The Hidden Poems

The Hidden Poems are a musical collective comprised of Toronto based musicians Lara Martin and Shawn Jurek, and the Zurich based Chère Françoise (Franziska Beeler).

The three met through Toronto’s vibrant music scene in 2009. Shawn performed as part of Chère Françoise, as well as with Lara Martin. The two groups with their unique yet complementary styles soon began sharing the stage frequently.

In September of 2011, with Franziska having returned to her native Switzerland, the three planned a series of shows together. For these shows the trio decided to perform as one act, playing and singing on each others songs. Combining their unique styles created a magical experience that was felt by both themselves and the audience. The Hidden Poems were born.

The collective brings together Folk, Soul, and Jazz, combined with three-part vocal harmonies, eclectic instrumentation and songs in English, German and French. The Hidden Poems will captivate your heart and imagination leaving you with a sense of wonder….

Lara Martin

Lara Martin grew up in a theatrical family in London Ontario. With an Elvis impersonator for a brother and a northern Irish father who would proudly belt out everything from Johnny cash and Ray Charles tunes to traditional Irish dirges around the house, Lara was surrounded by the elevated joy and heart wrenching emotion music was capable of evoking.

To Lara, music provides the kind of catharsis few things can, and that kind of energy is palpable in her own song writing. Newfoundland based writer Corie Harnett has said of Lara’s music:

“Lara Martin’s music takes you on a journey to the centre of your heart space, opens the floodgates and let’s you share in an experience of common humanity that is soulful, honest, profound.”

Lara is a lover of all art forms and in addition to music has acted and collaborated in many theatrical productions, films and dance projects.

For more on her music please visit her website www.myspace.com/laramartinsongs.

Shawn Jurek

Shawn has played an active role in Toronto’s music scene for over 10 years. In addition to writing and playing music Shawn is an accomplished mastering engineer. This provides him with constant exposure to new and exciting forms of music that continue to influence his style. Shawn has composed electronic music, performed in a 60s style beat band and composed music for short films.

He currently plays as part of Lara Martin’s band and as a member of the award winning folk rock group Graydon James and the Young Novelists. Visit their website www.theyoungnovelists.com.

Shawn’s own songwriting draws inspiration from some of his music idols including the band, Glen Hansard and Nick Drake. He gravitates towards melancholic melodies with optimistic undercurrents.

Chère Françoise

To hear Chére Françoise is to be enchanted. This Swiss songwriter’s music is a playful yet complex mix of jazz and traditional folk with electronica influences. Her music is all at once nostalgic, mysterious, and sometimes heartbreaking. There is a sense of something very new and original about her melodies while still alluding to the memories and sounds of the past.

Chère Françoise performed in several bands as a lead singer and has been writing music since her childhood. Living in both Zurich and Toronto, she is dividing her musical life between the two cities, incorporating all of these influences into her current sound.

She is excited to be touring as part of The Hidden Poems, and further enriching her musical experience.

To hear more of her music please visit her website cherefrancoise.wordpress.com.
The collective brings together Folk, Soul, and Jazz, combined with three-part vocal harmonies, eclectic instrumentation and songs in English, German and French. The Hidden Poems will captivate your heart and imagination leaving you with a sense of wonder….