As I have stated so many times on this blog, even though the Milwaukee scene is mainly known for a certain style of aggressive Hip Hop, the music being made here goes way beyond that. There are many styles of Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, and Rock being made here that are just as exciting as the Slap music usually associated with the city. Do not get me wrong, I love our traditional Hip Hop sound, but I also want people to know that Milwaukee music goes way beyond that. A Milwaukee-based artist who certainly carves his own lane and goes against the grain is Lake. His sound is sort of tough to pinpoint, as it is pretty eclectic. Lake incorporates Hip Hop, Pop, and Punk into his music in a manner that’s pretty unique. He does lean into the Emo-Trap tendencies we saw from artists like Juice Wrld or Lil Peep, but Lake’s version stands out for its shimmering yet grittier elements. Lake has been releasing music for several years but really came into his own in 2023. He put out several enticing singles last year, many of which I covered on Eastside Vibes. A couple of Lake’s releases last year were among my favorite drops of 2023, and they made me very excited to see what Lake did next. After taking a lot of 2024 off due to personal reasons, Lake has returned with a bang. He recently dropped three tracks, titled ‘Medication,’ ‘Suffering & Torment,’ and ‘Help.’ Below, I wanted to briefly give a few thoughts on these new tracks from Lake. Please let me know in the comments below what you think of these tracks, and also comment the names of any other Milwaukee-based or Independent artists you think I should look into!

‘Medication’ was Lake’s first release of the year, having actually come out back in May(the other two singles were dropped about a week or so ago). This track leans into a trend that was pretty big in the late 2010s and early 2020s but has gone to the wayside over the last couple of years. ‘Medication’ has a vibrant Emo-Trap sound that is bright and melancholy at the same time. When I hear this track, I think of the early music by artists like iann dior or 6dogs(RIP). The melody for this track is driven by a laid-back guitar riff that is complemented by some synths that vary in intensity and distortion throughout the track. The beat for ‘Medication’ is pretty easy-going as well, pairing very nicely with the melody. I really enjoy Lake’s vocals on this track. The raspiness in his vocals gives the song a level of emotion that is palpable, and the layering of the vocals gives this one an interesting texture. On ‘Medication,’ Lake sings about how he takes various drugs(particularly pills) to numb the pain he is going through and to clear his mind. ‘Suffering & Torment’ strays away from the Emo-Trap sound we got on the last track, going in more of a Rock direction. ‘Suffering & Torment’ has a tempo and overall sound that is very reminiscent of late 1990s Punk music. There is a semblance of early Sum 41 or Blink 182 music in the melody,  but the vocals and beat lean more toward the music of bands like Rancid or 311. The distortion that is put on this pretty melancholy melody and crashing drum beat gives the song an underground/Garage Punk sound that makes it stand out in a cool way. The vocals from Lake on ‘Suffering & Torment’ are very cool. The raspy tone and fast pace he sings give the song a feeling of despair that makes it hit super hard. In ‘Suffering & Torment,’ Lake sings about the anguish he is going through due to a breakup with a former significant other. The effect that this person had on him is affecting him so negatively that it is literally making him feel sick. ‘Help’ goes back to the Emo Trap sound we got on ‘Medication,’ but turns it up to twelve. Everything about this track feels eccentric; the melody and beat feel larger than life, and Lake matches this energy with his vocals. ‘Help’ definitely has the most positive-sounding melody out of these three tracks. It is also the only one that is not driven by a guitar riff, with the basis for this melody instead coming from a keyboard riff. This warm and charming riff is complemented by some highly saturated synths that almost give the song a HyperPop feeling. This HyperPop element is added to by the beat, which is pretty hard-hitting and has an intricacy to it that makes it stand out. Lake’s flow on this track is very silky and his tone is very inviting. His vocals certainly add to the cozy, all-encompassing feeling ‘Help’ has. On ‘Help,’ Lake pleads for someone to aid him in feeling good about himself, as he has been stuck inside his head and is not positive about anything going on in his life. To be honest, the tone of the track contrasts its lyricism, which makes it pop even more. All three of these latest releases prove why he is one of the most interesting artists in Milwaukee right now. His sound stands out among the Milwaukee music landscape, and I am always excited when we get new music from him.