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{{Short description|Irish singer (born 1961)}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
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| alias = {{hlist|Enya|Eithne Brennan|Eithne Ní Bhraonáin|Enya Patricia Brennan}}
| website = {{URL|enya.com}}
|
| native_name_lang = ga
| birth_name = Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1961|5|17}}
| birth_place = Dore, [[Gweedore]], [[County Donegal]], Ireland
| genre = {{Flatlist|
* [[New-age music|New-age]] (disavowed by artist)<ref name="Enyafaq" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Thomas |first=Stephen |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/enya-p4197 |title=Enya |work=AllMusic |date=17 May 1961 |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>
* [[Celtic music|Celtic]]
* [[Pop music|pop]]
* [[world music|world]]}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Composer|singer|songwriter|}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|piano|keyboards|synthesisers}}
| years_active = 1980–present
| label = [[Warner Music|Warner]]
}}
'''Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin''' (born 17 May 1961; [[anglicised]] as ''Enya Patricia Brennan'') known [[mononym]]ously as '''Enya''', is an Irish singer and [[composer]]. With an estimated equivalent of over 80 million albums sold worldwide,<ref>{{Cite web|last=English|first=Eoin|date=2016-11-23|title=Hark! The herald Enya sings in historic Cork chapel|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20431919.html|access-date=2024-03-18|website=Irish Examiner}}</ref> Enya is one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|world's best-selling music artist]]s, in addition to be the best-selling Irish solo artist, and the second-best-selling music act from Ireland overall, after only the rock band [[U2]]. [[Enya discography|Her music]] has been widely recognised for its use of multi-layers of her own vocals and instrumentation, lengthened [[Reverberation|reverb]], and interwoven elements of [[Celtic music]].
Raised in the [[Gaeltacht|Irish-speaking]] region of [[Gweedore]], Enya began her musical career in 1980 playing alongside her family's [[Irish language|Irish]] folk band [[Clannad]]. She left Clannad in 1982 to pursue a solo career, working with the former Clannad manager and producer, [[Nicky Ryan]], and his wife [[Roma Ryan|Roma]], as their lyricist. Over the following four years, Enya further developed her sound by combining multitracked vocals and keyboards with elements from a variety of musical genres, such as [[Celtic music|Celtic]], [[Classical music|classical]], [[Gregorian chant]], [[Gregorian chant|church]], [[Jazz music|jazz]], [[hip-hop]], [[Ambient music|ambient]], [[World music|world]], and [[Irish traditional music|Irish folk]]. Her earliest solo releases were two piano/[[Synthesizer|synthesiser]] instrumentals for the ''Touch Travel'' T4 cassette compilation (1984) composed around 1982–83.<ref>{{Citation|title=Various - Touch Travel|date=1984-01-10|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/223688-Various-Touch-Travel|access-date=2023-08-24}}</ref> The majority of the [[soundtrack]] for ''[[The Frog Prince (1985 film)|The Frog Prince]]'' (1985) was composed by Enya, and she sang two songs with lyrics for the project. Enya also composed a body of work for a [[Documentary film|documentary]] series by the [[BBC]] named ''[[The Celts (1987 TV series)|The Celts]].'' A selection of Enya's pieces for ''The Celts'' were released as her [[Enya (album)|self-titled debut album]] in 1986, with the documentary and [[BBC Records]] releases in 1987.
The [[chairman]] of Warner Music at the time, [[Rob Dickins]], enjoyed listening to Enya's music for ''The Celts'' and signed her with [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music UK]]. The initial record deal granted her considerable [[artistic freedom]] and minimal interference. The success of her second studio album, ''[[Watermark (Enya album)|Watermark]]'' (1988), propelled Enya to worldwide fame, primarily through her international hit single "[[Orinoco Flow|Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)]]". In the following [[decade]] and up to the [[new millennium]], she released the multi-million-selling albums ''[[Shepherd Moons]]'' (1991), ''[[The Memory of Trees]]'' (1995), and ''[[A Day Without Rain]]'' (2000). Sales of ''A Day Without Rain'' and its lead single, "[[Only Time]]", surged in the United States following its use in media coverage of the [[September 11 attacks]]. Her subsequent releases included ''[[Amarantine (album)|Amarantine]]'' (2005), ''[[And Winter Came...]]'' (2008) and ''[[Dark Sky Island]]'' (2015).
"Boadicea", a track from her eponymous album, appeared in the soundtrack of [[Stephen King]]'s 1992 horror film ''[[Sleepwalkers (1992 film)|Sleepwalkers]]'' and has since been sampled in several hit songs, including "[[Ready or Not (Fugees song)|Ready or Not]]" (1996) by [[Fugees]] and "[[I Don't Wanna Know]]" (2004) featuring [[Mario Winans]], which became the second Number 1 single featuring Enya, in the UK charts. The song, featuring both the synthesiser and Enya [[humming]] the melody, continues to be sampled almost 4 decades since its initial 1986 release.
[[List of awards and nominations received by Enya|Enya's accolades]] include four [[Grammy Awards]] and six [[World Music Awards]], and she holds the record as the most-nominated female Irish artist at the [[Brit Awards|BRIT Awards]], with four nominations. "[[May It Be]]", her composition from the soundtrack of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' (2001), received a nomination for an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for Best Original Song. In March 2025, Enya received the [[RTÉ Choice Music Prize]] Classic Irish Album award, with her 1988 breakthrough album ''Watermark''.
==Early life==
[[File:Hotel, beach, and shipwreck south of R257 at Bunbeg - geograph.org.uk - 1159653.jpg|thumb|right|Enya's home area of [[Gweedore]], pictured from above in 2008.]]
Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin was born in the Dore area of Gaoth Dobhair ([[Gweedore]]) in [[County Donegal]] on 17 May 1961.<ref name="Larkin2011">{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA972|year=2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|page=972}}</ref> She is the sixth of nine children in the [[Clannad#Brennan family|Brennan family of musicians]], born to Máire "Baba" and Leopold "Leo" Brennan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicandmeaning.com/site/enya_ksca_2.html|title=Enya interview on KSCA-FM (Transcript) – Part 2|publisher=Musicandmeaning|year=1996}}</ref> In 1968, the couple took ownership of a [[pub]] in Meenaleck, Co. Donegal, naming it [[Leo's Tavern]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=Leo's Tavern|url=https://leostavern.com/|access-date=2023-09-29}}</ref> Leo Brennan was the leader of an [[Irish showband]] named the Slieve Foy Band, before performing solo. Baba Brennan (née Duggan) is said to have [[Spain|Spanish]] roots with ancestors who settled on [[Tory Island]],<ref name="billboard25Nov95" /> and she was an [[amateur]] musician who played with the Slieve Foy Band.<ref name="wsj2016" /><ref name="allmusicbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/enya-mn0000988471/biography|title=Enya – Artist biography|website=AllMusic|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref> She also taught music at [[Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair|Gweedore Community School]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Gaoth Dobhair teacher hopes for Euro vote on Friday|first=Michelle Nic|last=Phaidin|date=12 February 2012|access-date=25 March 2016|work=Donegal Democrat|url=http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/arts-culture-entertainment/37099/Gaoth-Dobhair-teacher-hopes-for-Euro.html}}</ref>
[[File:Crolly - Leo's Tavern - geograph.org.uk - 1174434.jpg|thumb|left|Leo's Tavern, the pub owned by Enya's family, currently under the proprietorship of her younger brother Bartley.<ref name=":7" />]]
Gweedore is a [[Gaeltacht]] region, where primarily the [[Irish language]], also known as [[Gaeilge|Gaelic]], is spoken. Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, her name, is [[anglicisation|anglicised]] as Enya Patricia Brennan,<ref name="Abjorensen2017">{{cite book|last=Abjorensen|first=Norman|title=Historical Dictionary of Popular Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZyrDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA163|year=2017|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-5381-0215-2|page=163}}</ref> with "Enya" being the phonetic spelling of how "Eithne" is pronounced in the Donegal [[Ulster Irish|Ulster dialect]].
