Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Miranda.
Karen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I first got involved in the scene simply because of my love for music. I became part of a close rave family, and for years we were going to shows together, traveling to festivals, and sharing that passion for electronic music. Through those experiences, I didn’t just fall in love with the music — I fell in love with the community around it.
Over time, I started getting more involved on the promotional side by helping sell tickets and support local shows in the DFW area. I also created my own Facebook ticket exchange group where people could safely buy and sell tickets, which helped me build connections and become more active in supporting events and artists behind the scenes.
Eventually, one of my friends from our rave family and I decided to take things a step further and become business partners. That’s when PN Presents was born, with the goal of creating the kinds of events and spaces we personally wanted to experience — community-driven, music-focused, and welcoming to everyone. As the brand grew, we expanded beyond Fort Worth into events across DFW and Chicago, and later Portal After Hours as a space for deeper sounds and late-night connection when the clubs closed.
Everything we do is rooted in our love for the music and my belief in building real community. Supporting artists, creating opportunities, and making people feel like they belong on the dancefloor is what continues to drive me today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most independent promoters, we’ve had to learn everything as we go from budgeting and production to marketing, artist coordination, and venue logistics. We have invested our on money, took risks on shows, and dealt with low turnout or unexpected costs.
We also had to navigate building trust in the scene, earning credibility, and proving that we weren’t just throwing random parties, but truly cared about the artists and the community. Balancing this with full-time jobs and personal life has been another major challenge, especially when you’re running on little sleep and still trying to show up fully for every event.
But every struggle taught us something and made us more prepared, more resilient, and more intentional about how we grow.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about PN PRESENTS?
PN Presents is an independent, community-driven house and techno event brand in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Along with my partner Lex, we curate and produce events that prioritize the dancefloor experience, intentional lineups, and creating spaces where people genuinely feel welcome and connected.
We specialize in underground-leaning house and techno events, featuring a mix of local rising talent and touring artists, and we are especially passionate about creating opportunities for DJs who may not always have access to larger platforms. Through Portal After Hours, we also produce late-night experiences that focus on longer sets, deeper sounds, and immersive vibes for dancers who want to keep the night going after the clubs close.
In addition to our core events, we also run several side projects that reflect our creativity and commitment to the culture. Together, we created the Techno Trolley, a mobile party concept that was featured by local media outlets including the Dallas Observer, and I also created the Techno Boat, which brings the dancefloor onto the water in a completely unique setting. I also run my own personal project, The Techno Syndicate, which was born purely from my love for techno and my desire to create spaces dedicated specifically to that sound and energy.
My business partner, Lex is also passionate about education and gives DJ classes, helping new artists learn the technical and creative sides of DJing and supporting the next generation of talent. In my free time, I’m also a writer for EDMTunes, where I cover electronic music news, festivals, and artists, which allows me to support the scene from both the media and event production sides.
What sets us apart is that we truly come from the community we serve. We started as ravers, not promoters, and that shapes how we approach everything — from how we treat artists and staff, to how we curate lineups, to how we engage with our audience. We focus on building real relationships, not just selling tickets, and we care deeply about maintaining a positive, respectful, and inclusive environment at our events.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the community we’ve built and the trust people place in our name. When people see PN Presents, Portal After Hours, the Techno Trolley, or The Techno Syndicate, they know they’re going to get quality music, good energy, and an experience that feels intentional and authentic. More than anything, I want people to know that this is more than nightlife for us — it’s about culture, connection, and creating meaningful experiences through music.
What are your plans for the future?
Looking ahead, our main goal is to continue growing PN Presents and Portal After Hours in a sustainable and intentional way. We want to keep expanding our event concepts, bringing in more touring artists, and collaborating with more venues and partners, while still protecting the community-driven, underground feel that makes our events special.
We’re also continuing to grow and refine our side projects, like The Techno Syndicate, Techno Trolley, and Techno Boat, which are already recurring events and have become signature experiences within our community. These projects allow us to bring dance music into non-traditional spaces and create moments that feel playful, memorable, and different from typical nightlife. This year, I’m also excited to officially kick off my wellness-based initiatives, Techno Yoga and Pilates sessions, which combine movement, mindfulness, and music as another way for our community to connect outside of the club environment. Our very first Techno Yoga event will be hosted at Meow Wolf on Thursday, April 9th, which is something I’m incredibly excited about and proud of. All of these projects reflect our belief that electronic music culture can exist in many forms, not just on a dancefloor at night.
On a personal level, I’m also looking forward to continuing to grow as a music journalist through my work with EDMTunes, which helps strengthen our connections to the global electronic music community and brings even more perspective back into what we build locally.
Overall, we’re focused on long-term growth, deeper community impact, and building something that can last — not just bigger parties, but a stronger culture around house and techno in Dallas.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://PNPRESENTS.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portalafterhours
