For over 40 years, I have been the primary songwriter and vocalist for the melodic hard rock/metal band NIGHTRIDER as well as sharing rhythm and lead guitar duties. The members of that band are the best friends anyone could hope to have in their lifetime. We literally grew up together from teenagers to adults with kids and now even grand-children. In 2019 we released our 3rd album “Rock Machine” (also see “The Mystic One” and “Archives 1980 - 1984”).

When Covid hit in 2020, I decided to start work on a solo album. The songs I wrote initially sounded very much like NIGHTRIDER material, but over time I allowed myself the freedom to go a bit further production wise…to let the songs go where they wanted to go. As many artists will attest to, we are often just the vehicle for these songs which somehow seem to write themselves while we go about our day and even when we sleep. I found the freedom liberating in an increasingly chaotic world amidst the pandemic, natural disasters, and political dysfunction on all sides.

At the same time, I threw myself into learning the art of recording and mixing music and how to build and acoustically treat a proper studio. Over the last two years, I built and rebuilt my studio four times, moved from NH to CT, recorded, mixed and then remixed the music on three entirely different digital audio workstation (DAW) programs. To say this album has been a labor of love is an understatement.

Why am I choosing to release this album under the name TAVYRN? In my home in the White Mountains of NH, I had a “mancave” in my basement with a full bar that I called the “Tips Up Tavern” (as any good skier knows, keeping the tips of your skis up is key). It was where we loved to socialize, share drinks, music and good times with friends.

I decided I wanted a musical outlet where I had 100% artistic freedom, but that would also allow and encourage participation by other musicians. A virtual tavern if you will (the misspelling frankly looks cool and makes it easier to find in search engines all truth be told). On this release, NIGHTRIDER bandmate Bert Plante played bass on two tracks and Ken Merrifield added a 2nd lead guitar to a track. NIGHTRIDER drummer Brent Enman was a daily confidant in all aspects of production (see his own solo releases “Wildman”, “Mojo Castle Sessions” and his “Retromatic” series). I can’t envision having recorded this album without his daily advice, guidance and inspiration. On future TAVYRN releases, I hope to invite more musicians in for a drink, some laughs, and some fun.

Let’s face it, none of us are making much money here…anyone still writing and recording music in 2022 does it because it is part of their soul. A life not writing and recording music for me would be a life in black and white, a life with no taste or smell, a life suffering even to breathe. It is who I am and who I have always been since I started writing simple songs when I was 13.

Which brings me to the lyrics on this album. When I step back and look at the collection of 10 songs, there is clearly a theme of darkness ultimately defeated, of triumph over despair, of belief over cynicism. The “dark” cover of this album is my attempt to capture how many of us felt over the last couple years, and also reflects some of my own anxiety stepping out alone with my first solo album.

I have no idea if anyone will even listen to this album and I’m not sure that even matters to me. I needed to do this, I needed to write these songs. The process kept me sane over the last couple years of insanity..

For those who take the time to immerse themselves in it, know that this album is the best I can do, this is me to my very soul.

Come on in everyone…the TAVYRN is open!.

Note: Physical CDs will ship by 10/28

Note: High Resolution WAV files are available upon request for those who purchase the album