Timothy LaRoque Unveils New Record ‘The Florida Effect’

South Florida’s own sonic time traveler, Timothy LaRoque, returns with The Florida Effect — a record that feels both like a postcard from the past and a mirror held to the present.

its lead single “Dreams”, LaRoque channels the warmth of a bygone jazz age through a distinctly modern lens, crafting a lush and wistful ode to perseverance and peace. The Florida Effect is more than an album; it’s an emotional document of what it means to grow up and create in a place where paradise and decay coexist.

At its core, The Florida Effect is LaRoque’s love letter—and reckoning—with his home state. The Miami-born artist captures the contradictions of Florida life with poetic ease, moving between images of salt-soaked sunsets and creeping corruption. His lyricism reads like a diary entry written under neon glow, while his arrangements—equal parts swing, soul, and sepia-toned nostalgia—reveal an artist steeped in the textures of the past but unafraid of modern experimentation. The result is music that sounds both timeless and timely.

The record’s standout single, “Dreams,” glides through the air like smoke from a late-night lounge. Drawing inspiration from jazz giants like Chet Baker and Duke Ellington, LaRoque performs nearly every instrument himself, joined only by Justin Godbolt on drums and Bradley Gagné on trumpet. The song’s message—“we need dreams to drive us”—feels especially poignant in an age of uncertainty. When LaRoque croons about dreaming of peace, it doesn’t feel naïve; it feels radical. It’s the kind of sincerity that cuts through cynicism like a sunbeam through swamp haze.

Having debuted “Dreams” at the House of Blues in New Orleans earlier this year, and later headlining the Miami Beach Bandshell for the FilmGate Music Video Festival, LaRoque has proven that his music resonates far beyond studio walls. Fans have embraced the single’s cinematic warmth, with its official premiere on WLRN-FM cementing his status as one of Florida’s most authentic new voices. Live, he’s a revelation—part troubadour, part storyteller, all heart.

At just 25, LaRoque already stands as a fixture of South Florida’s evolving scene, praised by Rolling Stone en Español and the Miami New Times, and using his growing platform to give back through non-profits like Guitars Over Guns and Musicians On Call. The Florida Effect isn’t just a record—it’s a statement of intent from an artist redefining what it means to make soulful, socially conscious music in the Sunshine State. With one foot in the swing era and the other in tomorrow’s dawn, Timothy LaRoque reminds us that sometimes, the dream itself is enough to keep us moving forward.