The name Brennan was accidentally added to Leo's name at his [[birth registration]] in 1925; his family name was Hardin (also spelled as Harden). Leo used [[Brennan (surname)|Brennan]] for the surname of his children. In Irish, the surname is "Ó Braonáin"/"Ní" Bhraonáin - corresponding to "son of"/"daughter of Brennan".<ref name="smashhits1988">{{Cite journal |date=19 October 1988 |title=Personal File: Enya |url=http://enya.sk/2015/11/do-parsnips-scream-when-you-chop-them/ |url-status=dead |journal=Smash Hits |volume=21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331122355/http://enya.sk/2015/11/do-parsnips-scream-when-you-chop-them/ |archive-date=31 March 2016 |quote=...I actually left school I was 17 and I went straight onto studying music at college and after a year of that I started touring with Clannad, so I’ve never had a nine to five job. I did want to be a music teacher at one time. It just didn’t happen though...}}</ref> Leo's father Harry Hardin was a pianist, and he died performing on stage. Enya's paternal grandmother, Minna Lenehan, played the [[Drum kit|drums]]. They are both believed to have been born in England. Regarding Baba's parents, Enya's maternal grandfather, Aodh Duggan (anglicised as Hugh; affectionately addressed as Hughie or "Gog") was the headmaster of the primary school in Dore; her grandmother, Mháire Duggan (anglicised as Mary; née Gillespie) was a teacher. Aodh was also the founder of the Aisteoiri Ghaodobhair, the [[Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair|Gweedore Theatre]] company.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Leo Brennan: Accordionist played key role in musical formation of Enya and Clannad|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/leo-brennan-accordionist-played-key-role-in-musical-formation-of-enya-and-clannad-1.2698088|access-date=2024-04-08|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref name="irishroots">{{Cite journal|last=Brennan|first=Enya|date=September 2010|title=Enya recalls a special day that would change her life forever|url=https://celticmusicfan.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/enya-in-her-own-words/|journal=Irish Roots|volume=75}}</ref><ref name="wsj2016" />
Enya has described her upbringing as 'very quiet and happy'.<ref name="tracks1989" /> She mentioned that 'the house I grew up in was on my grandparents’ property, behind their house. Ours was built in the 1950s and wasn’t very big.'<ref name="wsj2016" /> Regarding her position in the family, Enya said 'it was difficult to be heard, but I was very comfortable with that because I was able to be myself, able to be let alone.'<ref name="Petersen_ivw" /> She also acknowledged that there was 'continual hustle and bustle and crying and chaos' amongst the nine siblings. Their maternal grandparents and aunt were quite involved with the siblings' upbringing at home, as Baba and Leo were travelling with the showband; Enya recalled 'they toured a great deal, mostly in Ireland and Scotland. When they did, my grandmother and my mother’s sister took care of us.'<ref name="wsj2016" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-15 |title=Ireland's Enya on How Life by the Sea Influenced Her Music |url=http://enya.sk/2016/03/enya-wall-street-journal/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=EnyaBlues |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|last=Sanghera|first=Sathnam|date=2005|title=Tea with the FT: She's a princess, sort of|url=https://www.ft.com/content/7ca5daba-5ca6-11da-af92-0000779e2340|access-date=2024-03-12|website=Ft.com}}</ref> Enya's songs "On Your Shore" and "Smaointe" (first released as the Orinoco Flow B-side track "Smaoitím") are dedicated to both her maternal grandmother and grandfather.
Along with the siblings' enjoyment of their childhood spent in Gweedore, they also grew up amid [[the Troubles]]. Enya recalls that when her family visited shops in [[Derry]] for instance, 'you’d be checked by people standing with guns', and even speaking in Irish in Derry was 'pinpointing where you came from, and it was too political at the time. Whereas for [Enya and siblings] it was our first language, and we didn’t see anything wrong with it.'<ref name="Petersen_ivw" />
Enya took part in her first singing competitions at the annual [[Feis Ceoil]] music festival between the ages of three and five years old.<ref name="irishroots" /><ref name="wsj2016" /> She also participated in pantomimes at the Gweedore Theatre, as seen in an early group picture where [[Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh]] was also present [https://www.pinterest.com/pin/903112531521841162/ .] Enya often recalls that at three-and-a-half years of age, she played the character [[Little Red Riding Hood]] on stage, singing a song. At the age of four, Enya began piano lessons and was learning English throughout primary school. In 2008, Enya described her early studies, having 'to do school work and then travel to a neighbouring town for piano lessons, and then more school work. I remember my brothers and sisters playing outside and I would be inside playing the piano, this one big book of [[Scale (music)|scales]], practising them over and over.'<ref name="smashhits1988" /><ref name="telegraph2008">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3562058/Enya-talks-about-her-new-album-And-Winter-Came.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3562058/Enya-talks-about-her-new-album-And-Winter-Came.html|archive-date=11 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|first=Jacques|last=Peretti|title=Enya talks about her new album And Winter Came|date=12 October 2008|access-date=25 November 2012|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
One particular memory of a very early public performance of singing at age five was recounted by Enya in her 2016 [[The Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]] article. At the theatre, contestants would 'perform two songs, starting with a slow one and finishing with a fast one [...] songs we were taught in [[primary school]].' Enya's mother was the pianist, and provided the starting notes for each person performing. By mistake, Enya 'began with the fast song. I didn’t realize my error until I saw my mother’s frown. I stopped singing and covered my mouth. There was silence, followed by laughter.' Enya then 'sang the right song. When I finished, there was a pause and I sang the fast song again. I won the contest [...] determined to get it right, and the audience’s laughter didn’t deter me.'<ref name="wsj2016" />
A large part of Enya's early musical background involved singing choral music alongside siblings in their mother's [[choir]] (Cór Mhuire) at the now destroyed St Mary's church in [[Derrybeg]]. The siblings' father played the [[accordion]] and [[big band]] style on the [[saxophone]], particularly [[Glenn Miller]]-type songs. Beyond the music she grew up around, Enya was aware of many artists of the 1960s and early '70s, and enjoyed watching [[Musical film|musical films]]. In a radio interview with [[Elaine Page]] in November 2008, Enya shared a selection of favourite songs from musicals. She said of ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar (album)|Jesus Christ Superstar]]'', 'it was such an original piece of music in 1970 [...] played in my house every single day, and myself and my sisters would sing word for word.'<ref>{{Citation|title=Elaine Paige - Enya interview - Essential Musicals of Enya; timestamp 27:58| date=18 September 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS0ZKNWNw-s|access-date=2023-11-26}}</ref>
Enya's brother Ciarán also mentioned that when the siblings were younger, before having a tape recorder, as Moya and Enya sang, he would play piano, 'give them two-part [[Harmony|harmonies]] and say, "You go into the kitchen, you go into the bathroom" and they were fascinated by this because musically it was very melodic, even though they wouldn't finally hear their parts until they sang together.'<ref name=":0" />
In addition to her musical endeavours, Enya also took part in local events, such as the inaugural Gaeltacht Festival in Gweedore, June 1970. At the age of nine, Enya participated in the Cailín Gaelach (Irish Girl) competition, which judged contestants on 'their fluency of spoken Irish, involvement in social and cultural activities in their parish and community, and appearance and deportment.' The competition was filmed and published in the [[RTÉ Archives]] in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gaeltacht Festival Gweedore |url=https://www.rte.ie/archives/2020/0605/1145667-gaeltacht-festival-gweedore/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=RTÉ Archives |at=[Eithne appears on video thumbnail, at 0:53–1:02, again at 5:55 - 6:19] |language=Irish}}</ref>
From the age of 11, Enya attended a [[convent]] boarding school in [[Milford, County Donegal|Milford]], Milford College,<ref name="irishroots" /><ref name="verybestofenya-nicky" /> run by the [[Sisters of Loreto]];<ref name="HonDoc_Cit">{{Cite book|last=Ó Muircheartaigh|first=Iognaid|url=https://www.nui.ie/college/docs/citations/2007/nuigHonCon07/enya.pdf|title=Address on the occasion of the conferring of the Degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa|publisher=The [[National University of Ireland]] ([[University of Galway]])|year=2007|___location=Galway, Ireland}}</ref> Enya's education there was paid for by her grandfather.<ref name="wsj2016">{{cite news |last=Brennan |first=Enya |date=15 March 2016 |title=Ireland's Enya on How Life by the Sea Influenced Her Music |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/irelands-enya-on-how-life-by-the-sea-influenced-her-music-1458056146 |archive-url=http://enya.sk/2016/03/enya-wall-street-journal/ |archive-date=15 March 2016 |access-date=9 February 2025 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref name="billboard25Nov95" /> The boarding school, now Loreto Community School, was where Enya developed a taste for classical music, art, Latin, and [[Watercolor painting|watercolour painting]].<ref name="billboard25Nov95" /> She said, 'It was devastating to be torn away from such a large family but it was good for my music.'<ref name="smashhits1988" /> Enya finished boarding school at age 17 towards the end of the 1970s, and she spent a year at college studying classical music. She previously saw herself becoming a piano teacher, as both her mother and grandmother had done, and gave piano lessons for a brief time in the early 1980s. This later evolved into composing and performing her own music.<ref name="smashhits1988" /> Enya states that 'music was never far from my mind but contrary to popular belief my ambitions were in no way connected to those of my family, as I knew I wanted to have my own career and make my own mark.'<ref name="irishroots" />
Enya has noted that she 'was always quiet, even as a child, so there has always been an air of mystery around me' also mentioning that 'at school, they’d always say, "oh, we never know what Eithne’s thinking or what she’ll say next".'<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=2012-06-25 |title=Queen of the castle |url=http://enya.sk/2012/06/queen-of-the-castle/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=EnyaBlues |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Career==
