CLOSE

Xyra Music: Flight of Odin, Mystic Angels, XYRA, and Verborgen

  • Home
  • Music
  • News
  • Press
  • Bios
  • Images
  • Guests
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Events

History

Discover
  
  • Overview
  • Flight of Odin
  • Xyra
  • Andrew Cann
  • John Wagner
  • Ragnar Ravensblood
  • Mark Jeffrey Campayno
  • Kenny Finger
  • Mike Karagiannis
  • Spiro Karagiannis
  • Mystic Angels
  • The XYRA Band
  • The LINE__
  • Verborgen Orchestra
  • Verborgen Trio
  • Event History
  • Media History
  • Discography
  • Producer: Multi-label, Kevin Gutierrez
  • Producer: Multi-label, Jim Ebert
  • Producer: Capitol Records' Marco Delmar
  • R.I.P. Co-Producer: Warner Bros.' Robert Goldstein
  • Muse
Verborgen Orchestra
Soon after running an elaborate ad in Washington City Paper, 'seeking prodigies or pros', virtuoso cellist, Fred Lieder phoned for an audition. Fred soon recruited percussionist, Norm Thorne. The five gathered, with the addition of 6-string bass player Edwin Cleverdon and clarinetist - flutist, Robert Fogleman to form what became the 7-piece mini-orchestra, Xyra & Verborgen. Xyra & Verborgen seemed to accentuate, and yet illuminate what is perceived as deep and dark. Conversely creating passageways of light with their notes, they appear to lead the wanton spirits up and out of the abyss, to be transformed and finally liberated. Xyra envisaged breeze ways and flowing streams of sorts, connecting her lyrics to the music, conveying an almost audio-kaleidoscopic effect.

Almost immediately after forming the full ensemble, Xyra & Verborgen returned to Omega Studios to record a 3-song demo of the lusher sound. The effort was engineered by Adam Hummer, with Chiacchierini and Dave Durr at the helm. About this time, Xyra received confirmation that the Verborgen Trio had been one of the 300 artists, out of 10,000 applicants, chosen to play the Philadelphia Music Conference (PMC).

A month later, the original trio showed up at the PMC, as a 7-piece, toting the new demo. Subsequently, Xyra received phone calls from Artista and Epic reps who attended the gig. They liked the sound, but were "looking for a hit". On their return from the conference, Xyra & Verborgen began their second group-recordings at NPR Studios. The session was engineered Terry Knight, under the baton of former Warner artist and Urban Verbs' guitarist, Robert Goldstein. The three tracks recorded that day wound up on Xyra & Verborgen's first CD, 'Where Glass Birds Fly'.

Before the CD was completed, Cleverdon left for family reasons and was replaced by Larry Lawrence on fretless bass. Foggleman joined a Christian band and was replaced by multi-windist, Don Stapleson who added saxophone to the mix.

On Lieder and Thorne's recommendation, the band mixed the NPR tracks and completed recording seven remaining songs at Recording Arts Studio, owned by engineer/producer, Marco Delmar. Goldstein shared production with Delmar, a Capitol artist and former guitarist for The Elektrics. In 1999, Delmar went on to produce future Xyra recordings, while Goldstein focused on a film score career. Before the 14 tracks for their second CD, Frightening Beauty were complete, Chillura left to form his own band. He was replaced by master guitarist, Eric Ulreich, who finished the 14 tracks. This marked the final lineup of Xyra & Verborgen.

Within two years, Xyra & Verborgen had released three CD albums on their self-label, Riding the Dragonfly, to include a 6-song EP called 'Shadows of Light. All three CDs, plus their earlier demos, garnered international airplay, and favorable reviews, worldwide - the last two receiving a Grammy nomination. As word got out, via various media, Xyra and company collected fans all over the globe. They even landed No.1 hits in Eastern Europe. Nonetheless, finding concert venues for a non-dance, non-party band was like booking a neo-Nico in long black robes.

Selling its unique sound in a mostly Pop market seemed an insurmountable challenge. (The emerging Goth scene may have embraced them, but nobody thought of that, at the time.) Thus, Xyra’s restless muse called for yet another approach...

Sadly, the Verborgen member bios were lost during a server crash. You may still be able to find them on Angelfire.com, under Xyra and Verborgen.

