• Born In A Cyclone (October 3, 2026) is the fifth studio album from Ottawa’s LH Express, following the acclaimed Painting Stars, which debuted at #1 on the Roots Music Report Canadian Blues chart in 2023. This time around, the band takes their signature blues foundation and pushes it into funk, R&B, soul, rock, and Afrobeat territory, creating a collection that is as infectious as it is emotionally charged.
At the heart of Born In A Cyclone is the unmistakable musical chemistry between lead vocalists Megan Laurence and Lucas Haneman. Their voices and personalities continue to complement and challenge one another, creating a dynamic that has become one of the band’s defining
racteristics.
The album opens with “The Things You Do,” a swaggering, groove-heavy duet that immediately sets the tone for what follows. Laurence and Haneman trade vocals with the confidence and playfulness of two artists completely at home in their musical conversation. That chemistry returns on “What About Me,” another standout duet that showcases the band’s ability to blend soul, blues, and R&B into something distinctly their own.
Laurence takes centre stage on several of the album’s most compelling performances. “I Love You” is a soulful and intimate showcase for her extraordinary vocal presence, while “6 Feet Under” takes the listener somewhere darker…a haunting, electrified dirge that builds an atmosphere of tension and emotion. Together, these tracks further establish Laurence as one of the most powerful and distinctive voices emerging from the Canadian blues scene.
Haneman continues to demonstrate why he has become such a respected guitarist and songwriter, moving effortlessly between electric and acoustic guitars throughout the collection. On “Love Thang,” his guitar work locks into the album’s irresistible funk and R&B pulse, while “The River” takes an unexpected turn into Afrobeat-inspired territory, driven by intricate rhythms and Haneman’s expressive guitar work.
Behind Laurence and Haneman, longtime bassist Martin Newman and drummer Valera Negovora provide the engine that keeps the LH Express moving. Their interplay is tight, and deeply musical, delivering the bump, groove, and rhythmic swagger that runs throughout Born In A Cyclone. Newman’s powerful bass lines and backing vocals combine with Negovora’s dynamic drumming to create a rhythm section that can move effortlessly from deep pocket grooves to explosive blues-rock intensity.
For Haneman, the album represents another step forward for the band, not only as performers, but as a creative unit. Haneman & Laurence produced Born In A Cyclone and mixed the 10-song collection, with additional assistance from David PJ Tettmar at Railroad Recording Company (Chesterville, Ontario). Mastering by the talented Philip Shaw Bova (Ottawa, Ontario).
A BAND BUILT ON CHEMISTRY
Formed in Ottawa, The LH Express, led by husband-and-wife team Lucas Haneman and Megan Laurence, have spent more than a decade developing a sound that refuses to sit comfortably inside a single genre. Their music draws from blues, soul, funk, R&B, rock, roots, and jazz, while remaining firmly grounded in the chemistry between four exceptional musicians.
Haneman, an award-winning guitarist, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, has been performing since childhood and holds a BFA in Jazz Studies from Concordia University. Laurence brings a commanding vocal presence and soulful intensity that has become central to the band’s identity. Together, their contrasting voices and musical personalities give LH Express its unique yin-and-yang dynamic.
Rounding out the group are Martin Newman on bass and backing vocals and Valera Negovora on drums, whose years of playing together with Haneman and Laurence have created a rhythm section that is both instinctive and explosive.
The band’s previous album, Painting Stars, marked a new chapter for LH Express and earned significant recognition, including a #1 debut on the Roots Music Report Canadian Blues chart. The band has also performed on major stages in Canada, the United States, and internationally, including the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and a performance in London, England. Their musical journey has taken them from intimate clubs to festival stages and even into the legendary rooms of Sun Studios in Memphis.
With Born In A Cyclone, LH Express take everything that has defined them, powerful vocals, adventurous guitar work, infectious grooves, and deeply personal songwriting and turn up the volume.
This is blues with a beat. Soul with some swagger. Roots music caught in the middle of a storm.
This is LH Express. STANDOUT TRACKS
“The Things You Do” — A funky, soulful opening duet that immediately pulls the listener into the LH Express groove.“The River” — An Afrobeat-inspired track driven by hypnotic rhythms and expressive guitar.“I Love You” — A soulful showcase for Megan Laurence’s captivating vocal presence.“What About Me” — Another irresistible Laurence/Haneman duet filled with chemistry and groove. “6 Feet Under” — A haunting, electrified blues dirge that reveals the darker side of the band’s sound.
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