Location: Leicester
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Folk
Video/single: Hold Me
Format: Streaming
Label: Ragebreed Records (distributed through Earache Records)
Release date: December 29, 2025
Karina Sher, frontwoman of the UK melodic death/groove metal band Mindlapse and founder of Ragebreed Records, launched Lake of Dreams as a visionary project. As the vocalist of Mindlapse, her style is reminiscent of bands like Otep, Arch Enemy, and The Agonist, but she has also explored deeper, more personal facets of her artistry. Her motivation for creating Lake of Dreams was to develop a conceptual fantasy project that transcends traditional music and film by merging haunting melodies with cinematic storytelling.
Since 2022, Sher has released a self-titled EP and four promotional videos. Her latest, “Hold Me,” uses music and film to explore the ephemeral and spiritual aspects of nature, mysticism, and existence. It demonstrates her ability to intertwine sound and imagery into a cohesive tapestry. “Hold Me” is a short film that reflects both the light and dark sides of her personality, relying on her voice and folk music composed by John Mitchell. The film breaks the fourth wall through compelling visuals and emotional intimacy.
The opening scene’s tranquil, mystical setting is enhanced by serene guitars, which quickly shift to tension and apprehension. The story introduces two characters on opposite sides of a conflict— a druidess and a king’s knight tasked with killing her— infusing a fairy-tale-like narrative. Unlike traditional fairy tales that only hint at the villain’s danger, “Hold Me” presents well-rounded characters, offering multiple perspectives. The carefully crafted guitars and vocals convey the compassion and doubt experienced by both characters. The theme centers on unresolved longing, lingering long after the story ends.
Based on Sher’s bio, it seems this ending is intentional, as the four videos form part of a larger narrative that will include a full-length film and a screenplay. The film will expand on the story told in the videos, incorporating spoken word passages, dream imagery, and symbolism to complement the deeply spiritual folk music that forms the foundation of her video singles. Sher and Mitchell’s musical and visual work has piqued my interest in how the final film will turn out. Since they are in the earliest stages, this project holds the potential to evolve into something truly profound. –Dave Wolff
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