Lead singer and prolific lyricist/songwriter, [Angel] Xyra H-Cann has written, recorded, and performed 6 albums of original material with various lineups that include Verborgen, The XYRA Band, Mystic Angels, and presently, Flight of Odin. The music can be pensive, message-laden, and mystical, albeit powerful and dynamic.
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“Sometimes, I feel a deep sadness for humanity… for our planet, which certainly comes across in my music. Conversely, I feel an optimism that attempts shining through the dense imagery I paint with my lyrics.There is little compromise for me. I must look beyond the earth and stars. I must call upon the mysteries behind the human psyche…”
~ Xyra
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Xyra was born to American military parents in Munich, Germany, on the Winter Solstice, under a full moon. After moving to the US, she developed interest in the visual and performing arts, beginning with piano, dance, and voice lessons from age 6. At age 14, after Xyra’s mother gifted her an electric guitar and amp, guitar became her preferred songwriting tool. The following year, she joined her first band, at age 15, singing lead. Xyra’s songwriting talent became more evident, later, winning her a Grammy nomination vote and international accolades.
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At Georgetown University Xyra hosted a radio show on the university’s station, WGTB FM and later guest hosted on WAMU FM at American University, programming music and conducting interviews that led to an interest in print media.
An earlier stint at the Corcoran School of Art inspired the desire to hone photographic skills. In the 1980s, Xyra started a fanzine that focused mostly on underground music. For this endeavor, she wrote reviews, press releases, and feature articles. She also provided articles and photographs of various artists and celebrities that appeared in other entertainment and special interest publications.
Music and non-music celebrities Xyra has interviewed and/or photographed include: Donald Sutherland, Walter Cronkite, Ed Harris, David Bowie, Roxy Music, The Smiths, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Johnny [Rotten] Lydon, Joe Strummer of The Clash, U2, David Johansson of the New York Dolls, Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks, Howard Devoto of Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Urban Verbs, David Byrne… and more.
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Despite her keen interest in multimedia journalism, xyra’s muse led her back to her own music…
On auditioning for Director of Music Theatre, Charles Williams at The Levine School of Music, Xyra began private lessons, and developed lasting affiliations.
At a "Metrognomes" party hosted by Levine faculty members, she met renowned Mezzo Soprano, Medea Namoradze who was soon to become her mentor. Medea welcomed Xyra as a private student and coached her on two album releases, "Frightening Beauty", and "Through the Dark Glass Shining". Her 5th release, “Never Lost Forever" with Mystic Angels, and the 6th with Flight of Odin, titled “The Only Door”, followed.
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Bands Xyra has formed and fronted are:
Verborgen, The LINE_ (The XYRA Band), Mystic Angels, and most recently, Flight of Odin.
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Presently, in contributing songwriting and vocal skills to the Flight of Odin project, Xyra duly applies what she has gleaned from master teachers, experiences onstage and recording in professional studios. Her main focus, now, is on developing unreleased material with multi-instrumentalist husband, Andrew Cann, drummer, Brian Bukovsky for their upcoming album.
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Notable live performances by Xyra with her various lineups include: The Philadelphia Music Conference, Blues Alley, The State Theater, WRNR FM live, WOWD LP live, Dave Grohl’s Black Cat, The 9:30 Club in Washington DC, and Downtime in NYC...
