! I feel like both cities are very rich in culture. Atlanta has r&b, it has jazz, it has hip-hop. I think Atlanta has just more variety when it comes to music genres. I think Miami also has that, but I think because Atlanta has always been such a hub; so many artists are from there and so many productions happen there, I think naturally it just has more variety in that sense.
“Miami just has more variety in the Latin market, I would say. But I have seen within the years, more punk, more jazz. Jazz has always been very present in Miami. I’ve seen a lot, I’ve seen a lot here… The way I’d like to [compare it is]: in Miami, in general, the culture really isn’t ‘what are you doing this weekend? I’m going to go catch a band.’ In Atlanta, at least the short time I was there, that was something that was on people’s calendars— just going out to check out a band. People were just more interested in music. And here too, but it’s a very hard comparison. I don’t have anything bad to say about either city. I wish there was more of [musical interest] in Miami, but I think we’re doing a great job honestly.”
Do you remain optimistic for Miami’s music scene?
“Oh my god, yes! There’s so much talent here. Everytime I see a new band I’m like ‘oh, shit, yeah!’. I think the problem here is that–I don’t know if it’s a problem, I think, it’s a universal thing; once we feel like we’ve reached a certain ceiling, we tend to stop instead of grabbing an axe or drilling a hole through that ceiling and going past it. The sky is the limit. I think sometimes Miami seems a little discouraged by that ceiling, but I think people will break through it for sure.”
You mentioned earlier that Miami has a large Latino market. Before this recording, we were talking about Spanish. Do you think you’d ever involve your Spanish speaking abilities into your music?
“Oh my god I would love to. I’m a huge fan of boleros. Like boleros are my bread and butter. I wish, and I would love to, but because Spanish is my second language–I want to say I’m fluent in it, but I don’t know if my [writing] abilities in Spanish are there. But, a hundred percent, I would love that. And I think that’s something that has been requested of me for more than like five or six years now, so I think people would love that. It’s a beautiful, profound language that I wish I could do.”
What are some artists you commonly don’t really listen to–but you like to dabble in that isn’t your usual bread and butter?
“Huh, you know lately I was recommended to listen to Charli XCX. And…I’m not into pop, whatever pop is since it’s such a broad term. But, I think she is someone who has caught my attention recently and I get it, I still get it, I understand it. I think another genre [is]…honestly, maybe like trap. I would never do [it], but I’ll listen to it and I get the appeal. I think I see the appeal in a lot of music, there’s just some I guess I don’t gravitate to. I need something with feels.”
Raw emotion?
“Raw emotion, yeah.”
That actually segues perfectly into our next question: 29 days of Awkgust days of music, people, humor, heartbreak, and love. What can you tell me about it?
“I have the worst habit of wanting to start over every time that I can. This is kind of like: me reintroducing myself to me, and reintroducing myself to those who care, and those who follow, and those who would like to be part of something like that. I just kinda have gotten to know myself a little bit better this last year; I want to showcase what I’ve learned, even about myself. There’s been so many people who have shaped me into this version that you are seeing today that I want to show gratitude towards. I want to show that everything that they have ever said to me, I’ve taken a mental note and I’ve applied it to myself now. Because, time is the most important thing I think you can offer, and a lot of people have given me their time, but yeah I think it’s all the pieces that make me me and I really want to put it out there.
I was talking with a few people that I’ve kind of cursed myself with the name Awktober. Because now I feel like every October I have to do something and that makes me feel like how I’ve always felt in my life, that I’ve just always waited for my turn to be able to shine or put myself out there. And I was like ‘no fuck that, I’m also going to do ‘Awkgust’ and put myself out there then. And that can be the pregame, that’s the pregame for October! Because then, in October, I’m coming in, I’m coming in hot!”
We’ll return to ‘Awkgust’ in just a little bit, but to follow up when you were talking about the people who uplift you, let’s talk about your creative circle the people who uplift Awktober: your nail tech, the hair, the photography, the directorship–let’s go on?
“Oh my god, there’s so many people. We’ll start with someone who is here right now: Jorge. Jorge has been someone who really pushes me to not stop. He also pushes me to get to know myself a little deeper, that’s something I struggle with. I’m an avoidant, I am– putting it out there. He is more in tune with his own emotions, and that rubs off on me. I love that and appreciate that he pushes me so much; I am very grateful for him. And we make such incredible art, and help each other. We are collaborators at the end of the day…
“Derek and Mario, I mean they’re part of my band…Tristan, just three men I’ve been able to lean on. Guys this is what’s on my mind, this is what I want to communicate through your instruments. Please play emotionally. That’s the only direction I’ve been able to give them ever. Don’t ask me what key we’re playing in or don’t ask me what the tempo is or the genre. I can never tell you about that. But, I can tell them exactly how I’m feeling and they do such an amazing job at playing my emotions. It’s crazy, I admire them so much for that.
“My tattoo artist Lua, she has done all my tattoos. She gets me too. I just come to her with some insane ideas and she’ll be like ‘okay…yeah…sure, let’s do it’.
“Who else? Damian from Cannibal Kids, that man–I am forever indebted to him. He help me understand what the fuck a mix is! I didn’t even know what a mix was…I’ve been in this for ten years and I just found out what a mix is and how it works and how to direct it. I am very grateful for him as well… I’d love to call him my mentor. He has really mentored me a lot.
“All the boys in Atlanta, those are people who really, really pushed me and inspired me. My family of course; My mom let me move back in with her at the nice age of thirty back in her house, living under her roof. I’m very grateful for my family.
