[Cover photo credit to Shots by Morrison]
Singer/songwriter Heather Anne Lomax is gearing up to release The Doman Tracks via Blackbird Record Label on November 3rd, 2023. The Doman Tracks consists of a previously unheard collaboration of original songs recorded with the late Michael Doman, formerly the singer/songwriter and producer of the ‘80s L.A. Rock band Broken Homes.
Lomax and Doman recorded the material together across a period of two years with Lomax taking lead vocals, Doman singing duet and background vocals, and Jeff Sebens, as well as both Lomax and Doman on guitar. The sessions, all cut live, also featured support from other local players, with engineer Jason Hiller’s bass parts added later. Though the recordings weren’t released at the time, Lomax returned to them after Doman’s untimely death from a brain illness in 2020.
Wildfire Music + News is very pleased to premier the video and song “Heavy Load” from The Doman Tracks today, a single which will also arrive digitally on September 29th.
“Heavy Load” is both a confessional track that seems to speak from a position of self-knowledge and one that’s particularly accessible because of its direct lyricism. Not only unpretentious in its admissions of being “in need of healing”, delivering a message from a “troubled soul”, the song also has underlying Country and Blues elements that contribute to the emotional plea. The confidence of the Rock ‘n Roll delivery helps carry those traditions forward.
The video for “Heavy Load” introduces Lomax to viewers in her own curated reflection on these songs she recorded with Doman. But she also shares some tribute elements to Doman, including footage hailing from the period of recording “Heavy Load” that suggests his personality and contributions to the track. It’s a great touchstone for understanding the personalities at work in the song and for approaching The Doman Tracks as a whole.
Heather Anne Lomax shares regarding the song and collaborating with Doman:
‘Heavy Load’ was written actually as a country song first, and Michael wanted to do it with more of a Stones groove. He actually added the last verse, which has become a “sing along” at live shows.
The context of the song was written in the midst of slogging it out as a single mom, and wondering if I should use the money I had to buy shoes or more food for the week…
I chose to work with Michael, because I really respected his work as a songwriter and performer. He had an aesthetic that resonated with me, and I knew that he wouldn’t settle for anything less than excellence.
The song “Heavy Load” features Lomax and Doman on vocals, Lomax, Doman, and Jeff Sebens on guitar, Jason Hiller on bass, Arlan Scheirbaum on piano, and Joel Alpers on drums.
Lomax and Doman came to collaborate after meeting at a showcase when Doman working solo at L.A. venues like the Hotel Cafe, Kulak’s Woodshed, and Room 5, but was still the front man and principal songwriter for Broken Homes, though the group later dissolved in the early 90s.
Heather Anne Lomax has worked primarily in Americana and the Country-Rock and Blues genres. Now Los Angeles-based, the artist has previously opened for Wynonna and The Big Noise, Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton, Kenny Rogers, Jeff Bridges, John Hiatt, Richie Furay, Don McLean, Judy Collins, Marshall Tucker Band, Joan Osborne, Melanie, Blood Sweat & Tears and War.
She recently performed in Nashville during AmericanaFest and will be playing some one-off shows across the West Coast before a special record release show in Los Angeles in late November at The Troubadour with Blackbird labelmates Manda Mosher and Abby Posner.
HEATHER ANNE LOMAX TOUR DATES:
11/8 San Francisco, CA @ Lost Church (with Pi Jacobs)
11/12 Portland, OR @ Al’s Den
11/29 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour – Record Release Show (with Manda Mosher & Abby Posner)
