LOST LAKES is a collaboration between Corey Mathew Hart and Paul Mitch. The two met during a songwriting competition held by a local radio station. It wasn’t until they returned for a duets portion of the follow year’s competition that Corey saw Paul play bass and singing harmonies. The first time Corey and Paul played together, they clicked musically and personally. The collaboration has grown over the years, developing into a strong songwriting and production team with a focus on well-crafted tunes and tight vocal harmonies. Lost Lakes’ self-titled debut record bears witness to their talents and the fact the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts.

Recorded over a 9 month period, the record was a labor of love. Paul and Corey produced the record and enlisted percussionist Shane Leonard (Field Report, The Stray Birds) along with longtime bandmate Rusty Lee on keyboards to fill out the sound. The project was recorded in a shared warehouse space called the Dojo. Many of the basic tracks were recorded live in 2 separate sessions with overdubs done in small Thursday night sessions. Being fairly porous to the outside elements, the temperature in the Dojo ranged from 41 degrees to well over 100 over the course of the project, adding a sense of adventure to the sessions. Being able to take their time for this project gave Corey and Paul a lot of freedom to try different sounds and arrangements for songs they have been playing live for a couple of years. With no pressure, no deadline, and a giant warehouse space filled with eclectic gear, the two managed to create a record of the highest quality.

When it came time to mix the album, Corey and Paul called on an old acquaintance, Grammy award winning engineer Justin Guip. The two had met Guip years ago when they opened for The Amy Helm (daughter of Levon Helm) at a Barn show in Spring Green, WI. Guip also happened to have just finished a record with the Stray Birds that Shane Leonard played percussion on. The past and present collided, and the timing couldn’t have been better. Corey and Paul approached Guip about mixing the record and he was very excited about the songs and tracks that were laid down at the Dojo. Guip’s aesthetic greatly aligned with the vision that Paul and Corey had for the record, and the result is a compelling masterpiece.

 COREY has the honor of being chosen as one of 24 performers for Overture’s Rising Stars showcase  September 28th in the Capitol Theater.

“Overture’s new local talent search held auditions throughout the spring and summer at six sites across Dane County. The best and brightest will take the Capitol Theater stage in a major showcase as part of Overture’s 10th Anniversary Celebration. ”

Corey is known for his voice and unique stylings.

“Nobody in town sings like this…” – Kevin Lynch (The Capital Times)

“…starkly authentic and full of promise.” – Rich Albertoni (The Isthmus)

2007 Madison Songwriter if the Year (awarded by Madison Songwriters Group)

2007 Midwest Song Contest – Honorable Mention