“Carlo Barbacci from Mold!… is someone else I know I can go to and he can untangle my thoughts. That’s really nice to have…I feel like I’m forgetting people…
May I remind you of one? You recently did a photoshoot with Valentina Perez, can you tell me about that please?
“Oh my gosh, of course! Tina and I have been friends since we were 12. She’s a homie. She’s one of my favorite people to work with for sure…she’s a photographer, of course, photography has its skill, and I’m learning that a lot now. But, there’s something she sees in people that not everyone sees. I’ve seen people get photographed by different photographers, she just captures this beauty–I mean, everyone is beautiful and I think photographers have a different way of capturing people. She creates an essence with her pictures, and I’m such a big fan of her. She has helped me a lot too. We did a Britney inspired shoot, she also shot my music video for ‘Cigarettes’ which is a learning experience of its own. She’s been very patient with me.
“There is another person I’m remembering: Sebastian Holmes, that has been my go-to person for music for about ten years. Sebastian Guerrero as well. Those are the two Sebastians, I always called them Sebastian squared. Those are two people that have really been there for me. They will do shows for me for free… again, how [I’ve] mentioned before, time is everything. They’re people who have given me a lot of their time. I’m very, very grateful for them.
“Vinny Wernicke is another one. There’s a lot, and I feel like I’m forgetting a lot of people, but there’s a lot.”
Would you feel comfortable sharing an insecurity as a musician?
“I think I have a lot of impostor syndrome. Every day I have to wake up and remind myself who I am, because I forget. Which is another part of Awkgust. I did one photoshoot where it’s like night time, the next shoot was going to be day night, and anything that Jorge captures is the day-to-day stage persona–but, the night version of me is the most confident…
“During the day, I’m not. During the day I’m very insecure and very hopeful that this works out for me. I bet everything on it, so sometimes I get a little scared, not that it’s all for nothing, because I feel like life is always for something, but I get a little insecure about that. I struggle with love and struggle with feeling loved. So, sometimes I lean on people’s validations, which I’m working on to, like, feel like I feel loved.
“At the end of the day, everything is from within, which is something I’m adamant about. And everything is love, and everything is love and gratitude; so I’m gravitating more towards that so to just not have to battle [the insecurity].”
From what I’ve seen on social media about your concerts and the crowd; they all seem to be having a lot of fun. Do you feel that love there?
“Oh my gosh, yes. Yeah, I think that’s one of my favorite things about being on stage. It’s just that it’s so much love, it’s love on all angles. The musicians are putting so much love into what they’re playing, how they’re playing. I’m putting a lot of love into what I’m doing. The crowd is there because they want to be not because they have to be, and that in of itself is love. Being in a venue that supports music is love. So yeah, there’s a lot of love at performances.”
What’s next?
“I don’t know, I wish I could answer that very honestly. I also don’t want to put anything concrete because I might change my mind again in like an hour.”
Reborn again?
“Exactly. I’m just constantly reborn…I hope, and I am aiming to release more music. I do struggle a lot with writing…it takes me a bit to get some words out. I hope, a new song. I am writing right now with Mario, Carlo, and Derek a new tune. What I guess, I hope is next is that I can be a little bit more genuine, and vulnerable in my music. I think I am, but I hope I can do it at a quicker rate so that I can release more. I think that would be next.”
I saw photos of you with a guitar. Do you play guitar?
“I do not play guitar.”
Are you trying to learn guitar?
“I am trying to learn guitar. I wrote one of my songs on the EP called ‘Hahaha’–I wrote that’ entirely on guitar not knowing what I was doing. I would like to be able to play it, I mean why not play my music on guitar. Apparently all my songs are in a-minor, and I know [it’s] a pretty easy chord to play on guitar. I’m still learning, so maybe ask me in a year. Hopefully in a year I’m gigging with guitar; that’s my goal.”
Going back to Awkgust. The notes, they’re very raw, they’re very personal, they’re very down-to-earth. Do you feel like that’s what you want people to know about you? That you’re down-to-earth, that you are this person with feelings?
“Yeah, I think I also want to know it. It’s for all of us, I’m getting to know myself with you. I journal a lot…I think I journal twice a day. I’m always writing. I always have a thought, and I always have something to say. So why not write it?
“Sometimes it’s funny because, I would read back my journal entries I’ve posted and I’m like ‘dude, what am I saying? It makes no sense…’ but at the time it does, so I’m sticking to it. Usually, I would be be one to remove it from instagram, but no, I’m sticking by what I’m saying. I hope it does come across that way; I think I am, I think I am pretty down-to-earth. I try to be atleast. Or I am to be.”
Any final comments for people who are interested in Awktober or on Vix?
“I think people need to give my music a chance..I work really hard on it, I work really hard on my identity and I work really hard on showing it. I don’t know if this is the external validation I need, but, I don’t think it’s coming from that place…I’m starting to realize that maybe my music isn’t for everyone, and I’m fine with that and I’m happy with that. But I do think and hope that people give my music a chance, because I’m trying here, I’m learning and I’m listening. I think that’s really important. I’m listening just as much as people are talking, and saying things. So, I apply everything.
“Where people can analyze my lyrics. I love hearing people’s interpretation of my lyrics. I think I would appreciate that. Give me a chance, please. Thank you.”
Awktober’s EP ‘Vicious Cycles’ can be streamed on Spotify and Youtube, while you can follow their Instagram for updates on their next live shows.
