‘Miss Florida’ Belongs to All of Us
TLDR: “This album doesn’t have many surprises, per se, but perhaps counterintuitively, the artist’s choice to fill out the tracks with backing vocals, layered sound and even incorporating harmonica brings the storytelling and lyricism to the forefront on this record.”
When Nate (better known in these parts with the prefix ‘Gator’) asked me take a listen to his new album, Miss Florida, and write up my thoughts two things popped into my head: abso-toot-a-lootely, and I haven’t written a music review in fifteen years.
Full disclosure: I’m a DIY artist, historian and accidental Florida storyteller, not an Everglades-seasoned musician or songwriter like the artist in question.
But my point is that when you are from a certain place, it is hard not to carry that with you. And when a kindred spirit sends a message from underneath “Treeshade” in the August Florida heat, you answer the call.
Plus it’s an easy review to write because Miss Florida happens to be about that: nostalgia for and honor of the Florida many of us grew up with – but with an even more urgent call for attention to and hope for her future.
In that way, it is not an album to put on a shelf and forget about. It is a call and response for the people of Florida - old and new, young and old - to be grateful for and cherish what is here now.
It is also an endlessly relatable album for a generation of us who grew up in the swamps of Florida, enmeshed in different cultures that emerged out of and were shaped by a “river of grass,” with an understanding of the land and ecology of Florida that newcomers and tourists can seemingly never fully appreciate – if you ask a local.
As kids we listened to “Seminole Wind” on swamp buggies and Hank and Waylon on boats and road trips South to the Keys for summer vacation when school was out. We went to seafood and fry bread festivals and listened to endless dive bar jukeboxes playing non-stop Fleetwood Mac and Allman Brothers.
The track “Unconquered” best captures that John Andersen-esque influence and takes it up a notch. Mr. Andersen would be definitely be proud. I certainly am.
From the grittier “Window Shaker” to the wholesome, nostalgic toe-tapping “Goodland,” each track on Miss Florida is undeniably catchy and thematically cohesive throughout the entire record.
As an added bonus, parents can play it in the car on family vacation as a much more humane alternative to KidzBop and still vibe. It’s simply a crowd pleaser.
This album doesn’t have many surprises, per se, but perhaps counterintuitively, the artist’s choice to fill out the tracks with backing vocals, layered sound and even incorporating harmonica brings the storytelling and lyricism to the forefront on this record. You can hear the camaraderie and musicianship on nearly every track.
Musicians Hunter McDaniel appear on keyboard and vocals, Steve Mastrangelo on bass, Kellyn Karr on drums, Matt Benfield on guitar and Katie Dietz on harmony vocals.
The instrumentation and backup vocals support the meaningful storytelling and lend weight to the album.
This record might be personal to Nate, but it really belongs to the people of South Florida – because it’s all of our stories.
Grab the CD with download and sticker and give it a listen.
Miss Florida costume promotional photo at the Miss Florida album party at Sugarshack in Bonita Springs, featuring yours truly and the artist on August 28, 2026.
