Florida breaks
Template:Short description Template:Infobox music genre Florida breaks, which may also be referred to as The Orlando Sound, Orlando breaks, or The Breaks, is a genre of breakbeat dance music that originated in the central region of Florida, United States.<ref name="Le-Huu 2015">Template:Cite web{blog of Orlando Weekly's music column}</ref> Florida Breaks draws on hip-hop, Miami bass and electro. It often includes samples of early jazz or funk beats from rare groove or popular film. It often features vocal elements.<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /> Compared to the hip-hop on which it is based,<ref name="Le-Huu 2015" /> the style is faster, more syncopated, and has a heavier and unrelenting bassline.<ref name="Gettelman 1997">Template:Cite web</ref> The beat frequently slows and breaks down complex beat patterns and then rebuilds.<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /> The genre has been described as being easy to dance to while creating an uplifting, happy, or positive mood in the listener.<ref name="Gettelman 1997" />
History
Late 1980s – early 1990s
The style emerged during the late '80s at the Beacham Theatre in Orlando<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /> and gained popularity in the local underground music subculture during the city's Summer of Love era, roughly 1989 to 1992.<ref name=Kelemen1998>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="moyer 2017">Template:Cite web</ref> Genre pioneer Eddie Pappa, influenced by nights spent at the Beacham, honed his skill at The Edge when it opened in 1992. In 1993, it gained prominence state-wide and, propelled by large events at the Edge, elsewhere in the U.S. and Europe.<ref name =Fergusonjuly22013 />
Mid-1990s popularity
The Breaks influenced producers who mixed breakbeat with progressive and trance, producing a mixture that became known as "The Orlando Sound" or Florida breaks.<ref name =Fergusonjuly22013 /> The sound became popular among DJs and club goers during the mid-1990s. It was marketed internationally as "Orlando friendly."<ref name="Gettelman 1997" />
English breaks DJ and producer Nick Newton released a 1996 record Orlando.<ref name =Fergusonjuly22013>Template:Cite web</ref>
There is only general consensus on the defining elements of the genre, which spawned regional and preference variations.<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /> For example, the Orlando Sound of Central and Northern Florida were influenced by new beat, trance, and progressive house sounds. Producers in South Florida and Tampa chose a deep house flavor or retained more of the funk and hip-hop influence of Miami's "ghetto-bass" or funky breaks.<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /><ref name=Gentile2014>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Ireland">Template:Cite web</ref>
The genre received limited local radio play in Central Florida on radio stations WXXL (106.7 FM)<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /> and on college radio WPRK (91.5 FM),<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /> as well as WUCF (89.9 FM), WFIT (89.5 FM on Space Coast), and WMNF (88.5 FM in Tampa).<ref name =Fergusonjuly22013 />
2000s
The international and local popularity of Florida breaks began to wane in 2000,<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /> though it remains popular in Central Florida.<ref name="Le-Huu 2015" /><ref name="moyer 2017"/>
2020s Digital Revival
In the 2020s, Florida breaks inspired a new generation of independent producers and performers experimenting with the style’s syncopated percussion and energetic basslines. Artists such as Dino and Lightbulb, active in virtual spaces like VRChat, have cited the influence of Florida’s classic breakbeat scene and labels such as Ravesta Records while developing new events and music under the project name "Rhythm." Their performances and mixes reflect ongoing interest in breakbeat and Florida breaks within both online and physical electronic-music communities, coinciding with a broader resurgence of breakbeat-influenced production across genres like bass house, UK breaks, and electro.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Early Florida breaks venues
AAHZ at the Beacham Theatre (Orlando),<ref name="Le-Huu 2015" /> The Edge (Orlando).<ref name="Le-Huu 2015" /> The Abyss (Orlando),<ref name="Le-Huu 2015" /> The Club at Firestone (Orlando),<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /> The Beach Club (Orlando),<ref name =Fergusonjuly22013 /> Icon (Orlando),<ref name="Gettelman 1997" /> Simon's (Gainesville),<ref name=Gentile5.11.2014>Template:Cite web</ref> Marz (Cocoa Beach),<ref name =Fergusonjuly22013 /> The Edge (Fort. Lauderdale),<ref name=Gentile5.11.2014 /> and Masquerade (Tampa).<ref name=Gentile5.11.2014 />