Anna Bateman - Vocals
Ren Kennedy - Vocals
Don Stagg - Keyboards
Jozef Pilasanovic - Guitar / Bass
Gary Flint - Drums
Odonata : The order of insects including Dragonflies and Damselflies
... going past self-created illusions that limit our growing and changing ...
Back in early 2003 Ren Kennedy and Anna Bateman were singing together in Mozart's comedic
opera, The Impressario. Both girls, originally from the West Coast, immediately connect and found there was a meeting of spirit
and voice that was undeniable, and truly powerful. Anna's siliver and crystalline shimmer and Ren's golden powerful
rumble made a contrast that is at the same time sweet and thrilling. As their friendship grew they realized they shared
a desire to step outside of the traditional operatic world and forge bravely into the world of pop. They dreamed of
incorporating their classically trained operatic voices with instruments not generally associated with opera , like electric
guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, creating a unique sound that spanned from dance music to world beat and beyond. One
afternoon in Apirl, Ren innocently answered an ad placed by a composer looking for voices to communicate his songs, and in
October 2003 she and Anna were holding the four-track single Odonata in their hands, eagerly anticipating the world's response
to their music.
Odonata is Ren Kennedy (vocals/lyrics), Anna Bateman (vocals/lyrics), Don Stagg (composer/arranger/lyrics/keyboards),
Jozef Pilasanovic (guitar/bass), and Gary Flint (drums). The four songs chosen for the single shows how bringing these
five elements together can render diverse and unique songs, each with it's own flavour and message. "He Touched My Soul",
music and lyrics by Don Stagg, is a song of reminiscence and the fragility of love. "Spirit" music by Don Stagg, lyrics by
Don Stagg and Ren, is a duet between humanity and deity. "Pacis", music by Don Stagg, lyrics by Ren, is a prayer of
peace. "Snapshot" music by Don Stagg, lyrics by Don Stagg and Ren, reminds the listener to cherish memories and moments.
Listening to any one of these pieces may give one a glimpse into the genre where Odonata
may fit. "Snapshot" is blues-rock song with edgy rock vocals, whereas "Spirit" might be classified as world beat and
"Pacis" as electronic dance music and "He Touched My Soul" is a powerful love ballad that seems to hover between pop and country.
To slot Odonata into any on eof these genres would be folly and if a new genre could be created into which this group does
fit, it might be labeled epic-classical world beat, but that would only continue to limit the vision of there
this band migh tgo next and like clipping the wings of the dragonflies they seek to emulate, that too would be folly.
The songs for their new CD have themes of Egyptian goddesses, spanish dances and orchestral
montages, contrasting the operatic with the avant-garde keyboards, brilliant gutsy guitar and pentrating tribal drums throughout.
Refracting and reflecting light in our wings... Odonata
