Susan Cypher/The Nightbird

OVERVIEW: Let me tell you who we are and why The Nightbird exists. I started out singing and telling stories, mythic tales, fairy tales, at Ren Faires and at various local venues. I have also sung rock-and-roll, jazz, blues, and (though far from my favorite) country in various groups before landing on a style that became The Nightbird's sound. In my own writing, I seek capture moments of moonlight (as in Nighttime), the taste of the sea (as in "Siren Song"), dreams of elves and the fair folk. I have been intrigued and influenced by "The Lord of The Rings," and the old Faerie tales and songs. These beings we are fascinated by, so richly colored, danced in our legends, and as I wrote my imagination spun them into life, in both story and song. My writing seeks not to just play the rhythm or sing the notes but what was inside the song. I wanted to bring out the flavor, the "taste" and smell of words. The flavor of the words is what defines this group. They create a picture in your mind, let you savor it, with chocolate for the soul.

We have recently added in the Native American Flute, with a tom-tom accompaniment by Dave. This recent addition has been so sweet, emerging from my own playing with Theresa Joseph and Ambra Scarlett (both amazing players--see below).

My partner, stage name, "The Owl," just joined me recently in creating the music, lending his own special flavoring to the sound. He uses a variety of hand drums (Djembe, tambourine, congas, and Tumba) and other percussion to accompany and dance the song. Though new to the group, his rhythms are strong, but understated, insinuating its way through the song, finishing the sound.

As in many of the oldest Celtic songs, words lead the melody and tell a story. The writing sings with a voice fans say shivers like silver light. The rhythm, supplied by my life partner and drummer, are often Latin, with salsa, Rhumba, Beguine, flamenco, tango, mixed liberally with other ethnic beats and my love of the gypsy tambourine. Jazz fusion, which I was introduced to in college, occasionally creeps in, making the whole something a little different in flavor. Dark, sensuous, tasty, and very often naughty.

Labels such as as Wiccan-folk (Sing Down the Moon was accepted to a collection called "Dark Flowers" and this was their label), Celtic-Latin, or perhaps a Celtic-Gypsy fusion define what we play. We sing of moonlight and celebrate the sacred feminine. If that is what you are seeking, you will like this music.

Writers like Loreena Mckennit, Enya, or Cecilia (in my storytelling style) are closest to our style, but perhaps the writing style might recall Jethro Tull, in our storytelling style.

From here down, I have more of the traditional biography, read if you wish :)

PEOPLE PRAISES: Something that quite often I forget to include. I have many fans that have favorites like "The Torture Chamber," usually requested by males (oddly enough) though I have a fan in Australia who loves it because when she was going to college one of her classes felt that way. "Children of the Dawn" is another requested song with birds who rose from the ground wheeling and making patterns in the sky."No bird has a voice like yours." says Petrella (sweet wonderful lady), renowned as the first lady of Country Soul, who has performed with me twice when touring through the Grand Valley. Mike Nardone Director of A & R, Universal Music Group said, in a review of my music, "I enjoyed listening to your songs"…with "Siren Song" being a "well-written song and my favorite of your three songs" submitted for evaluation. He complimented me on my craftsmanship and said there had "passion and confidence throughout." (I should hope passion:)

If you keep reading you will see highlights of a wonderful and varied career.
SOME OF THE PLACES I HAVE PLAYED: The Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction at The Big Break in the summer of 2001. Lucky me, I was selected from a field of thousands as one of the top 20 acts.

MORE PLACES: The Unity Walk in 1999; writing a new story for the occasion, the 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007 Earth Day Celebrations in Grand Junction; coffee shops (including Java Junction); Grand Junction 125th celebration in 2007; Downtown Grand Junction's Farmer's Market; Colorado Renaissance Faire in Larkspur; Ravenshire Renaissance Faire for the last 4 years (starting in Ren Faires locally when it was at Powderhorn); Celtic Faire in Grand Junction for several years; and have often been a featured performer at The Planet Earth Gallery in Grand Junction for the Dark Show and Goddess Shows from 1999 until now (2009). Her song "Loss," was inspired by a performance in Loveland, Colorado at a benefit concert that raised money for a small boy who was born without ears. I will be performing, as a featured act, at the River of Light Festival in Palisade June 20, 2009.

AND MORE: In 2002 she journeyed to Park City, Utah and performed for the New Artist Radio Awards where she was ele