# Enigma > German musical group **Wikidata**: [Q485512](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q485512) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_(German_band)) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/enigma-q485512 ## Summary Enigma is a German musical group founded in 1990 by Romanian–German musician Michael Cretu, known for pioneering new age music through ambient electronic soundscapes blending Gregorian chants, world music, and synthesizers. The project achieved global fame with its debut album *MCMXC a.D.*, which sold over 27 million copies worldwide. It operates as a musical ensemble performing in the new age genre, associated with the British record label Charisma. ## Key Facts - **Type**: Musical group (musical ensemble which performs music); wikidata_description: German musical group - **Origin**: Germany (country in Central Europe) - **Genre**: New age music (genre of popular music; inception: +1960-01-01T00:00:00Z; sitelink_count: 47) - **Inception**: +1990-01-01T00:00:00Z; work_period_start: +1990-00-00T00:00:00Z - **Founder/Producer**: Michael Cretu (Romanian–German musician, singer, songwriter, and producer; occupation: , , , , , , ; citizenship: , , ; sitelink_count: 34) - **Record Label**: Charisma (British record label; inception: +1969-00-00T00:00:00Z; country: ; headquarters: Q21; sitelink_count: 19) - **Websites**: http://www.enigma.de/, https://www.enigmaspace.com, http://www.enigmaspace.com/ - **Sitelink Count**: 48 - **Wikipedia Title**: Enigma (German band) - **Key Album**: *MCMXC a.D.* (debut album released in 1990; sold over 27 million copies worldwide) - **Related Entities**: musical group [Thing] (sitelink_count: 57); Germany [Thing] (sitelink_count: 400; inception preferred value: 1949-05-23 for West Germany/Federal Republic with qualifiers and references) ## FAQs ### What is Enigma and who founded it? Enigma is a German musical group specializing in new age music, established as a project by Michael Cretu in 1990. Cretu, a Romanian–German musician and producer, created it after his work with Moti Special, blending ambient electronics with spiritual elements. ### What genre does Enigma perform and what are its key characteristics? Enigma performs new age music, a genre emerging around 1960, featuring fusions of ambient, electronic, Gregorian chants, and world music. This style defined 1990s chill-out and meditative soundscapes through projects like *MCMXC a.D.*. ### What is Enigma's connection to Michael Cretu and his other projects? Michael Cretu founded, produced, and led Enigma, following his 1980s band Moti Special and later project Trance Atlantic Air Waves. His training at Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts informed Enigma's innovative production techniques. ### When did Enigma start and what are its official websites? Enigma began in 1990, with work starting that year, and maintains sites at http://www.enigma.de/, https://www.enigmaspace.com, and http://www.enigmaspace.com/. These serve as primary online hubs for the project. ### What record label is associated with Enigma? Enigma connects to Charisma, a British label founded in 1969 with headquarters in London and operations in the UK. This link supported its early distribution. ### How does Enigma relate to Germany? As a German musical group, Enigma originates from Germany, a Central European country with a complex history including inceptions from 641 (Germania), 800-12-25 (Holy Roman Empire), 1867-07-01 (North German Confederation), 1871-01-01 (German Empire), 1918 (Weimar Republic), 1933 (Nazi Germany), and 1949-05-23 (Federal Republic/West Germany per references). ## Why It Matters Enigma revolutionized new age and ambient music by merging electronic production with Gregorian chants and global influences, creating a commercially viable meditative genre that sold millions and influenced chill-out culture worldwide. Michael Cretu's vision through Enigma bridged 1980s new wave (via Moti Special) with 1990s electronic innovation, setting standards for soundscape design that producers still emulate. Its ties to Germany's music scene and Charisma label amplified its reach, making ambient music accessible beyond niches and shaping electronic genres' spiritual dimension. ## Notable For - Pioneering fusion of new age, ambient, electronic music, Gregorian chants, and world music in *MCMXC a.D.*, selling over 27 million copies - Founded by Michael Cretu, who transitioned from Moti Special's new wave success to Enigma's global phenomenon - German origin in a country with deep musical heritage, linked to Charisma for international distribution - 48 sitelinks indicating strong online presence and recognition - Inception in 1990, aligning with electronic music's commercial boom - Official sites like enigmaspace.com preserving its legacy - Connection to new age genre's 1960s roots, elevated by Enigma's meditative innovations ## Body ### Overview and Classification Enigma functions as a musical group, defined as a musical ensemble which performs music, with 57 sitelinks for the broader category. Its wikidata_description specifies it as a German musical group. Active from work_period_start +1990-00-00T00:00:00Z and inception +1990-01-01T00:00:00Z, it holds 48 sitelinks and the Wikipedia title Enigma (German band). ### Origins and Founding Enigma emerged in 1990 under Michael Cretu, a Romanian–German musician, singer, songwriter, and producer with occupations including , , , , , , , and citizenships , , (sitelink_count: 34). Cretu, born May 18, 1957, studied at Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. He previously fronted Moti Special, a 1980s German new wave band with moderate European success blending synth-pop. ### Musical Style and Innovations Enigma specializes in new age music (inception +1960-01-01T00:00:00Z; sitelink_count: 47), pioneering ambient electronic fusions with Gregorian chants, world music, and synthesized soundscapes. This defined 1990s chill-out and instrumental genres. Cretu's production innovated spiritual-meditative electronics, influencing global ambient production. ### Key Releases and Commercial Success The debut album *MCMXC a.D.* (1990) sold over 27 million copies worldwide, marking Enigma as a landmark. Cretu extended this with Trance Atlantic Air Waves, exploring further ambient and chill-out territories. ### Record Label and Distribution Enigma associates with Charisma, a British record label (inception +1969-00-00T00:00:00Z; country ; headquarters Q21; sitelink_count: 19), facilitating its reach. ### National Context: Germany Rooted in Germany (country in Central Europe; sitelink_count: 400), Enigma draws from a nation with layered inceptions: preferred 1949-05-23 (West Germany/Federal Republic, qualifiers statement_is_subject_of West Germany, references including German, 2023-05-21/2025-02-23, hdg.de link, gesetze-im-internet.de/gg, Basic Law/, 17244, ); 1933 (Nazi Germany); 1918 (Weimar Republic); 1871-01-01 (German Empire); 1867-07-01 (North German Confederation); 0641 (Germania, qualifiers terminus ante quem, 0641, references , quote on Spätantike, , de.wikipedia.org Antike); 0800-12-25 (Holy Roman Empire). ### Online Presence Official websites include http://www.enigma.de/, https://www.enigmaspace.com, and http://www.enigmaspace.com/, serving as portals for the project. ### Michael Cretu's Role and Broader Contributions Cretu contains Enigma as a subsidiary project. His aliases Curly M.C. and M. C. Curly appear in works. Enigma built on his genre innovations, producing music defining 1990s ambient with vocal, instrumental, and world elements. His Frankfurt education grounded these advances. ### Related Entities and Networks Enigma links to musical group (sitelink_count: 57) and new age music (sitelink_count: 47). Through Cretu, it connects to Moti Special and Trance Atlantic Air Waves. Germany's cultural contributions to music align with Enigma's electronic heritage. ## References 1. MusicBrainz 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 3. [Source](https://www.musik-sammler.de/artist/enigma) 4. BBC Things 5. Discogs 6. YouTube API