===1980–1982: Clannad===
In 1970, several members of Enya's family formed [[Clannad]], a [[Celtic music|Celtic]] folk band.<ref name="Enyafaq" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Thomas|first=Stephen|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/enya-p4197|title=Enya|website=AllMusic|access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> Clannad hired [[Nicky Ryan]] as their manager, sound engineer, and producer, and Ryan's girlfriend (later his wife) [[Roma Ryan|Roma]] as tour manager and administrator.<ref name="verybestofenya-nicky">{{Cite AV media notes|first=Nicky|last=Ryan|title=The Very Best of Enya (Collector's Edition)|year=2009|type=CD booklet notes ("It's Been a Long Time"|publisher=Warner Music|id=825646850051}}</ref><ref name=musician1989>{{Cite journal|journal=Musician|date=May 1989|title=Enya: Clannad's Little Sister Sails Away|first=Michael|last=Azerrad|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-25.htm|access-date=3 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092646/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-25.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> In 1980, after a year at college, Enya decided not to go to university and pursue a music degree, and instead accepted Nicky Ryan's invitation to play alongside the band Clannad, with him having wanted to expand their sound with keyboards and an additional vocalist.<ref name="verybestofenya-nicky"/><ref name="hotpress2016">{{cite web|last=Stokes|first=Niall|date=25 January 2016|title=An Interview With Enya: She Moves in Mysterious Ways|url=http://www.hotpress.com/Enya/music/interviews/An-Interview-With-Enya-She-Moves-In-Mysterious-Ways/16620990.html|access-date=13 February 2017|work=Hot Press}}</ref> Enya performed an uncredited role on their sixth studio album, ''[[Crann Úll]]'' (1980), with a line-up of her eldest siblings [[Máire Brennan|Moya]], [[Pól Brennan|Pól]], and [[Ciarán Brennan]], and twin uncles [[Noel Duggan|Noel]] and [[Pádraig Duggan]]. She features in their follow-up, ''[[Fuaim]]'' (1982), singing lead vocals on the song "An Túll" (The Apple).<ref name=billboard25Nov95>{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA5|title=Enya: 'Memory,' Myth & Mythology|first=Timothy|last=White|date=25 November 1995|magazine=Billboard|page=5|access-date=24 June 2016}}</ref>
The membership status of Enya in Clannad is a matter of some dispute. In a late 2000s interview, Ciarán mentioned that Enya was a 'hired hand' and not a full member, commenting that 'she was 18, 19 and we were paying her £500 sterling a week.'<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Joe|date=18 February 2007|title=The Beach Boy from Gweedore |website=Independent.ie |url-status=dead |url=https://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/the-beach-boy-from-gweedore-122288.html|access-date=2023-08-16|archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024031218/https://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/the-beach-boy-from-gweedore-122288.html}}</ref> In a BBC Radio Ulster interview with Moya in late 2023, she also noted that Enya was considered a hired hand with Clannad.<ref name="18:21">{{Cite web|date=2023-12-19|website=BBC Radio Ulster - Irish Music Icons |title=Video - Irish Music Icons - Moya Brennan |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0h0km63|access-date=2024-01-30}}</ref> Nicky Ryan also said it was not his intention to make Enya a permanent member, as she was 'fiercely independent [...] intent on playing her own music. She was just not sure of how to go about it.'<ref name="verybestofenya-nicky" />
In a 1991 interview, Enya herself said that she 'wouldn't call what happened a "split"and that she 'wasn't really a full member of Clannad.' Enya added 'I always felt I was just passing through [...] I was 18 and had studied music and was really feeling my way, trying to see what I could do.'<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2007-08-27 |title=Enya: Shepherd Moons Rise over Watermark |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/Articles/SM_01.htm |access-date=2024-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827051447/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/Articles/SM_01.htm |archive-date=27 August 2007 }}</ref>
Nicky discussed the idea of layering vocals to create a "choir of one" with Enya, a concept inspired by [[Phil Spector]]'s [[Wall of Sound]] technique that had interested them both.<ref name="verybestofenya-nicky" />
During a Clannad tour in Switzerland, 1982, Nicky called for a band meeting to address internal issues that had arisen, which he put down to the excessive drinking of one or two members.<ref name="Petersen_ivw">{{Cite news|last=Petersen|first=Anne Helen|date=2015-11-22|title=Inside Enya's Irish Kingdom|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/annehelenpetersen/the-keys-to-enyas-kingdom|access-date=2023-09-04|work=BuzzFeed}}</ref> He recalled: 'It was short and only required a vote, I was a minority of one and lost. Roma and I were out. This left the question of what happened with Enya. I decided to stand back and say nothing.'<ref name="verybestofenya-nicky"/> Enya chose to leave with the Ryans and pursue a solo career, having felt confined in the group and disliking being 'somebody in the background'. In an extended interview from 1989, Enya said that 'I wasn't composing it [the music], I was just ''there'', you know.'<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pEWSFS1FTg&list=PLwxTcrfBJvX9wXpd0731gV4qQRXusmsHZ|title=Coincidence|access-date=2024-04-23|via=YouTube}}</ref> The split caused some friction between the parties but, in time, they settled their differences.<ref name=musician1989/> Enya's brother Ciarán also spoke to Nicky Ryan around 2006, interested in recording in their studio with her, but Ryan suggested that this was unlikely to occur.<ref name=":0" /> Moya often praises Enya for what she has gone on to achieve in her solo career, and supposes that there were some musical foundations that Enya had built from her short time with the band.<ref name="18:21"/>
===1982–1986: Early solo career===
[[File:Former Ryan and Enya home in Artane, site of original Aigle Studio, 2022 (landscape).jpg|thumb|right|The former home of the Ryans in suburban Artane, Enya's residence and site of the original Aigle Studio from 1982 to 1989]]
Enya stated, following her departure from Clannad, 'the fact is that I had become very friendly with Nicky and Roma. I trusted them [...] basically, I felt there was more there for me career-wise.'<ref name=":10" />
Nicky suggested to Enya that either she return to Gweedore 'with no particular definite future', or live with him and Roma in suburban [[Artane, Dublin|Artane]], [[Dublin]] 'and see what happens, musically', the latter of which Enya decided was best for her career.<ref name="hotpress1987">{{Cite journal|title=Enya: The Latest Score|first=Bill|last=Graham|year=1987|journal=Hot Press|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-1.htm|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045348/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-1.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> After their bank denied them a loan, Enya reportedly sold her [[saxophone]], which she had been learning to play at the time, and also gave piano lessons as a source of income. Nicky Ryan used what they could afford to build a recording facility in the Ryans' garden shed, formerly a [[Scout hut]], which they named "Aigle Studio", after the French word for eagle.<ref name="hotpress2016" /><ref name="verybestofenya-nicky" />
A visitor to the house in the early 1980s described access as having to 'walk through the house to get to the studio [...] the kids [Nicky and Roma's daughters] were young then so the place was strewn with toys but the set-up suited everyone. They'd have breakfast and Enya would head off to the studio.'<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-04-07 |title=Enya: The making of a myth |url=http://www.enya.org/p_trans4/b068.htm |access-date=2024-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407215842/http://www.enya.org/p_trans4/b068.htm |archive-date=7 April 2005 }}</ref>
Shortly after leaving Clannad and thus the family home in Gweedore, Enya lived with the Ryans from 1982, until 1989, when she was able to buy a penthouse apartment in [[Killiney]][https://evoke.ie/2020/10/23/life-style/penthouse-1-killiney-hill-park-apartments .]<ref name="Enya_own_words_89">{{Cite web|title=Enya: In Her Own Words (recorded 1989 interview) "Dreams Come True"|website=[[YouTube]]|date=15 November 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VfZm-j17jA&list=PLwxTcrfBJvX9wXpd0731gV4qQRXusmsHZ}}</ref>
Enya and the Ryans rented out the original Aigle Studio out to other musicians to help recoup the costs.<ref name="londontimes2005">{{cite web|url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_16.htm|work=The London Times|title=The invisible star|first=Nigel|last=Williamson|date=10 December 2005|access-date=8 February 2017|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220632/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_16.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Burbank, CA, USA: Reprise Records (WEA Records), "Watermark", liner notes, 1988</ref> The trio formed a musical and business partnership, with Nicky as Enya's producer and arranger and Roma as her lyricist.<ref name="musician1989" /> They called their company, of which each owns a third, Aigle Music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://companycheck.co.uk/company/IE085184/AIGLE-MUSIC-COMPANY-LIMITED/companies-house-data|title=Aigle Music Company Limited|publisher=Company Check|access-date=25 February 2017}}</ref> In the following two years, Enya developed her technique and composition by listening to recordings of her reciting pieces of classical music and repeated this process until she started to improvise sections and develop her own arrangements.<ref name="geffenpress1989">{{Cite news|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-32.htm|title=Watermark press release issued by Geffen Records|publisher=Geffen Records (USA)|date=January 1989|access-date=22 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102850/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-32.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> Her first composition was "An Taibhse Uaigneach", Irish Gaelic for "The Lonely Ghost".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicky Ryan for 'The Very Best of Enya' |url=http://enya.sk/nicky-ryan-very-best-of-enya/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=EnyaBlues |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Brennan |first=Enya |title=The Very Best of Enya |date=2009-11-23 |publisher=[[Warner Bros. Records]] |isbn= |edition= Collector's|language=English}}</ref>
