David M. Epp - acoustic and electric 6- and 12-string guitar, mandolin, bass, drums, saxophone, keyboards, and a million other freakin' instruments. Except the oboe. I'm gonna have to get him an oboe. Oh, yeah, and he also does some backing vocals.
Carolyn Olesen - lead and backing vocals, small percussion, inspiration, motivation, including occasional whip-cracking, as needed.
Imagine some mad guitar wizard producing a hybrid of Ronnie Montrose and Leo Kottke … and then marrying it off to a wild siren sprung from the DNA of Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin. Their offspring might be Enigma.
Enigma is a dynamic performing/songwriting team out of Southeast Nebraska (but don’t hold that against them). They released their first CD, Juxtaposition, in 2006. This CD of original material is exactly what it says it is: a refreshingly unique blending of styles, from acoustic folk/pop to electric rock and blues, richly textured guitar compositions coupled with unusually intellectual and introspective lyrics, sung with gut-wrenching honesty. The whole is much more than the sum of its parts.
Guitarist and composer David Epp draws from a variety of inspirations to produce provocative works speaking to – and from – every corner of the soul. His inventive writing style and powerful expression provide a beautifully complex framework for vocalist/lyricist Carolyn Olesen, who herself is an amalgam of incurable rebelliousness and rigid discipline. Her lyrics explore joy and sadness, clarity and madness, past intermingled with present; from sassy to sublime, abject fear to just plain fun, Olesen’s poetry and delivery reflect the depth and extremes of human experience.
Enigma's second CD, Eccentricities, is now available for sale at cdbaby.com/cd/enigma2.
What do you call a compilation that combines the musical influences of Janis Joplin and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Heart and Craig Chaquico, Stevie Nicks and Blue Oyster Cult, K.T. Tunstall and the Scorpions, Bonnie Raitt and the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Sheryl Crow and Tom Petty? Eccentric, indeed… like their first release, Enigma’s second CD explores the gamut of human emotion and experience, sometimes with humor, sometimes with brutal introspection, and always with gut-wrenching honesty.
With a rich texture of interwoven styles, Eccentricities offers the listener a wild ride on a roller-coaster of darkness and light. This CD includes tales of love, of sadness, of playful daydreams and the terrifying landscape of the soul, a touch of social commentary, a humorously scathing statement about today’s political terrain, and even an imaginative journey to a most unusual nightclub. Their music ranges in style from acoustic neo-folk and pop to electric classic and progressive rock and blues.
We are pleased and proud to announce that we now have six of our original songs signed by Brandon Hills Music (BMI), LLC, of Brandon, WI. Publisher Marsha L. Brown will be submitting our music for TV and Film through BMI and Sony/BMG of New York, and also through several producers in California.
“David and Carolyn are two extremely talented writers and performers,” said Brown. “Their music is uniquely original. They have extraordinary writing skills, and if you combine the voices of Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge and Sass Jordan, you will have Carolyn Olesen.”
Hey! Just dropping by to say how awesome your music is! Join our mailing list if you like http://www.reverbnation.com/sillken or look us up @http://www.twitter.com/sillken or http://www.facebook.com/sillken Peace
Wow! You have a great sound. I really like your work. Thanks for the add. Please give my music a listen. I would value your comments. Much respect, Bill
Hi, have a great day. If you have time, I have a strange gig story from way back, that has loosely inspired the title of my upcoming album "Bright Lights Big City".
Hey there Dave & Carolyn! Hope you are doing well. We hope you'll check out our tunes and drop us a line. We are glad to have you as a friend and look forward to getting to know you!
REMEMBER YOUR MOTHER on Sunday May 10, 2009. If you would like to do something nice for your mother this year, consider throwing her a party...and give her flowers, cake and presents. She is your one and only mother. Love her above all others.
