Biography
by Dan Kimpel of Music Connection Magazine--It begins with a magical voice, warm enough to melt a glacier. The voice is connected to the soul of Joan Enguita, an accomplished singer/songwriter who distills her life's experiences into melodies and lyrics in the modern folk tradition. "I think of songs as tea bags," she explains. "They have to be in the water a certain length of time before they're ready."Judging by her recent outpouring of material, it's tea time. The Lancaster, California-based artist has two CDs. The first, Kiss Me Awake, is a suite of songs recorded acoustically as an expressive tableaux of guitar and vocals. Her second outing, Two Suitcases, features a studio of respected Nashville musicians tastefully accompanying Joan with dobro, accordian and traditional instruments.
Joan's mother was a classically trained singer. Her father played clarinet in the Air Force band for 27 years,. As a child of a military family, relocation was a key component of life. Her immersion in music began during her early teen years in Spain as she and her friends gathered around songbooks with guitars. She taught herself to play on her brother's instrument, albeit without his permission. "As soon as I'd hear him go down the stairs, I'd go in his room and grab his guitar and his Joan Baez songbook that had chord charts," she reveals. Her intricate finger-picking style was learned in classical studies during her college years in Minnesota.
Time spent behind bars--not as an inmate but as a visiting prison performer--has had a profound impact on Joan. "You walk through many slamming doors," she notes. "But the inmates who choose to come to those concerts are so grateful because they have very little outside contact. It's a slap of reality." Other less fettered performances include a showcase at The Folk Alliance in San Diego, coffeehouses and listening rooms throughout Southern California, a performance with Songsalive!, Borders Books and Music, a slot at Kulak's Woodshed and an appearance on the Emmy Award-winning series, Street Music L.A.
With the release of her two CDs, plans are being made for national touring. Meanwhile, in addition to concert and festival appearances, Joan donates her performances to community, prison and charity groups, while she expands her burgeoning catalog of songs. "Songwriters are the eyes and ears of the world," she notes.
Joan Enguita's music, like her life, has followed a path illuminated by faith, compassion and honesty. "Growing up, I had a lot of time to think," Joan says. "I have so many memories, because I moved so much. Much of my life is memory, not in the here and now, because many of those people aren't around me anymore." But the songs remember. And as they tell stories of the roads taken, her exquisite voice is a silver thread connecting all of the destinations right back to her heart.
COMING IN 2007
BEAUTIFUL--Joan has been in the studio producing and recording songs for Volume I of this women's topic CD to be used to raise awareness about domestic abuse and to raise funds for women's domestic violence shelters. This CD will be released by Joan's label, RED COYOTE RECORDS. Songs are performed by 14 Los Angeles female singer songwriters. Currently the CD is at Universal Mastering in North Hollywood.Plans are under way for a series of concerts featuring artists from the CD.
--2007 will also see the Red Coyote Records release of Joan's second CD produced by Travis Allen at Nashville Tracks L.A.
LATEST NEWS--Joan is one of three finalists in Music From Home singer songwriter contest. Keep your fingers crossed. There is a huge prize!--Joan's fall 2006 shows in Germany went great! She has a blast with Canadian country guitarist Karen Hatch (of The Chickwagon Band out of Victoria, British Columbia). The audiences were delightful and very supportive. She's heard from many of her new German fans! Danke!!--In addition to numerous live radio appearances on public radio and college stations, Joan had an XM SATELLITE RADIO Channel 15--ONE HOUR INTERVIEW/LIVE PERFORMANCE. Hosted by Tom May on River City Folk, the interview featured discussions of early music influences (Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell) and six of Joan's original songs performed live.--This same one hour interview on River City Folk was syndicated to 150 STATIONS nationwide in October 2005.--The regular Enguita House Concert series that Joan and her husband host in their home is gaining attention by the local media and she was featured in a recent article in the Antelope Valley Press. It has become a favorite stop for musicians visiting the Los Angeles area...all donations go to the artists! Watch for upcoming show in the calendar!