(February 3, 2026) The inspiration that led to the creation of the song “Distance “comes from a place of profound grief. The Canadian based singer DomLand (Dominque Gorley) experienced the kind of loss that shakes a person to their core. The love of her life drowned while kayaking in 2022. DomLand was three months pregnant at the time. As she put it in an Instagram post, she was grieving the loss of the love of her life while trying to protect the life growing inside of her.
DomLand said that she and Phil were both part of the Ottawa musical scene and had known each other for many years. However, the two ran into each other on a random night and their professional relationship grew into a romance. The two became a family that was set to expand until that tragic day.
In the throes of grief, DomLand brought life into the world when she gave birth to her son, Lyric. Then she channeled her pain into her art. The result is “Distance,” one of three tracks on her EP Dipped in Black. “Distance” is featured in this First Listen.
“Distance” is a song about love and memory and the power that both have to transcend the boundaries of life and death. Check out “Distance,” DomLand’s powerful tribute to the father of her child.
By Howard Dukes