Following her departure from Clannad in 1982, Enya (as Eithne Ní Bhraonáin) featured on tracks alongside a few artists, often on keyboards or backing vocals, with Nicky Ryan as producer. She played the [[Prophet-5]] synthesiser on the group Altan's ''[[Ceol Aduaidh]],'' led by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and the late [[Frankie Kennedy]].<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Ceol Aduaidh|year=1983|publisher=Gael-Linn Records|id=CEF 102}}</ref> That year, Enya had the original offer from [[Mike Oldfield]] to sing on a new song of his, likely to have been "[[Moonlight Shadow]]". Supposedly due to existing contract clashes, she had to decline, so Oldfield later approached Scottish singer [[Maggie Reilly]] who sang on the record for Oldfield.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Falanga|first=Fabiana|date=2018-08-09|title=Moonlight Shadow: the hidden meaning of a painful song|url=https://auralcrave.com/en/2018/08/09/mike-oldfields-moonlight-shadow-the-pain-under-the-surface/|access-date=2022-12-12|website=Auralcrave}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Moonlight shadow - Mike Oldfield ft. Maggie Really - 80sneverend|url=https://80sneverend.com/moonlight-shadow/|access-date=2023-11-10|website=80sneverend.com|date=4 May 2020 }}</ref> An Irish folk-type song named "Bailieboro and Me", penned by [[Charlie McGettigan]], features Enya singing backing vocals on a 1982 recording, primarily credited as Eithne Ní Bhraonáin playing the grand piano for the song.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JmLVQAOFjE|title=ENYA ARCHIVE SPECIAL RARE 1982 Charlie McGettigan "Bailieboro And Me" ft Enya|access-date=2024-04-09|via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2004-01-28|title=Back to the future as Jargon hit the road again|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/lifestyle/back-to-the-future-as-jargon-hit-the-road-again/27533338.html|access-date=2023-11-10|website=Independent.ie}}</ref>
Enya's first solo endeavours began around 1982-83, when she began to compose two piano instrumentals, "An Ghaoth Ón Ghrian" (Irish for "The Solar Wind") and "Miss Clare Remembers". Both were recorded at [[Windmill Lane Studios]] in Dublin and released on ''Touch Travel'' (1984), a limited-release cassette compilation of music from various artists on the UK ''Touch'' label. She is credited as Eithne Ní Bhraonáin in the liner notes.<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Touch Travel|publisher=Touch|year=1984|id=T4}}</ref>
After several months of preparation, Enya's first live solo performance took place at the [[National Stadium (Ireland)|National Stadium]] in Dublin on 23 September 1983, and was televised for [[RTÉ]]'s music show ''Festival Folk''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/image/2297/079.html|title=RTÉ Stills Library: Image ref no. 2297/079|date=5 July 2012|publisher=RTÉ Archives|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> Niall Morris, a musician who worked with her during this time, recalled she 'was so nervous she could barely get on stage, and she cowered behind the piano until the gig was over.'<ref name="morris2007">{{Cite news|title=Deconstructing Enya|first=Niall|last=Morris|newspaper=The Sunday Independent|date=14 January 2007}}</ref> Morris assisted Enya in the production of a demo tape, adding additional keyboards to her compositions.<ref name="morris2007" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grahamecurtis.com/irishconnectionsmag/archives/v3i3/tenors.htm|title=The Celtic Tenors|first=Colette|last=Sheriden|work=Irish Connections|access-date=10 February 2017|archive-date=7 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107134708/http://www.grahamecurtis.com/irishconnectionsmag/archives/v3i3/tenors.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Roma thought the music would suit accompanying visuals and sent it to various film producers. Among them was [[David Puttnam]], after Roma had read an interview where he stated a particular interest in strong melodies.<ref name="SW88">{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002323/19881016/075/0016|title=Clannad clan froze me out|first=Eddie|last=Rowley|date=16 October 1988|newspaper=Sunday World|page=16|url-access=subscription|access-date=2 July 2023}}</ref> Puttnam liked the tape and offered Enya to compose [[The Frog Prince (album)|the soundtrack]] to the upcoming romantic comedy film, ''[[The Frog Prince (1984 film)|The Frog Prince]]'' (1984), directed by [[Brian Gilbert (director)|Brian Gilbert]].<ref name="hotpress1987" /> Enya scored nine pieces for the soundtrack. However, Enya's instrumental pieces for the film were rearranged and orchestrated by Richard Myhill. The film editor [[Jim Clark (film editor)|Jim Clark]] said the rearrangements were necessary as Enya found it difficult to compose to picture.{{sfn|Clark|2012|p=190}} Enya's two songs with vocals were not in the film, but on the soundtrack album, those being "The Frog Prince" and "Dreams", but the melodies are present throughout the film soundtrack. The words to "Dreams" were penned by Charlie McGettigan.<ref name="frogprince" />
Released in 1985, the album is the first commercial release that credits her as "Enya".<ref name="frogprince">{{Cite AV media notes|title=The Frog Prince: The Original Movie Soundtrack|publisher=Island Visual Arts|year=1985|id=ISTA 10}}</ref> The spelling as "Enya" for her began in 1983.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pEWSFS1FTg|title=Coincidence|access-date=2024-04-09|via=YouTube}}</ref> Nicky Ryan suggested this phonetic spelling of her name,<ref name="hotpress2016" /> with the likeliness that Eithne would be mispronounced by non-Irish speakers. Enya looked back at her composition work on the film as a good career move, but a disappointing one as 'we weren't part of it at the end.'<ref name="tracks1989">{{Cite journal|title=The Country Girl|journal=Tracks|first=Max|last=Bell|date=January 1989|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-16.htm|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102611/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-16.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="hotpress1987" /> Also in 1985, she sang on three tracks on the album ''[[Ordinary Man (Christy Moore album)|Ordinary Man]]'' (1985) by [[Christy Moore]].<ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Ordinary Man|year=1985|publisher=WEA|id=IR 0763}}</ref>
Enya's earliest interviews in English as a solo artist began in 1986. Whatever direction her music would take, she believed in being a 'true Celt at heart' and stated that 'any music I write, whether it be a pop song or a classical piece, would be Celtic music.'<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kzc5ECzxME |title=🍀 Enya Pat Shortt's Music From D'Telly RTÉ 1986 🍀 |date=2019-01-18 |last=Enya #Enya |access-date=2025-02-28 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
===1985–1989: ''The Celts'' and ''Watermark''===
[[File:Enya logo.svg|thumb|Enya's stylised signature logo, designed by [[Laurence Dunmore]]]]
In 1985, producer [[Tony McAuley]] asked Enya to contribute a track for the six-part BBC television documentary series ''[[The Celts (1987 TV series)|The Celts]]''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ByQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT4|title=...Newsline... Ireland|page=9|first=Ken|last=Stewart|date=16 November 1985|magazine=Billboard|volume=97|access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref> She had already written a Celtic-influenced song called "March of the Celts", and Nicky Ryan submitted it to the project.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5Bl95RUlwY&t=249s |title=Enya - A Life In Music - Part 1 |date=2008-04-19 |last=EnyaFanClub |access-date=2025-02-09 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Each episode was to feature a different composer at first, but director David Richardson liked her track so much that he had Enya score the entire series.<ref name=geffenpress1989/><ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 2001 |title=On Her Shore: An Exclusive Interview with Enya |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/adwr-17.htm |url-status=dead |journal=Inside Borders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911031530/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/adwr-17.htm |archive-date=11 September 2016 |access-date=23 July 2016}}</ref> Enya recorded 72 minutes of music at Aigle Studio and the BBC studios in [[Wood Lane]], London, without recording to the picture. She was required to portray certain themes and ideas that the producers wanted; however, in contrast with ''The Frog Prince'', she worked with little interference, which granted her freedom to establish the sound<ref name=tracks1989/> that she would adopt throughout her future career, signified by layered vocals, keyboard-oriented music, and percussion with elements of Celtic, classical, church, and folk music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warnermusic.com.au/enya|publisher=Warner Music Australia|title=Enya|access-date=14 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703130406/http://www.warnermusic.com.au/enya|archive-date=3 July 2009}}</ref>
In March 1987, two months before ''The Celts'' aired, a 40-minute selection of Enya's score was released as her debut solo album, ''[[Enya (album)|Enya]]'', by [[BBC Records]] in the United Kingdom,<ref name="hotpress1986" /> with the [[Atlantic Records]] release in the United States in 1986. The latter promoted it with a [[New-age music|new-age]] imprint on the packaging, which Nicky thought was 'a cowardly thing for them to do'.<ref name="sundaychronicle1989" /> The album gained enough public attention to reach number 8 on the [[Irish Albums Chart]] and number 69 on the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="UKchart">{{Cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29512/enya/|title=Official Charts: Enya|publisher=Official Charts|access-date=3 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713144026/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/29512/enya/|archive-date=13 July 2016}}</ref> "[[I Want Tomorrow]]" was released as Enya's first single.<ref name="hotpress1986">{{Cite journal|title=Enya: The Latest Score|first=Bill|last=Graham|year=1986|journal=Hot Press|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-1.htm|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045348/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-1.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> "[[Boadicea (song)|Boadicea]]" was later sampled by [[the Fugees]] on their 1996 song "[[Ready or Not (Fugees song)|Ready or Not]]"; the group neither sought permission nor gave credit. Enya took legal action and the group subsequently gave her credit; they paid a fee of approximately $3 million. Later in 1987, Enya appeared on [[Sinéad O'Connor]]'s debut album ''[[The Lion and the Cobra]]'', reciting Psalm 91 in Irish on the track "Never Get Old"<ref name="hotpress1988">{{Cite journal|title=Growing With the Flow|first=Niall|last=Stokes|date=1 December 1988|journal=Hot Press|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-5.htm|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=18 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018043824/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-5.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> which Enya later posted the words of as her tribute message to Sinéad following her passing in July 2023[https://x.com/official_enya/status/1684968803979956224 .]
