Early in the Morning

Miami Nights 1984's "Early in the Morning" announces itself with a commitment to pure 80s coastal aesthetics that feels exhilarating rather than derivative — the synth patches are deliberately period-accurate, the production choices (gated reverb presence, that particular brightness on the chords) evoking a specific sonic era with precision and affection. But the track's emotional content transcends pastiche through sheer musical craft: the melodic writing genuinely moves, phrases landing with the particular satisfaction of hooks that were meant to exist. The dawn imagery in the title translates directly to the music's quality — there's light here, genuine warmth in the sound design, a sense of fresh possibility that morning specifically carries. Miami Nights 1984 built an entire project on constructing a fictional version of a city and era, and "Early in the Morning" is that project at its most transportive: you can smell the ocean, feel the temperature of early light, hear the emptiness of streets before traffic. Music for the first moments of a day that might contain anything.