Funeral Lakes is a hidden gem amongst Kingston's deep and rich treasure chest of bands and artists that call the city home. Their unique sound is both haunting and energetic, blending elements of post-punk and shoegaze. If you're unfamiliar, stop reading and explore their discography here: web link

The duo of Sam Mishos and Chris Hemer have really made their mark—within and far beyond our city limits—garnering critical acclaim for their past releases, and both international and national radio play. Their sophomore release, North American Martyrs, will certainly go far to cement their reputation for concept-driven, thought provoking yet accessible brand of moody indie rock.

In 2018 while living in Vancouver, Chris and Sam began Funeral Lakes as a way "to share their fears and frustrations," releasing their self-titled debut LP in 2019. In 2020, they returned to Kingston, where the pair plugged into the city's vibrant music community.

"Since moving back to Kingston, we've been able to meet and connect with very kind, talented musicians, which has been invaluable to us," they explained. "We've also found inspiration from living in a city steeped in history and being so close to Lake Ontario. It's a great place to make music."

Released April 5 North American Martyrs is an 8-song exploration of nationalism, history, and settler identity in Canada. "It resulted from Chris's thesis project that interrogated the role of cultural production in sustaining Canadian national myths through a case study of Gordon Lightfoot’s Canadian Railroad Trilogy," explained Mishos. "The album attempts to show how cultural production can cut both ways—music can exist in a tension as both a tool for nationalist socialization and a medium for counter-discourse." Through a driving rhythm section, swirling guitar and synth, and dual lead vocals, "Each song seeks to unsettle glorified narratives about Canadian history by highlighting their purposeful omissions."

With the help of a grant and some additional Kingston musical talent, Mishos and Hemer were able to expand the boundaries of Funeral Lakes territory. "We brought in our pals Arden Rogalsky and Michael Broadhead to lend their talents, and we were able to spend more time with the recording and mixing process," said Mishos. "With their support, we were also able to try out these songs in a live setting before they were recorded, which really helped us get a better sense of the songs."

Currently, the pair is planning a series of live performances over the summer while working on their next release, which has already been written. "We’re always working on something new because we get a lot of joy out of the writing process. We’re really fortunate to be able to make and play our music with friends."

If you're hoping to catch one of those performances, Funeral Lakes will be performing live in Kingston at Next Church on Friday, May 3 with Princess Towers and Groucho Pepe: web link Posted: Apr 28, 2024