Several weeks after the release of ''Enya'', Enya secured a recording contract with [[Warner Music Group|Warner Music UK]] after [[Rob Dickins]], the label's chairman and a fan of Clannad, took a liking to ''Enya'' and found himself playing it 'every night before I went to bed.'<ref name="hotpressoctober1988">{{Cite journal|journal=Hot Press|date=6 October 1988|title=Going with the Flow|first=Niall|last=Stokes|volume=331 |issue=6156 |page=481 |doi=10.1038/331481a0 |bibcode=1988Natur.331..481L |access-date=1 January 2016|url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-2.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101834/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-2.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> He later met Enya and the Ryans at a chance meeting at the [[Irish Recorded Music Association]] award ceremony in Dublin, where he learned that Enya had entered negotiations with a rival label. Dickins seized the opportunity and signed her, in doing so granting her wish to write and record with artistic freedom, minimal interference from the label, and without set deadlines to finish albums.<ref name="sundaychronicle1989">{{Cite news|title=Interview with Enya|first=Tom|last=Lanham|newspaper=The Sunday Chronicle|year=1989|url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-12.htm|access-date=2 January 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114015/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-12.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="orangecoast1992">{{Cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9BEEAAAAMBAJ&q=enya+shepherd+moons&pg=PA120|journal=Orange Coast|title=The Transcendent Sounds of Enya|date=March 1992|first=Keith|last=Tuber|pages=120, 122|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> Dickins said: 'Sometimes you sign an act to make money, and sometimes you sign an act to make music. This was the latter... I just wanted to be involved with this music.'<ref name="billboard1994">{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YAgEAAAAMBAJ&q=enya+shepherd+moons&pg=PA119|magazine=Billboard|date=23 July 1994|title=Ireland's Enya Strikes a Universal Chord|first=Thom|last=Duffy|pages=11, 119}}</ref> Enya left Atlantic and signed with the Warner-led [[Geffen Records]] to handle her American distribution.<ref name="sundaychronicle1989" />
When asked about whether women in pop have a hard time, she responded 'yes, they do. Definitely.' However, Enya has considered her position as a composer rather than just a vocalist to be an advantage 'because I write and perform much of the music, I'm taken more seriously than the girls who just walk into a studio, do a vocal and that's it. I can't even ''imagine'' what that would be like.'<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-03-07|title='Ere ain'ya Enya?!?|url=http://www.enya.org/p_trans2/p008.htm|access-date=2023-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307093125/http://www.enya.org/p_trans2/p008.htm|archive-date=7 March 2005}}</ref>
{{listen
| filename = enyalaetha.ogg
| title = "Na Laetha Geal M'óige" (1988)
| description = A sample of "Na Laetha Geal M'óige" (translates to The Brighter Days of My Youth) an Irish-language song from Enya's breakthrough album, ''[[Watermark (Enya album)|Watermark]]'' (1988).
| format = [[Ogg]]
}}
With the [[Greenlight|green light]] to produce a new album, Enya recorded ''[[Watermark (Enya album)|Watermark]]'' from June 1987 to April 1988.<ref name=geffenpress1989/> It was initially recorded in analogue at Aigle before Dickins requested to have it re-recorded digitally at [[Orinoco Studios]] in [[Bermondsey]], London.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Enya|series=Song to Soul|date=16 March 2016|number=107|network=BS-TBS|time=24:35–25–10|language=ja, en|url=http://www.bs-tbs.co.jp/songtosoul/}}</ref>
''Watermark'' was released in September 1988 and became an unexpected hit, reaching number 5 in the United Kingdom<ref name=UKchart/> and number 25 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] in the United States following its release there in January 1989.<ref name=sundaychronicle1989/><ref name=USalbumchart>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/301786/enya/chart?f=305&sort=date|title=Enya: Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=3 July 2016}}</ref> Its lead single, "[[Orinoco Flow]]", was the last song written for the album. It was not intended to be a single at first, but Enya and the Ryans chose it after Dickins jokingly asked for a single; he knew that Enya's music was not made for the Top 40 chart. Dickins and engineer [[Ross Cullum]] are referenced in the song's lyrics.<ref name=watermark2009/> "Orinoco Flow" became an international top 10 hit and was number one in the United Kingdom for three weeks,<ref name=UKchart/> and is credited with bringing new-age music to the mainstream market in America.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/number-24-hot-100-hits-2024/dont-worry-baby-the-beach-boys/|title=24 No. 24 Billboard Hot 100 Hits for '24: John Legend, Billy Joel, Carrie Underwood & More|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=4 January 2024}}</ref> The new-found success propelled Enya to international fame and she received endorsement deals and offers to use her music in television commercials<ref name=recordmirror1989>{{Cite news|title=Stormy Weather|first=Steve|last=Masters|date=10 June 1989|newspaper=Record Mirror|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-26.htm|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206064057/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-26.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> She spent a year traveling worldwide to promote the album which increased her exposure through interviews, appearances, and live performances.<ref name=hotpress1989>{{Cite journal|title=Around the World in 300 Days|first1=Enya|last1=Brennan|first2=Roma|last2=Ryan|date=December 1989|journal=Hot Press|access-date=5 January 2016|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-29.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185309/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-29.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
After promoting ''Watermark'', Enya purchased new recording equipment and started work on her next album, ''[[Shepherd Moons]]''.<ref name=billboard1992>{{Cite magazine|title=Enya faces music through feelings|first=Catherine|last=Applefeld|date=2 January 1992|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2 January 2016 |url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-13.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102841/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-13.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> She found that the success of ''Watermark'' added a considerable amount of pressure when it came to writing new songs, stating, 'I kept thinking, "Would this have gone on ''Watermark''? Is it as good?" Eventually I had to forget about this and start on a blank canvas and just really go with what felt right.'<ref name=bostonglobe1991>{{Cite news|title=Enigmatic Enya moves ahead with new album Shepherd Moons|first=Jim |last=Sullivan|date=4 December 1991 |newspaper=Boston Globe |access-date=2 January 2016|url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-7.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110632/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-7.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Roma Ryan wrote songs based on several ideas, including diary entries from Enya, [[the Blitz]] in London, and her grandparents.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Enya|first=John|last=Dilberto |journal=Jazziz|date=February 1992 |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-17.htm|access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093741/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-17.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Shepherd Moons'' was released in November 1991, her first album released under Warner-led [[Reprise Records]] in the United States.<ref name="billboard1992" /> It became a greater commercial success than ''Watermark'', reaching number one in the UK for one week<ref name="UKchart" /> and number 17 in the United States.<ref name="USalbumchart" /> "[[Caribbean Blue]]", its lead single, charted at number 13 in the United Kingdom.<ref name="UKchart" />
In 1991, Warner Music released a collection of five Enya music videos as ''Moonshadows'' for [[home video]].<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Moonshadows |year=1991|publisher=Warner Reprise Video|id=9031-76067-3}}</ref> In 1993 Enya won her first [[Grammy Award]] in the [[Grammy Award for Best New Age Album|Best New Age Album]] category for ''Shepherd Moons''. Soon after, Enya and Nicky entered discussions with [[Industrial Light & Magic]], founded by [[George Lucas]], regarding an elaborate stage lighting system for a proposed concert tour, but nothing resulted from those discussions.<ref name=musicweek1995>{{Cite journal |title=Enya: Conjuring up More Studio Magic|date=20 November 1995 |first=Paul|last=Gorman|journal=Music Week |access-date=6 January 2016|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-2.htm |url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121223042214/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-2.htm}}</ref> In November 1992, Warner obtained the rights to ''Enya'' and re-released the album as ''[[Enya (album)#1992 reissue|The Celts]]'' with new artwork. It surpassed its initial sale performance, reaching number 10 in the UK.<ref name=UKchart/>
After travelling worldwide to promote ''Shepherd Moons'', Enya started to write and record her fourth album, ''[[The Memory of Trees]]''.<ref name=":9" /> By this time, the Ryans had moved to the southern Dublin suburb of Killiney, and a new Aigle Studio had been built alongside their home, with new recording facilities which eliminated the need to go to London to finish recording for the album.<ref name="Gavin_MoT">{{Cite magazine |magazine=Gavin (The [[Gavin Report]])|issue=2089|date=1996-01-25|place=San Francisco |title=Enya: The Memory of Trees|first=Keith |last=Zimmerman}}</ref> The new album was released in November 1995 and peaked at number 5 in the UK<ref name="UKchart" /> and number 9 in the US,<ref name="USalbumchart" /> where it sold over 3 million copies. Its lead single, "[[Anywhere Is]]", reached number 7 in the UK. The second, "[[On My Way Home (song)|On My Way Home]]", reached number 26 in the UK.<ref name="UKchart" /> In late 1994, Enya put out an [[extended play]] of [[Christmas music]] titled ''The Christmas EP''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://discography.enya.com/singles/14.html|title=The Christmas EP|access-date=18 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903222422/http://discography.enya.com/singles/14.html|archive-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> Enya was offered the opportunity to compose the film score for ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' but declined as it would be a collaboration, rather than solely her composition and singing. A recording of her singing "Oíche Chiúin", an Irish-language version of "[[Silent Night]]", appeared on the charity album ''[[A Very Special Christmas 3]]'', released in benefit of the [[Special Olympics]] in October 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.averyspecialchristmas.org/albums/a-very-special-christmas-vol-3|title=A Very Special Christmas, vol. 3|publisher=A Very Special Christmas|access-date=3 July 2016}} Released by [[A&M Records]] (31454-0764-2).</ref>
In early 1997, Enya began to select tracks for her first compilation album, 'trying to select the obvious ones, the hits, and others.'<ref name=dailynews1997/> She chose to work on the collection following the promotional tour for ''The Memory of Trees'' as she felt it was the right time in her career, and that her contract with WEA required her to release a "best of" album. The set, named ''[[Paint the Sky with Stars]]: The Best of Enya'', features two new tracks, "Paint the Sky with Stars" and "[[Only If...]]".<ref name=abc1997>{{Cite web|title=...I don't think of how much I will sell|date=20 November 1997|first=Manuel|last=de Morales|access-date=6 January 2016 |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-7.htm|archive-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402174546/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-7.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Released in November 1997, the album was a worldwide commercial success, reaching number 4 in the UK<ref name=UKchart/> and number 30 in the US,<ref name=USalbumchart/> where it went on to sell over 4 million copies.
