The Carnival Royale, D.K. and the Joy Machine

Electro rock band influenced by The Killers, MGMT, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Cage the Elephant, Jay Z, Prince, Jane's Addiction, Beck, NIN, Depesche Mode, Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, Justin Timberlake, Radiohead, DJ La Rush, DJ Travisty.


"DK" is an NYC born, urban mountain dulcimer performer and singer-songwriter who plays both traditional “lap” and “Nova Scotian” style on four and five string dulcimers, holding the electric dulcimer like a guitar. It’s easy to get a sweet, seductive sound out of the dulcimer but DK takes it to another level---playing power chords, original fiddle tunes, edgy and mournful trad tunes and some lesser known covers, and original material that has a reputation for “rocking out” on this trad instrument. Even when playing acoustically, much of her work is beat driven with a roots undertone. She accompanies “The Joy Machine” (as she calls the dulcimer) with singing that is melodic, heart-felt, and powerful---with the gutsy, full-hearted voice you’d expect a “roll up your sleeves, there’s work to be done” woman to have---the kind of woman who would have worked the railroads or tilled a field.

DK performs a range of material, varying her set and sound depending on the gig and who's joining her on stage. Her repertoire includes old-timey, "trad," and fiddle tunes, original songs and instrumentals (ranging from an alt-folk sound to acoustic punk) and some covers. All of it's got energy and passion---and, of course, thanks to the dulcimer, a kind of dark, melodic joy.