Top
Andrew Cann ~ BASSIST for Flight of Odin, pianist for all Xyra projects, 1996-to present John Wagner Ragnar Mike and Spiro Karagiannis...Live @ the 9:30 Club 2017 Kevin Gutierrez: MASTER MIXING ENGINEER for Flight of Odin Bill Wolf: MEISTER MASTERING ENGINEER for Flight of Odin Jordan Montgomery: FINE ARTIST for Mystic Angels and Flight of Odin Anastasia Ovchinnikova: MASTER ARTIST Flight of Odin "The Only Door" Flight of Odin cover art by Anastasia Ovchinnikova Dec 2010 Dec 2004 Dec 1999 Jan 2000 Dec 1998 <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Triple-Platinum Grammy winner, <b>Jim Ebert</b> produced Xyra's 2-CD, Never Lost Forever @ Cue Studios. <br /> <br /><i>(See Jim's personal bio for additional information.)</i> <FONT COLOR = 8000800238><b>Marco Delmar</b> produced 4 Xyra releases, including 'Where Glass Birds Fly', which was co-produced by Robert Goldstein. <br /> <br /><i>(See Marco's personal bio, hereon, for additional information.)</i> <br /> <br />Photo by <b>Craig Fitzpatrick</b> for VOA Television <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Photo © J.Matt Senkow <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>The way they were, with <b>Jeff Spencer</b> playing lead guitar on his custom Ibanez.  <b>Xyra</b> is seen playing her Diamond Series Schecter, and <b>Andrew Cann</b> is seen on the far right, playing his Roland keyboard (when he wasn't on his Ibanez electric named 'Jaws').  <b>Dave White</b> played bass for the one gig, with <b>Ron Smith</b> on drums, in the background.  This night, they opened for former <b>XTC</b> member, <b>Barry Andrews</b>.  The performance was reviewed by <b>Mark Jenkins</b> in <b>The Washington post</b>. <br /> <br />Photo © <b>Tatyana Vishnevsky</b>  <br />Photoshop effects: Xyra Violin, bass, mandolin: Never Lost Forever <br />Photo by Lloyd Wolf Drums and percussion: Never Lost Forever <br />Photo by Lloyd Wolf Photo by J.Matt Senkow; Frightening Beauty release Xyra at <b>Happinest</b>, looking pensive.   <br />Photo by: J.Matt Senkow <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Master drummer/percussionist, <b>Norman Ellsworth Thorne III</b> joined Xyra & Verborgen in 1997.  He appeared on all Xyra CD releases and performed many live gigs, including the PMC, Blues Alley, and The State Theater.   Norm is featured on the 2005 release, 'Through the Dark Glass Shining', and continues to play and record with Xyra and friends, to date. <br /> <br />Photo of Norm at NPR Studios by: Maggie Kunicki <br /> <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Master guitarist/composer, <b>Eric Ulreich</b> joined Xyra & Verborgen in 1999.  He completed the guitar tracks for the second CD, 'Frightening Beauty' and continued performing and recording with Xyra and friends through 2012.  Eric plays lead guitar on 'Siren in the Water', track 5 of  'Through the Dark Glass Shining' - XYRA's 2005 release. <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Violinist/composer, <b>Doug Empie</b> joined Xyra and Andrew for a <b>Nico 60th Birthday Tribute</b>, with <b>Rupert Chappell</b>, in October 1998.  In 2000, Xyra, Andrew, Doug and brother Bret Empie formed <b>THE LINE_</b>.  THE LINE_ recorded a home demo that landed on <b>WRNR FM</b>.  Doug performed and recorded with Xyra and friends again, in 2001 and is featured on the 2005 release, 'Through the Dark Glass Shining'. <br /> <br />Photo of Doug at Happinest by: Jeff Lewis <br />Frame created by: Tone' Wellington <br />Photoshop effects by: Xyra <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Pianist/keyboardist/composer, <b>Bret Empie</b> aligned forces with his brother Doug Empie and Xyra and Andrew Cann to form <b>THE LINE_</b> in 2000.  Bret later recorded keys and effects for all the tracks on the 2005 release, 'Through the Dark Glass Shining'. <br /> <br />Photo of Bret at Happinest by: Jeff Lewis <br /> <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Master bassist, <b>Larry Lawrence</b> joined Xyra & Verborgen in January 1998.  He performed several gigs, to include Blues Alley, Black Cat and The State Theater.  Larry also completed the bass parts on the first CD, 'Where Glass Birds Fly', and continued performing and recording with Xyra and friends through 2001.  Larry plays all the bass parts on the 2005 release, 'Through the Dark Glass Shining.' <br /> <br />Photo of Larry at Recording Arts Studio by: Xyra <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Virtuoso multi-wind player/orchestra leader/composer, <b>Don Stapleson</b> joined Xyra & Verborgen in November 1997.  Don finished the wind parts for the first CD, 'Where Glass Birds Fly', appears on all the CD releases and continues to perform and record with Xyra and friends, to date.   <br /> <br />Photo at Recording Arts Studios by: Xyra <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Master cellist, <b>Fred Lieder</b> was the first to join the Verborgen trio, in 1997.  Fred  performed many live gigs with Xyra & Verborgen, and recorded two demos and three CD releases with them at Omega, NPR and Recording Arts Studio, 1997-1999.  The last gig Fred  played with Xyra was at The State Theater, in February 2000. <br /> <br />Photo at NPR Studios by: Maggie Kunicki Clarinet, flute, oboe: Where Glass Birds Fly  <br />Photo at NPR Studios by: Maggie Kunicki 6-string bass: Where Glass Birds Fly <br />Photo at NPR Studios by: Maggie Kunicki <FONT COLOR = 8000800238>Guitarist/composer, <b>Cris Chillura</b>, Xyra and Andrew Cann formed the Verborgen trio in 1996.  Cris is featured on all the Verborgen works.  He continued performing and recording with Xyra and friends through the first 'Frightening Beauty' sessions of 1999. <br /> <br />Photo by: Michelle Chillura
Bios•Music•Press•News•Images•Events•Contact•Guests

Xyra Music © 1996-2022
All songs © Xyra H-Cann, 
unless otherwise specified.