When Dom Liberati picked up the bass at age 12, he immediately knew a life of music was what he wanted. He quickly fell in love with the styles of The Police, U2, Pete Yorn, Switchfoot, and Jimmy Eat World to name a few, and did his best to mimic their talents. Ignited by the passion to be a songwriter and performer, he formed a band with his very talented cousin, BC, who played drums and sang. "We hammered out our first few songs and played them to death in the basements of each of our houses," Liberati explains. "It was the first time in my life that I felt absolutely certain about what I wanted my for my life. There was a fresh hope and connection in music that always moved me. I just had to find the right outlet."
After having been taken under the wing of national recording artist, BC's father, B.E. Taylor, Liberati tried to learn as much as he could from both B.E. and his guitarist/producer sidekick, Rick Witkowski, who is renown in the Pittsburgh/Weirton area. "I basically just followed those guys around and took notes. I am very blessed to have always had their guidance."
Dom and BC were the chief songwriters in the Ohio Valley regional success, The Way, for almost six years. Most of their bigger shows were opening for acts such as B.E. Taylor and Donnie Iris at venues like the Capitol Music Hall in Wheeling,WV, The Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh, PA, and several other small clubs spanning from Pittsburgh to Canton, OH. “We started gaining ground, but there was no cohesion. For the first time I felt as if I was missing out on something, and I think BC felt the same way.”
In the summer of 2006, Dom called it quits with The Way, and made arrangements to record his debut album entitled, Humans. “Basically, I needed a format change, but with the same talents as before. I wanted to stay as musically flexible as possible,” says Liberati.
Flexibility is ultimately what makes Humans stand out among most projects. Liberati attempted to use as many talented people he knew on the project, including BC and guitar phenom, Chris Price. “Chris, BC, and I make up the staple performers of the album, but so many of my dear friends contributed exactly where each fit, and that made it all the better.”
Liberati produced the album mostly himself, with the priceless guidance of Rick Witkowski. “Every single person who contributed in any way to this album made it what it is. I can’t even begin to describe how excited and grateful I am at the responses to the album. The message of the song “Humans” was the theme of what I am always trying to get across. It was the connection of the universal triumph and struggle we all face every day. Every other song on the album fit perfectly inside this theme,” explains Liberati. After two very special and successful release parties, one in Wheeling, WV, and one in Canton, OH, Dom went on to perform several dates throughout the year in support of the album.
In the winter of 07' Dom was asked to perform in the well-loved and prestigious B.E. Taylor Christmas Tour. It seems as if the tour brought momentum into the new year. In early spring of 08', Liberati released a video for the song "Humans" as well as starred in several episodes of the regional hit TV rock-umentary, Random Acts of Music. In addition, “Buried,” an alt. rock favorite of Humans was selected for the 2008 Cannes Festival’s Expose Your Muse compilation CD. Liberati then teamed up with pop rock artist Anthony Rankin for a double-headlined Border’s Books & Music Acoustic Tour in early March, which received such a positive response that Dom and Anthony decided to record a joint acoustic album. The double-artist album, entitled Frailty & Desire, features acoustic versions of songs from their latest releases, as well as previously unreleased material. It is available in a limited edition CD format only, whereas the two respective artists' EPs (Liberati's The Frailty EP, and Rankin's Desire EP) are available as digital-only EPs with exclusive bonus tracks not available on Frailty & Desire.
