Persephone’s Dream

Individual Members Biography

Rowen is a co-founder of Persephone’s Dream. Early in his music life (1970-1980s), Rowen worked with bands such as Cobra, Iron Cross, Assassin, and White Water in the Pittsburgh area. These groups played a mixture of original compositions and Led Zeppelin covers. Rowen originally played bass guitar for White Water and later moved to play rhythm and lead guitar after he left the group. Rowen’s influences are Rush’s Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, Blue Oyster Cult’s Buck Dharma, Golden Earring’s Rinus Gerritsen, Kiss’s Gene Simmons and later Ed Wynne of Ozrics Tentacles. Other bands Rowen was influenced by are Steely DanFoghatSupertrampand Steve Miller. Rowen is currently running a studio and composing music with Persephone™s Dream and lives north of Pittsburgh.

Chris has been playing bass since 1993 and started his musical playing life alongside Rowen playing Rush covers in Rowen’s dining room. Chris has been influenced mostly by Rush’s Geddy Lee and has adapted his style ever since 1993. Other bass player influences include John MyungJohn PatittucciTony Levin and many others. Chris has appeared on five of the six albums in the PD portfolio. Chris plays Dingwall and MusicMan basses, and every once in a while brings out Tony Levin’s funk fingers. Chris is currently working with Persephone’s Dream and lives in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Jim Puskar started drumming in 1980 just when The Police were releasing their third album. Unbeknownst to Stuart Copeland, Jim Puskar was listening and watching with keen interest. Jim loved listening to Copelands drums and style, which was enough motivation to pick up the sticks. Jim is proud to be influenced by musicians such as Vinnie ColaiutaDennis ChambersVirgil Donatiand many others. Jim has been involved with various musical groups that played both original and cover songs, but Jim’s favorite interest was composing original music. Jim, recorded a CD with a group called the Moodswingers in 2011 and later worked with Whitney Ann Jenkins on her first CD release in 2013. Jim, has also performed with bands that opened for the Temptations and Steve Morris. Jim, is currently working with Persephone’s Dream and resides in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Kelly Fletcher began playing drums in her teens, studied percussion performance on scholarship at Kent State University…and then went on to take a decades-long hiatus from music. She’s a long-time enthusiast of Persephone’s Dream, and since 2005 has served in various adjunct roles: roadie, lyricist, studio assistant, coin-toss referee, and extra-ear extraordinaire.  Late in 2023, she finally joined the band in a musical capacity as a percussionist.

She is currently working on learning the music—both new and old—accumulating a respectable drums/percussion stash, relearning technique, and trying to remember everything she’s forgotten about what it means to be a musician. 

Her musical tastes are varied, ranging from garden-variety-80s-anything, metal of all types, and EDM…through newer interests like Latin, fusion, and African rhythmics…and of course, Prog! Current inspirations include drummers JoJo Mayer, Benny Greb, Tommy Igoe, Dennis Chamberlain, Anika Niles, Phil Collins, and Neil Peart.

Lauren joined Persephone’s Dream in February 2023. She is currently the lead vocalist and keyboard player.

Lauren began her musical journey at the age of 5 singing for the Kathyrn Kuhlman Ministry. During her teenage years, Lauren learned to play the drums and began playing keyboards in 1983. As time progressed, Lauren became known in the Christian music scene for her song writing and her emotionally charged performances. This opened doors for her to perform throughout the United States.

Lauren’s musical influences include Judy Garland, Carole King, Elton John, Petra, Delirious, Worldwide Message Tribe, Jenniffer Knapp, and James Keller.

When she is not on tour, you can find Lauren loving and enjoying life in the Pittsburgh, PA area with her husband Charles and their German Shepherd, Vayrah..

Rowen Poole: guitars, synths, lyrics
Chris Siegle: bass, synths
Jim Puskar: drums, percussion
Lauren O’Leary – Vocals, Keyboards
Kelly Fletcher – Percussion

Website: http://persephonesdream.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/persephonesdreamofficial/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/persephonesdreamofficial/  
X: https://x.com/PersephonesDrm 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@persephonesdream632

Anomalous Propagation (Late 2019) LP, CD, & Digital

Pan: An Urban Pastoral (2010)
Pyre of Dreams (2007)
Opposition (2001)
MoonSpell (1999)
Evening Mirage (1997)

Whitney Ann Jenkins and her Platonic Guy Friends – Down Stage Left (2013) CD & Digital – Featuring Rowen Poole and Jim Puskar:

Persephone’s Dream – Rhizomatic Horizon from Melodic Revolution Records on Vimeo.

Skills

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