"Only If..." was released as a single in 1997. Enya described the album as 'like a musical diary... each melody has a little story and I live through that whole story from the beginning... your mind goes back to that day and what you were thinking.'<ref name=rte1997>{{Cite journal |title=A Fairytale Castle For One of Ireland's Richest Women|first=Alan|last=Corr|journal=RTÉ Guide|date=November 1997|access-date=5 January 2016|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-3.htm|archive-date=19 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619113819/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-3.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===1998–2007: ''A Day Without Rain'' and ''Amarantine''===
In 1998, Enya, Roma and Nicky Ryan received the [[Ivor Novello Awards|Ivor Novello]] award for International Achievement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-23 |title=Enya, Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan |url=https://ivorsacademy.com/nominee/enya-nicky-ryan-and-roma-ryan/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=The Ivors Academy |language=en-GB}}</ref> That year, Enya started work on her fifth studio album, titled ''[[A Day Without Rain]].'' In a departure from her previous albums, Enya incorporated greater use of a synthesised [[string section]] into her compositions, something that was not a conscious decision at first, but Enya and Nicky Ryan agreed that it complemented the songs that were being written. The album was released in November 2000 and reached number 6 in the UK<ref name=UKchart/> and an initial peak of number 17 in the US.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2000-12-16|title=Billboard 200 for the week of December 16, 2000|magazine=Billboard|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref>
In the aftermath of the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 attacks]], US sales of the album and its lead single "[[Only Time]]" surged after the song was widely used during radio and television coverage of the events,<ref name="VH12001" /> leading to its description as 'a post-September 11th anthem'.<ref name="billboard2005">{{Cite magazine|magazine=Billboard |title=Enya Expands Lyrical Language|date=21 November 2005 |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_13.htm|access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185729/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_13.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The exposure caused ''A Day Without Rain'' to outperform its original chart performance to peak at number 2 on the ''Billboard'' 200,<ref name="VH12001" /> and the release of a [[maxi single|maxi-single]] containing the original and a pop remix of "Only Time" in November 2001. Enya donated its proceeds in aid of the [[International Association of Firefighters]]. The song topped the ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]] chart and went to number 10 on the Hot 100 singles, Enya's highest charting US single to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=Infinity Charts: German Top 20 |url=http://ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~topsi/deu2001/deu_2001t.html|publisher=Ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de |date=5 March 2001|access-date=14 August 2009|archive-date=18 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218165740/http://ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~topsi/deu2001/deu_2001t.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2001, Enya agreed to write and perform on two tracks for the [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] of ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' (2001) at the request of director [[Peter Jackson]].<ref name=disquiet2002>{{cite web |url=http://disquiet.com/2002/02/01/into-the-mystic/|title=Into The Mystic|first=Marc|last=Weidenbaum|date=1 February 2002|publisher=Disquiet |access-date=14 August 2009}}</ref> Composer [[Howard Shore]] 'imagined her voice' as he wrote the film's score, making an uncommon exception to include another artist in one of his soundtracks.<ref name=lotrbook>{{Cite book|url=http://www.lordoftherings-soundtrack.com/fotr_annotated_score_2.pdf |title=The Music of The Lord of the Rings Films – Part 1 – The Fellowship of the Ring: The Annotated Score|first=Doug|last=Adams|year=2005 |pages=8, 23, 27}}</ref> After flying to New Zealand to observe the filming and to watch a rough cut of the film,<ref name=VH12001>{{Cite news |url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/adwr-27.htm |title=Enya: 'Time' and 'Time' Again|date=17 October 2001|first=Eric|last=Schumacher-Rasmussen|publisher=VH1|access-date=19 March 2016|archive-date=2 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402123002/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/adwr-27.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Enya returned to Ireland and composed "[[Aníron]]" (the theme for Aragorn and Arwen), with lyrics by Roma in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s fictional [[Elvish language]] [[Sindarin]], and "[[May It Be]]", sung in English and another Tolkien language, [[Quenya]]. Shore then based his orchestrations around Enya's recorded vocals and themes to create "a seamless sound".<ref name=lotrbook/>
In 2002, Enya released "May It Be" as a single which earned her an [[Academy Award]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]]. She performed the song live with an orchestra at the [[74th Academy Awards]] ceremony in March 2002,<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/rock-at-the-oscars-20080225/oscar-rewind-enya-2002-44817217|title=Rock at the Oscars: A Brief History of Music at Hollywood's Big Night (Image 17 of 42)|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=1 February 2011|access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref> and later cited the moment as a career highlight.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/enya-breaks-her-silence-on-fame-privacy-and-music-1.2428630|title=Enya breaks her silence on fame, privacy and music|first=Lauren|last=Murphy|date=13 November 2015 |newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=12 February 2017}}</ref> Her two songs for the film were recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios]].<ref name=":12" />
Enya undertook additional studio projects in 2001 and 2002. The first was work on the soundtrack of the Japanese romantic film ''[[Calmi Cuori Appassionati]]'' (2001), which was subsequently released as ''[[Themes from Calmi Cuori Appassionati]]'' (2001).
This release is formed of tracks spanning her career from ''Enya'' to ''A Day Without Rain'' with two [[B-sides]]. The album went to number 2 in Japan and became Enya's second album to sell one million copies in the country.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ABIEAAAAMBAJ&q=Themes+from+Calmi+Cuori+Appassionati&pg=PA62|magazine=Billboard|date=10 November 2001|page=62|title=Hits of the World|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref>
In 2004, Enya had another significant "Boadicea" sampling request from [[Sean Combs|Diddy]], for the song "[[I Don't Wanna Know]]" performed by [[Mario Winans]]. She said that the producer 'phoned the studio we were working in and Nicky took the call and he [Diddy] just said he had this fantastic singer that he was working with and it was Mario Winans. Immediately we said “send the song” and it was a great song.'<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiss|first=Passion of the|title=A Conversation With Enya About Sampling, The Nature Of Fame, And How To Control Your Career |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/passionoftheweiss/2016/06/20/a-conversation-with-enya-about-sampling-the-nature-of-fame-and-how-to-control-your-career/|access-date=2023-11-26|website=Forbes}}</ref>
In September 2003, Enya returned to Aigle Studio to start work on her sixth studio album, ''[[Amarantine (album)|Amarantine]]''.{{sfn|Ryan|2005|p=Foreword}} Roma said the title means "everlasting".<ref name=billboard2005/> The album marks the first instance of Enya singing in [[Loxian]], a fictional language created by Roma that came about when Enya was working on "Water Shows the Hidden Heart". After numerous attempts to sing the song in English, Irish, and Latin, Roma suggested a new language based on some of the sounds Enya would sing along to when developing her songs. It was a success, and Enya sang "Less Than a Pearl" and "The River Sings" in the same way. Roma worked on the language further, creating a 'culture and history' behind it surrounding the Loxian people who are on another planet, questioning the existence of life outside of Earth.<ref name=billboard2005/> "Sumiregusa (Wild Violet)" is sung in Japanese.<ref name=billboard2005/> ''Amarantine'' was a global success, reaching number 6 on the ''Billboard'' 200<ref name=USalbumchart/> and number 8 in the UK.<ref name=UKchart/> It has sold over 1 million certified copies in the US, a considerable drop in sales in comparison to her previous albums. Enya dedicated the album to BBC producer [[Tony McAuley]] who had commissioned Enya to write the soundtrack to ''The Celts'', following his death in 2003.<ref name=bbcnews2005>{{cite news |title=Enya Dedicates Album to BBC Producer|date=17 November 2005|work=BBC News|access-date=5 January 2016 |url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_23.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110637/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_23.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> The lead single, "[[Amarantine (song)|Amarantine]]", was released in December 2005.<ref name=billboard2005/>
===2008–2017: ''And Winter Came...'' and ''Dark Sky Island''===
Enya wrote music with a winter and Christmas theme for her seventh studio album, ''[[And Winter Came...]]'' Initially, she intended to make an album of seasonal songs and hymns, set for a release in late 2007, but the trio decided to produce a winter-themed album instead. The second promotional single of the album "[[My! My! Time Flies!]]", is a tribute to the late Irish guitarist [[Jimmy Faulkner]], incorporates a guitar solo performed by Pat Farrell,<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/awc-15.htm|journal=Hot Press|date=5 November 2008|first=Evan|last=Fanning|title=Ethereal Girl|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-date=18 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018043717/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/awc-15.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> the first guitar solo on an Enya album since "I Want Tomorrow" from ''Enya''. The lyrics also include some musical pop-culture references, such as [[The Beatles]]' famous photo shoot for the cover of ''[[Abbey Road (album)|Abbey Road]],'' and the lyric "a rap on a rhapsody" possibly referring to "[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" by [[Queen (band)|Queen]]. Upon its release in November 2008, ''And Winter Came...'' reached number 6 in the UK,<ref name=UKchart/> number 8 in the US<ref name=USalbumchart/> and sold almost 3.5 million copies worldwide by 2011.<ref name=brits2011>{{cite web |url=http://www.brits.co.uk/artist/enya|title=Enya | The BRIT Awards 2011|publisher=Brit Awards|quote=less that [sic] twelve months on, it has sold almost 3.5 million copies|access-date=25 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229210833/http://www.brits.co.uk/artist/enya|archive-date=29 December 2010}}</ref>
After promoting ''And Winter Came'', Enya took an extended break from writing and recording music. She spent her time resting, visiting family in Australia, and renovating her new home in the south of France. In March 2009, her first four studio albums were reissued in Japan in the Super High Material CD format with bonus tracks.<ref name=watermark2009>{{Cite AV media notes|title=Watermark|publisher=WEA Japan|year=2009|id=WPCR-13298}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=The Celts|publisher=WEA Japan|year=2009|id=WPCR-13297}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=Shepherd Moons|publisher=WEA Japan|year=2009|id=WPCR-13299}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media notes|title=The Memory of Trees|publisher=WEA Japan |year=2009|id=WPCR-13300}}</ref> Her second compilation album, ''[[The Very Best of Enya]]'', was released in November 2009 and featured songs from 1987 to 2008, including a previously unreleased version of "Aníron" and a DVD compiling most of her music videos to date. In 2012, Enya returned to the studio to record her eighth album, ''[[Dark Sky Island]]''. Its name refers to the island of [[Sark]], which became the first island to be designated a [[dark-sky preserve]], and a series of poems on islands by [[Roma Ryan]].
