Echoheart – Tides of Time | Rare AOR classic from 1989
This is a fictional story about a fictional band, made with love for that golden era of AOR we all miss and adore. Sometimes it’s fun to imagine finding a lost treasure that you wish had been released... and just so you know, no one was harmed in the making or photographing of this project!
Echoheart was formed in Providence, Rhode Island, by brothers Trevor and Jason McKinley, who had always dreamed of creating powerful, melodic rock anthems. The McKinley brothers grew up absorbing the sounds of 70s and 80s rock, and by the time they were in their teens, they knew they wanted to start their own band. They recruited their friends from the local scene, and Echoheart was born.
In the early 80s, they scraped together enough money to record two demo tapes, using a basement that doubled as their rehearsal space and recording studio. Their first tape, Shadows of Tomorrow, got some minor attention, but it was their second tape, Wings of Desire, that really made waves. The tape found its way into the hands of a few key radio DJs, and soon, Echoheart was a staple on underground rock radio up and down the East Coast.
Word of mouth started spreading like wildfire. Fans were trading copies of the tapes, and Monarch Records couldn’t ignore the buzz. By sheer coincidence (and perhaps a little luck), one of Monarch’s A&R reps heard the tape playing at a local rock club and quickly reached out to the band. Within months, Echoheart had signed a record deal.
After releasing a mini-album in 1987, Echoheart went back into the studio for their full-length debut, Tides of Change. Interestingly, the lead single, Tides of Time, had already been recorded and was meant to be the album’s title. But as the artwork was being finalized, the title Tides of Change was chosen for the album instead, creating a clever wordplay between the single and the album—a nod to the shifting tides of their music career and the broader changes happening in rock music at the time.
Produced by Paul “The Machine” Richardson—known for his sleek production on many great AOR albums—Tides of Change was a high-stakes project for both Echoheart and Monarch Records. The album featured epic, melodic tracks that blended soaring guitars, lush keyboards, and anthemic choruses. Echoheart’s sound was often compared to Winger, Tyketto, House of Lords, White Sister, and Signal, with the right mix of emotional depth and technical precision to capture the AOR audience.
East Coast radio stations loved them, and Echoheart got airplay nationwide and in Canada. The album even made its way to Japan, where it sold well, and import copies became hot items across Europe and South America. Fans in the melodic rock community saw the band as a fresh, exciting force, and many believed they were on the verge of a major breakthrough.
But despite the hype and the extensive tour that followed, Tides of Change didn’t make the commercial impact Monarch had hoped for. Industry insiders were baffled—everything seemed perfectly in place, but for reasons unknown, the album didn’t break through in the mainstream.
Echoheart disbanded shortly after, but their legacy lived on. The McKinley brothers—Trevor (vocals) and Jason (guitar)—continued to write songs together, becoming prolific songwriters for other artists. Jason moved to Nashville, where he’s now a highly successful songwriter, while Trevor became a sought-after producer in the AOR scene, helping to shape the sound of many up-and-coming bands. The other members also moved on to new ventures, but for fans of late-80s melodic rock, Tides of Change remains a hidden gem.
Band Members:
Trevor McKinley (vocals): Now a respected producer in the AOR world, helping new bands develop their sound.
Jason McKinley (guitar): A highly successful songwriter based in Nashville, writing for both rock and country stars.
Matt Wilder (bass): Matt runs a successful recording studio in New York, where he helps indie artists record their albums.
Ken Winters (keyboards): Ken became a session player, recording with rock, pop, and country artists throughout the 90s.
Steve Rogers (drums): Moved to Los Angeles, where he built a career as a touring drummer for West Coast rock bands.
Quotes from the press:
"Echoheart’s Tides of Change feels like a lost gem from the golden age of AOR. If you love Winger or Tyketto, this is a must-listen."
– East Coast Rock Review
"Tides of Time might be the single, but the whole album feels like a journey through time and change. Echoheart hit all the right notes."
– Rhode Island Rock Scene
"With its wordplay on Tides of Time and Tides of Change, Echoheart shows that they’ve mastered both the subtlety and power of melodic rock."
– The Rock Report
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