Enigma is a German-electronic/new-age musical project founded in 1990 by Romanian-German musician/producer Michael Cretu, alongside collaborators such as David Fairstein and Frank Peterson.
Cretu had previously released solo albums and produced for other artists (notably his then-wife, German pop singer Sandra) before envisioning a project that would fuse mysticism, world music, ambient soundscapes and pop‐accessible beats.
Based in Ibiza (Spain) at his A.R.T. Studios, Cretu built much of Enigma’s sound around experiments with chant samples, ethnic instrumentation, and electronic production techniques.
Enigma’s debut album, MCMXC a.D. (released December 1990) became a phenomenon: combining Gregorian chants, whispered vocals, atmospheric electronics and dance rhythms. The lead single “Sadeness (Part I)” became a global hit. Musically, the project defied easy categorization: elements of worldbeat, new-age, ambient, pop and electronic intermingled. As one writer put it: “for many people, Enigma are something of an enigma.”
Albums
MCMXC a.D. (1990), was the debut that launched the project.
The Cross of Changes (1993), incorporated tribal and ethnic chants; expanded the world music palette.
Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi! (1996), a synthesis of earlier Enigma styles (Gregorian + world + electronic).
The Screen Behind the Mirror (2000), started shifting toward heavier electronic textures while still retaining Enigma’s signature chant/ethnic elements.
Voyageur (2003), A Posteriori (2006), & Seven Lives Many Faces (2008), these albums reflect further evolution: more pop/electronic, fewer Gregorian chants, diverse collaborations.
The Fall of a Rebel Angel (2016), after a longer hiatus, this album marked a return with ambitious thematic scope and new voice collaborations.
Globally, Enigma has sold an estimated 70 million units and achieved over 100 gold/platinum certifications worldwide. The project is often credited with bringing world-, chant- and ambient-infused electronic music into mainstream consciousness.
Enigma’s early success also inspired similar “enigmatic” projects mixing chant/world beats and dance electronics.