The release of Mended feels a lot like a rebirth for singer/songwriter Mike Rivera. "I've done alot of growing up. In doing so I've matured as a writer". Mended is Mike's 2nd full-length album on his own
OvalMR Records.

Mended was produced in part by Anthony J. Resta of Bopnique Musique (Collective Soul, Elton John, Aerosmith and Run DMC). The CD was recorded during the spring of 2003 and the fall of 2004. Mike spent a month recording 3 songs with Resta (Scream out loud, What You Wanted, and Not for Nothing). Recorded with his former 33 K Street bandmates Joey Piero, Mike Bistany and Zach Rhey, they achieved radio airplay on independent stations including WXRV 92.5 The River.

In 2002 Rivera released his self-produced debut Screeching to a Halt. Which gained notoriety in and around the Boston area. “I didn't really know what I was doing at the time. I just figured if I played enough venues and made enough contacts that something would arise”. After recording with Glen Berube (among other great musicians from the Southern NH and Boston areas) Rivera says it was a "relaxing feeling" to finally release Mended. "I didn't have a lot of money for this album. But I never wanted to be that guy who released one album and then drop off the face of the planet. I have too much music left in me.”

Mended explores Rivera's experiences battling his own demons. And the strength to scratch and claw his way back. As Mike reacquainted himself to a life without vices, he began writing lyrics for Mended. The first track from the CD is Jury to The World. An upbeat ditty about getting mixed up with the wrong crowd. On it, Mike addresses his reservations about being the scapegoat in different situations. "When you're growing up, everything within that space and time seems almost surreal. And being invincible wasn't far from reality.”

The song that best displays Rivera's old soul is Not for Nothing. A song Mike wrote when he was 24 depicting a realtionship that seemed to take “all the wrong turns”.
To this day the song still teaches us of what not to do when faced with many kinds of trials and tribulations.

While the songwriter from Salem, NH continues to explore the scenarios of life, love and regret in his words. His music takes on the realities of everyday experiences and transforms them to sound.

Rivera sees Mended as being very popular with audiences of all ages with melodic messages that “every one has encountered, or will encounter.”

For more information feel free to give Mike a call
603-571-1769