Miami is a melting pot of cultures. 

Known for the vast, vibrant Latin American population, the city is largely defined by Latin influence — from street tacos and Cubanos to colorful murals and Latin dance music. But according to Amal Nemer, a house music producer and DJ who moved from Venezuela to Miami in 2020, there’s more to Miami than great food and salsa dancing.

According to Amal Nemer, “There is magic in Miami. You can feel it all the time.”

When Amal moved to Miami in 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world, she didn’t know what to expect. Coming from Barinas, a small town in Venezuela, Amal was excited to experience the joys of living in a big city — late night dance clubs, fancy restaurants, and endless access to live music. Of course, that all changed in March 2023, when the world went into lockdown.

So, she was stuck in Miami with more free time than she’d ever had in her life. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

“Amal” means “hope” in Arabic, and Amal was determined to live up to her name.

“Looking back, I was really in the right place at the right time when I moved to Miami,” Amal said in an exclusive interview with MP3 MAG. “Because COVID happened, and I had all the time in the world to learn how to make music. And Miami was the perfect city to embrace that.”

Amal has lived in Miami for four years, and although she never imagined herself living in Miami long-term, she now says she can’t imagine leaving. “I know a lot of people get tired of Miami, but for me, this city is magical. Miami is a crossroads that unites so many different cultures, and I discover something new every day.”

Amal says Miami allows her to embrace her multicultural roots and upbringing, which was defined by two conflicting ideologies: her family’s strict Arabic ideologies and Lebanese heritage, and Venezuela’s free-spirited culture.

Growing up, Amal’s family embraced traditional Arabic practices — which included arranging a marriage for Amal at 14.

Or, at least, trying to.

“I was born into a very religious Arabic family, but I was raised in the free country of Venezuela. So in my mind, there was always a conflict of how to live. My parents wanted me to live a traditional Arabic life. I was actually supposed to marry my Arabic boyfriend when I was 14. It felt like my life was prepared before I was even born, but I wanted to create my own reality.”

Amal’s traditional Arabic upbringing made it nearly impossible to consider a career as a musician, but listening to music always lifted her spirits as a child. Music also played a more practical role in Amal’s life: She actually learned english by listening to Taylor Swift and Rihanna during her adolescence.

As Amal puts it: “Music was my refugee. Music saved my life.”

Today, Amal’s life is music. In 2024 alone, she’s released 12 original tracks, and has been featured on 5 other songs. She’s also found her way into the top 100 of Beatport with instant hits such as ‘Shot Por Mi’, ‘A Good Song,’ and ‘Feelings’. 

But what Amal is most proud of is hosting her first ‘Manifest’ party, which debuted at Miami’s 1-800-Lucky in March.

Amal’s Manifest parties are an empowering demonstration of self-fulfillment and a celebration of free-spirited dance music — because Amal believes she manifested her success and freedom, and she hopes her fans can do the same. “Where I am now, I manifested it,” she said. “I truly believe that everyone has the power to create their own realities. It’s such a powerful thing when you discover the strength of your mind.”

But manifesting the ideal life isn’t always an easy task. When Amal was offered her first official DJ gig, destiny stared directly at her. And she wasn’t sure she liked the way it looked.

“I never planned to play my music in front of other people. I was so scared to show that part of myself to the world. I was pretty much forced to play my first gig, and when I finally agreed, I prayed nobody would show up. That was a life changing step I had to take, and I’m so glad I pushed through.”

Very quickly, Amal got over her stage fright, and embraced her destiny. 

These days, Amal can be seen dancing, laughing, and flowing through tunes seamlessly on stages across the world. Everytime she steps on stage, she does so with a purpose: to inspire hope; to inspire “Amal.”

“I found my purpose in life, and I want to help other people find that too. It’s bigger than me, it’s bigger than my music. I live a happier life because I found joy in giving.”

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