In 2013, "Only Time" was used in the "[[Epic Split]]" advertisement by [[Volvo Trucks]] starring [[Jean-Claude Van Damme]], who does [[Split (gymnastics)|the splits]] while suspended between two lorries.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davies|first=Alex|title=Jean-Claude Van Damme Did A Crazy Split Standing on 2 Trucks for a Volvo Ad|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/jean-claude-van-damme-epic-split-volvo-trucks-2013-11|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=27 November 2013|date=14 November 2013}}</ref> As a result, Enya's song "Only Time" re-entered both the US Billboard 100 and UK Official Charts in November 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-11-25 |title=ONLY TIME |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/enya-only-time/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Official Charts |language=en}}</ref> ''Dark Sky Island'' was announced on Enya's website on 15 September 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-16|title=New Enya album coming out in autumn 2015 - Enya.sk|url=http://enya.sk/2015/09/new-album/|access-date=2024-07-25|website=EnyaBlues}}</ref> Prior to this, guest musician Eddie Lee shared a post in August 2015, which indicated that new music by Enya was in progress.
Upon the album's streaming release on 20 November 2015, a week before physical release, ''Dark Sky Island'' went to number 4 in the [[UK Albums Chart|UK album charts]], Enya's highest charting studio album since ''Shepherd Moons'' went to number 1.<ref name="UKchart" /> The album went to number 8 in the US.<ref name="USalbumchart" /> A deluxe edition features three additional songs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Deluxe Edition + Cover – Enya.sk|url=http://enya.sk/2015/10/dark-sky-island-deluxe-edition-cover/|website=enya.sk|date=8 October 2015|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> Enya completed a promotional tour of the UK, Europe, the US, and Japan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Singer Enya returns with new album |url=http://www.itv.com/lorraine/showbiz/singer-enya-returns-with-new-album-dark-sky-island|website=itv.com|publisher=ITV|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Radio 2 – The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, Enya, Darcy Bussel, Evgeny Lebedev and the Corrs. |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06ns2yd|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Radio Ulster – Gerry Kelly, Enya is Gerry's special guest today|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06pcy34|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Enya talks hiatus, new music and crossing generations|date=30 November 2015|url=http://video.foxnews.com/v/4637856832001/enya-talks-hiatus-new-music-and-crossing-generations/?#sp=show-clips|work=Fox News Channel|access-date=1 December 2015}}</ref> During her visit to Japan, Enya performed "Orinoco Flow" and "[[Echoes in Rain]]" at the [[Universal Studios Japan]] Christmas show in [[Osaka]]. In Japan, in addition to performances of her music, she made several TV appearances featuring her partaking in Japanese culture, including wearing a [[kimono]], walking through [[Maruyama Park]] in [[Kyoto]], and visiting the top floor of the [[Tokyo Skytree]].
On 22 July 2016, Bosnian-Swedish DJ [[Salvatore Ganacci]] released the single "Dive", which heavily samples "Boadicea" and features vocals from Alex Aris.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/6eEZH8Y3lgmILNqt6SP1Xn?si=7915af4fbe334ea3|title=Salvatore Ganacci - Dive feat Enya and Alex Aris|website=Spotify|date=22 July 2016|access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> The single peaked number 14 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Digital Songs Sales chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/enya/chart-history/asi/|title=Enya - Billboard Dance Electronic Digital Songs Sales chart|magazine=Billboard|date=30 April 2016|access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> In December 2016, Enya appeared on the Irish television show ''Christmas Carols from Cork'', marking her first Irish television appearance in over seven years.<ref>{{cite web|title=And Winter Came – EnyaBlues|url=http://enya.sk/music/and-winter-came/|website=enyablues|access-date=21 April 2018|quote=Performances: Venue-Late Late Show (Ireland). Song-My, My Time Flies. Date-Feb 6 2009}}</ref> She sang "[[Adeste Fideles]]", "Oíche Chiúin", and "The Spirit of Christmas Past".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hark-the-herald-enya-sings-in-historic-cork-chapel-431919.html|title=Hark! The herald Enya sings in historic Cork chapel|work=Irish Examiner|date=23 November 2016 |first=Eoin|last=English|access-date=9 February 2017}}</ref>
===2019–present: Further acclaim and future projects===
[[File:Enya from photo dated 16 May 2025 (cropped).png|thumb|right|Enya in May 2025]]
Since late 2019, there had been a significant increase in activity from Enya's official social platforms.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fasmer|first=B. T.|date=2020-05-25|title=Enya Updates – Why is she back on social media?|url=https://newagemusic.guide/new-releases/enya-updates-why-now/|access-date=2023-09-19|website=New Age Music Guide}}</ref> There have been more official Enya posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, updates to Enya tracks and playlists on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, as well as YouTube channel updates and new content. Several music videos on Enya's official YouTube channel<ref>{{Cite web|title=enyatv - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/@enyatv|access-date=2024-04-09|via=YouTube}}</ref> have undergone [[4K resolution|4K]]/HD conversion since 2020. Numerous YouTube "watch party" videos and [[Vinyl revival|vinyl]] re-releases marking anniversaries of Enya's music albums and compilations have been released since. Regarding a new studio album, there have been mentions about Enya recording new music, according to several close sources. As of 2019, Enya's sister [[Moya Brennan]] had mentioned that Enya was recording music.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-28 |title='We are always together,' says Moya on private sister Enya |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/we-are-always-together-says-moya-on-private-sister-enya/37863429.html |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=Independent.ie}}</ref>
The first of these videos was in November 2020, posted on Enya's official YouTube channel to commemorate the 20th anniversary of ''A Day Without Rain.'' In addition to the individual tracks from the album, it included handwritten introductory messages from Enya and Roma Ryan, plus a closing message from Nicky Ryan.<ref>{{cite AV media|people=Ryan, Nicky|date=20 November 2020|title="Enya - A Day Without Rain (Watch Party)" by Enyatv|type=Video|url=https://youtube.com/fye7LtjOuEE|access-date=7 July 2022|publisher=YouTube}}</ref> Some behind-the-scenes clips from the [[making-of]] the music videos for "Only Time" and "Wild Child", both directed by [[Graham Fink]], were also included. For the ''Shepherd Moons 30th Anniversary Watch Party video'' in November 2021, Nicky Ryan's introductory message noted that during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Aigle Studio underwent some renovations, with new recording equipment and instruments installed, and that with this done, Enya and the Ryans were eager to start working on new music.<ref name=":4">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuQ2hQPIWLo |title="Enya - Shepherd Moons 30th Anniversary Watch Party" by Enyatv|date=4 November 2021|type=Video|publisher=YouTube |time=0:58|access-date=4 November 2021 |people=Ryan, Nicky}}</ref>
A 20th-anniversary vinyl [[picture disc]] re-release of the "May It Be" single was also released in late 2021.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=official_enya|number=1466825303414784005|title=The 'May It Be' picture disc is out now! Buy yours here if you haven't already|access-date=2023-09-19}}</ref> Enya's music continues to be sampled or [[Interpolation (popular music)|interpolated]] by many modern-day producers, particularly her 1986 [[humming]] song "Boadicea", in songs within the [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] or [[Hip hop production|hip-hop]] genres. Enya had previously noted for her 2015 album Dark Sky Island, that 'several songs here have a stronger beat, and even a little hip-hop influence.'<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Duerden |first=Nick |date=2015-11-18 |title=Enya on being stalked and why she is single |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/enya-interview-ireland-s-most-successful-solo-artist-on-being-stalked-living-in-a-castle-and-why-she-s-single-a6739856.html |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=The Independent}}</ref>
In 2022, for [[Metro Boomin]] and [[The Weeknd|The Weeknd's]] song [[Creepin' (Metro Boomin, the Weeknd and 21 Savage song)|"Creepin'"]] featuring samples from her 1987 song "Boadicea", Enya didn't approve of the song to be released under the working title "IDWK" (referring to the song I Don't Wanna Know). Metro reportedly asked Enya to select song titles that she would be happy with, which included "Undecided," "Creepin'", "Don't Come Back to Me", "Better Off That Way" and "Wanna Let You Know". Metro said '"Creepin'" was the one [...] It ended up being a blessing because it's the best name for it.'<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/metro_boomin_and_the_weeknds_hit_collab_creepin_almost_got_the_red_light|title=Metro Boomin and the Weeknd's Hit Collab "Creepin'" Almost Got Axed Because of Enya|website=Exclaim.ca}}</ref> In early December 2024, "Creepin'" won the BMI London Song of the Year, with composition credits and awards including both Enya and Nick [sic] Ryan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 BMI London Music Awards |url=https://www.bmi.com/award-shows/london-2024/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=BMI.com}}</ref>
