Xyra (AKA Angel Xyra) not only photographed, interviewed, and reviewed national and international music artists for print and FM radio, but is also an original music artist in her own right. A prolific lyricist/singer-songwriter, her material can be found on 6 album releases, available worldwide.
Xyra was born to American military parents in Munich, Germany, on the Winter Solstice, under a full moon. At age 6, she showed interest in the visual and performing arts, beginning with piano, dance, and voice lessons. Later, guitar became her songwriting tool, after her mother gave her an electric with small amp for her 14th birthday. At age 15, Xyra joined her cousin’s band, Mach V.
Bands Xyra later joined and/or *founded were *The Look, Overkill, *Verborgen, *The LINE_, *The XYRA Band, *Mystic Angels, and presently...*Flight of Odin.
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An early stint at the Corcoran School of Art inspired Xyra to hone her skills in photography. Eventually, she began photographing a number of various music and non-music celebrities, to include Donald Sutherland, Walter Cronkite, Ed Harris, David Bowie, Roxy Music, The Smiths, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Johnny [Rotten] Lydon, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and many more. In addition, Xyra conducted interviews and programmed music at Georgetown and American universities for FM radio stations, WGTB and WAMU, sometimes accompanied by reviews and feature articles for entertainment and special interest publications.
Despite her involvement in multimedia journalism, Xyra's muse led her back to her 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. 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, in 2010, "Never Lost Forever" with the Mystic Angels, followed.
Presently, Xyra contributes her songwriting and vocal skills to Flight of Odin, aptly applying what she has gleaned from master teachers and experience onstage and in professional recording studios. Most recently, Xyra has written several more songs, also taking up the cello as a sideline. Her main focus is on developing new material with multi-instrumentalist husband, Andrew Cann, and securing advanced artists to play on the upcoming Flight of Odin album.
Notable venue performances by Xyra include The Philadelphia Music Conference, Blues Alley, Black Cat, The State Theater, WRNR FM live, WOWD live, and the 9:30 Club.
