Usually when Jamaicans at home hear about dancehall events in the United States, they are held on the east and west coasts, South Florida or Atlanta, Georgia. Sound system selector DJ Mylo is breaking new ground in the Deep South.

The Portland-born operator is based in Fort Walton Beach, near to Panama City within the Florida Panhandle. Both are close to Alabama, which borders Mississippi.

Most of DJ Mylo’s shows are in Fort Walton Beach and Panama City, but recently he has ventured into areas where fans generally prefer country music or southern rock.

Those include Foley, a small city in Alabama where a number of Jamaicans work in the hospitality industry. He has also played in Biloxi, a casino city in Mississippi best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley.

“The dancehall scene in Panama City is very hype, a lotta people, a lotta vibes. There is a Jamaican community, an’ they love to party,” DJ Mylo told the Jamaica Observer.

He said playing venues like Empire Sports Bar and Club Vybz in Panama City regularly leads to gigs in Foley and Biloxi where there is also a Jamaican presence.

“The dances that are held in Alabama and Mississippi is a mixture crowd but mainly Jamaicans, and yuh have friends who tell a friend an’ word get around,” DJ Mylo explained.

Born Cavan Eccleston, he is from Buff Bay in Portland and has been a sound system selector since age 14. DJ Mylo, who is in his mid-20s, got his start on a home-grown ‘set’ called Earthquake.

Today, he plays the Barbie’s Bunnies Sexy Halloween Edition at Club Aliv in Portmore, alongside featured guests Nhance and Pamputtae. It is DJ Mylo’s first date in Jamaica since January 2021 when he appeared at the River Sexy dance in Plum Valley, Portland.

“It feels great to be playing music in Jamaica this weekend. It’s been a while and I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.