Dead Lakes
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Album: Daydreamer, out now via Sharptone Records
RIYL: Road Trips. Dreams. Boy Bands.
What if you could leave it all behind, take a nice long drive and go on an adventure with three of your closest friends? I mean, that’s literally the start to every band ever that made it out of their hometown, but it’s also a particular fantasy that feels prescient given the fact that our closest time together with many of those we love the most has been pixelated or in text form. Dead Lakes’ stellar debut, Daydreamer, takes the idea of a hazy road trip with the past in the rearview mirror to heart in so many aspects. There’s a real joy in seeing the sonic and thematic parallels in self-discovery, dreams, and the kind of music we play to stay focused on the road. Musically, this record is like a beautifully diverse yet connected playlist, where Paramore, PVRIS, Bad Omens, and Backstreet Boys all play nice together. If you ever wondered what a boy band would sound like if they picked each other (instead of being chosen) and came from a heavy music background, well wonder no more. This is the catchiest damn record in years and a real joy to both escape into and connect with the real issues that Dead Lakes dredge up throughout.
Touching on that clear cohesive presence, Vocalist Sumy Peterson shares why the band work so well together:
“I would say our connectivity is probably attributed more to our shared experiences as people rather than intentional musical gelling or whatever. We went through a lot together through the pandemic that really shaped the music and helped us really grow cohesively, both with the music and as individuals. Three of us went through breakups (all long-term relationships) during the writing process of the record, and it was a first for all of us as grown adults. I’m really grateful for where the world is today with mental health awareness, and general self-awareness. We really channeled all of that emotion into this record for sure. Maybe in both healthy and unhealthy ways admittedly.”
Dead Lakes clearly lean into the “heavy boy band” label that detractors labeled them early on, but in an era where we can recognize that sometimes we want it that way, the band definitely deliver. Peterson expands on that notion:
“We are one of the softer bands on SharpTone, and we had seen quite a few comments during our last release from fans of the label calling us a boy band, or just generalizing us as a pop act in general. We were like ‘well they aren’t really wrong.’ We are fun, upbeat people, so we really embraced the comments, even though most were written with negative intent. We really are a boy band at the end of the day. I think the only thing that sets us apart from being a boy band is that we write our own music and came from heavier musical roots that still shine in the music today.”
When I say these are my favorite melodies I’ve heard in a very long time, I mean I’d put this up there with the best from legendary bands (and clear influences) like Anberlin and Paramore, though Dead Lakes have a clear focus on a sense of place and timelessness. I’m struck not only by the stellar hooks but also by the pulsing basslines, sneaky fun riffs, and drumming that always shines.
“We really wanted to write a catchy record,” Peterson says, “that felt relatable, nostalgic, and vulnerable. We definitely put loads of intention into the pace and energy of the record as well. It’s so hard when you are writing a full-length album, because you really want to capture all the sides of the band. I’m grateful that you highlighted each individual instrument, and therefore member, because I really feel like everyone really had their moments to shine on the record. I would say our main mission with the record was to write a project that felt very in the moment when you listened to it. A project that really makes you feel like you’re right there with it for the whole journey. I think that’s why it’s really important to me that people give it a chance front to back.”
From the striking cover art to the music videos, Dead Lakes’ art has a neon noir or western feel, and there’s a sentimentality that neither genre utilizes that you really excel at. Were there any visual influences here?
“I always have used like internal visual storytelling to help me put my experiences into a more general, relatable space,” he answers. “I just kept having dreams, both good and bad, of just myself driving. All of the dreams were just me driving and there was really no beginning or end. It always felt endless. That was my personal inspiration for the visual aspects of the record for sure.”
Order the album at this location.
