After recovering from a car accident, resulting in a cervical spine fusion, Xyra placed another ad in the Washington City Paper, hoping to find impetus and input for a new project. As fate would have it, bassist-violinist, Vince Calcaterra, MB, and drummer-percussionist, Marc Collier, DMM, answered her ad. Both were enthusiastic to join an original music band offering recording and performance opportunities. Xyra tagged the group, Mystic Angels Within a year, the four developed and recorded of 16 of Xyra's previously unreleased songs.
Xyra and Mystic Angels decided to employ Cue Recording Studios, with triple-Platinum Grammy producer, Jim Ebert and engineer, Sean Russell at the helm. Studio A @ Cue, with its concert grand was perfect for Andrew's piano parts and their acoustic sets. The Red Room was ideal for the louder takes, featuring Marc's elaborate drum and percussion setup. Final mixes and vocals were fine-tuned in Studio B. Titled "Never Lost Forever", the album melded several genres, "executed with finesse, strong musicianship, and feeling".
Hopes were high. Ads went out announcing the release. Tee shirts and posters accompanied production of the double-album. CD Baby, their Indie distributor flooded the market with digital media. The band received debut airplay on WAMU FM, with a plug by WAMU personality, Lee Michael Demsey, and radio legend, Cerphe Colwell wrote a rave review. Despite a year of rehearsals, much hoopla, and plans for a tour, unbeknownst to them, the band was doomed.
On December 12, 2010, the band debuted Never Lost Forever at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA. Xyra had ignored the advice of a seasoned astrologer, who warned against the date. Ultimately, the astrologer was right. That night, a freak ice-storm swept the area. Drummer, Marc developed stage fright and forgot song intros and endings. The ice storm impeded attendance. Guests of certain band members walked in, free. The band did not draw, as expected. Xyra paid the band, and Jammin' Java for the loss of revenue, but not herself.
Soon thereafter, arguments ensued over blame and the band split apart. In retrospect, the project could have waited until spring of 2011. Nevertheless, all experiences lead to wisdom, one tends to hope.
