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 following 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. Lost Lakes’ self-titled debut album garnered national attention, landing them a couple of slots at major music festivals, including Lost Lake Festival in Phoenix and Grandoozy in Denver. Equally at home in a small club, PAC, or smaller black box theater as they are on the larger festival stages, Lost Lakes enjoy adapting to the crowd on any given night, making each performance truly unique.
Lost Lakes’ second record, released in February 2026, marks a long awaited return for the band, and an example of an exercise in perseverance. Originally looking for available studio time in the spring of 2020 to begin recording, the COVID pandemic threw a wrench in the band’s plans for their sophomore record. As the pandemic dragged on, Lost Lakes decided to start recording the record, with members contributing their parts remotely from their respective home studios. As pandemic was winding down, Paul Mitch (bass & vocals) was diagnosed with cancer, and the album was put on the back burner for nearly two years. Life’s trials and tribulations continued to intervene as they chipped away at the album; recording, re-recording, rearranging, polishing, and honing. The result is a sonic step forward for the band, while still being rooted in their Americana style. Songs range from the personal (Young Blood and Float Away) to classic country-style story telling (Amarillo) and even meditations on death (Breath Becomes the Breeze) and nature (Solace In the Trees).
Rooted in the heartland and seasoned with the soul of Americana, Josh Harty’s music paints a vivid portrait of life’s joys and struggles. With a voice that resonates with honesty and melodies that linger like old memories, he stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of American music.
His songwriting reflects the landscapes of his North Dakota upbringing, capturing the essence of small-town life, the allure of the open road, and the bittersweet symphony of love and loss. Armed with his guitar and a voice that carries the weight of experience, Harty crafts melodies that linger in the soul and lyrics that resonate with truth.
As a torchbearer of Americana music, Josh Harty continues to inspire and resonate with audiences around the world. With each new song and performance, he carries on the tradition of storytelling and musical craftsmanship that has defined the genre for generations. As he continues to explore new horizons and push the boundaries of his art, one thing remains certain: Josh Harty’s music will always be a beacon of hope, a source of solace, and a celebration of the human spirit.