In June 2023, Enya's 1997 limited compilation ''[[A Box of Dreams]]'' was re-issued on 6 vinyl LPs, featuring new liner notes.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|title=A BOX OF DREAMS (6LP BOX)|url=https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/artists/enya/a-box-of-dreams-6lp-box/0190296707018.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421010603/https://store.rhino.com/en/rhino-store/artists/enya/a-box-of-dreams-6lp-box/0190296707018.html|archive-date=21 April 2023|access-date=28 August 2023}}</ref> Nicky Ryan confirmed that the trio were working on a new album and floated the possibility of a book based on the trio's thoughts regarding the ''Oceans'' tracks. Enya's note, in Irish, read 'Beidh muid ag teacht le chéile gan mhoile', which roughly translates to 'We will meet again soon.'<ref name=":6">{{Cite AV media notes|title=A Box of Dreams |title-link=|author-link2=|others=Enya, Nicky Ryan, Roma Ryan|date=2023|type=box set [[liner notes]]|publisher=[[Warner Music Group]]}}</ref> Roma Ryan also updated the liner notes with several newer thoughts about the songs, [[constellation]]s, and poetry. On 19 September 2023, a watch party video for the 35th anniversary of ''Watermark'' was also presented.<ref>{{Citation|title=Enya - Watermark 35th Anniversary Watch Party| date=19 September 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAgRHRzth7k|access-date=2023-09-19}}</ref> Alongside this, vinyl LPs of ''Watermark'' and a [[Dolby Atmos]] upmixed audio for "Orinoco Flow" were also released.<ref>{{Cite tweet|title=To celebrate the 35 year anniversary of 'Watermark', Enya has released a new Dolby Atmos mix of standout single 'Orinoco Flow'|user=official_enya|number=1705179242202361999|access-date=2023-09-26}}</ref>
On 20 February 2025, Enya was announced on the [[RTÉ Gold]] Breakfast Show as the winner of the [[Choice Music Prize|RTÉ Choice Music Prize]] Classic Irish Album, namely her 1988 album ''Watermark.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-20 |title=Enya wins RTÉ Choice Music Classic Album award for 2025 |website=[[RTÉ.ie]] |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0220/1497826-enya-wins-rte-choice-music-classic-album-award-for-2024/ |language=en}}</ref> Enya's award was celebrated at [[Vicar Street]], Dublin, in the late hours of 6 March 2025. As Enya was not there in-person for the award, Priscilla Kotey, [[managing director]] of [[Warner Music Ireland]], read out Enya's speech on her behalf.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Staff |date=2025-03-07 |title=Iconic Enya album scoops RTÉ Choice Music Prize |url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2025/03/07/iconic-enya-album-scoops-rte-choice-music-prize/ |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=Donegal Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>
Though out of a promotional period, Enya has made a notable appearance in May 2025. A photo featuring Enya and her sister Moya in attendance at a [[Gay wedding|wedding]] [[ceremony]] was made public across many media outlets.
Enya's latest appearance has relevance to her career, as Enya's outfit (pictured) was previously worn for her 2016 performance of Orinoco Flow in Japan[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDpwVeMVg1A ,] and her live US performance of her 2015 song Echoes in Rain[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEjuAIBnMyk .].
==Artistry==
===Musical style===
[[File:Roland JUNO-60.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|The [[Roland Juno-60]], a favourite keyboard of Enya's that she used on ''Watermark''. In 1989, she said: "We wouldn't part with it for anything in the world".<ref name=musician1989/>]]
Enya has cited her musical foundations as 'the classics", [[church music]], and "Irish reels and jigs'<ref name=rte1997/> with a particular interest in [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]],<ref>{{Cite news |title=Enya Rules Her Kingdom Queen of Studio Albums is Finally Open to Concerts |newspaper=Boston Globe|first=Steve |last=Morse|access-date=23 June 2016|date=15 December 2000 |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8630480.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911174909/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8630480.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> a favourite composer of hers.
Enya tentatively mentioned in 1986 that her roots could be [[Igor Stravinsky|Stravinsky]], but quickly followed with the notion that silence is what she listened to most besides her music[https://youtube.com/watch?v=KgD9-eW1zug&t=1m46s .]
As well as piano, Enya quickly adapted to playing the synthesiser, a skilled synth player since the early 1980s, equalling the significance of her singing, especially on her breakthrough album ''Watermark''. Since 1982, Enya has recorded music with Nicky Ryan as her producer and arranger, and his wife [[Roma Ryan]] as lyricist.<ref name="Enyafaq">{{cite web|first=Lee |last=Tobin |url=http://www.enya.com/about_bio.php |title=About Enya |publisher=Enya.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329093637/http://enya.com/about_bio.php |archive-date=29 March 2014 |access-date=17 April 2014}}</ref> During her time with Clannad, Enya chose to work with Nicky as the two shared an interest in vocal harmonies, and Ryan, influenced by [[The Beach Boys]] and the "[[Wall of Sound]]" technique that [[Phil Spector]] pioneered, wanted to explore the idea of "the multi-vocals" for which her music became known.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-10.htm|access-date=23 March 2016 |first=Jim|last=Sullivan|year=1996 |title=Enya: The Memory of Trees – Enya's Quiet Space|newspaper=Minneapolis Star Tribune |archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213439/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-10.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Enya, "Angeles" from ''Shepherd Moons'' has roughly 500 vocals recorded individually and layered.<ref>{{cite web |title=Conversations Radio Interview, 1992, Enyabookofdays.com |url=http://enya.sk/music/shepherd-moons/angeles/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511204934/http://enya.sk/music/shepherd-moons/angeles/|archive-date=11 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Shepherd Moons Article|publisher=Enya Book of Days |url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-1.htm |access-date=17 April 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042646/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-1.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Enya performs all vocals and the majority of instruments in her songs, apart from guest musicians (some percussion, guitar, violin, [[uilleann pipes]], [[cornet]], and double bass).<ref name="Enyafaq" /> Her early works, including ''Enya'' and ''Watermark,'' feature numerous keyboard synthesisers<ref>{{Cite web|title=Enya's Keyboards and Synthesizers {{!}} Equipboard|url=https://equipboard.com/pros/enya?gear=keyboards-and-synthesizers|access-date=2024-04-09|website=equipboard.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-15|title=Enya Book of Days |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-25.htm|access-date=2023-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215235001/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-25.htm |archive-date=15 December 2021}}</ref> including the [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] KX88 Master, [[Yamaha DX7]], [[Oberheim Matrix synthesizers|Oberheim Matrix]], [[Kurzweil K250]], [[Fairlight CMI|Fairlight III]], [[E-mu Emulator|E-mu Emulator II]], [[Akai#S series digital samplers|Akai S900]], [[PPG Wave|PPG Wave Computer 360]], [[Roland D-50]] (with the "Pizzagogo" patch, famously used in "Orinoco Flow"), and the [[Roland Juno-60]], the latter a particular favourite of hers.<ref name=sonics1989>{{Cite journal|journal=Sonics, the Music Magazine|date=July 1989|title=Watermark Recording Process|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-27.htm|access-date=22 March 2016|archive-date=4 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204014115/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/wm-27.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her vast vocal range has been classified as [[mezzo-soprano]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archyworldys.com/enya-turns-60-the-beautiful-voiced-singer-lives-in-retreat-world-star/|title=Enya turns 60: the beautiful-voiced singer lives in retreat – World Star|date=18 May 2021|access-date=2 January 2023|archive-date=2 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102212709/https://www.archyworldys.com/enya-turns-60-the-beautiful-voiced-singer-lives-in-retreat-world-star/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Numerous critics and reviewers classify Enya's albums as [[new-age music]] and she has won four [[Grammy Award for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album|Grammy Awards for Best New Age Album]]. However, Enya does not consider her music as part of the genre; 'the only way I can describe it [...] it's ''Enya'' music.'<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxBpmoVt9i8|title=Enya - Interview on "Breakfast TV London" (BBC 1988)|access-date=2024-04-09|via=YouTube}}</ref> Nicky Ryan commented on the new age designation: 'Initially it was fine, but it's really not new age. Enya plays a whole lot of instruments, not just keyboards. Her melodies are strong and she sings a lot. So I can't see a comparison.'<ref name=latimes1996>{{Cite news |title=Enya Dreams|first=David|last=Gritten|date=7 January 1996|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=6 January 2016 |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-13.htm|archive-date=13 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213015411/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-13.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1988, Enya is believed to have said about New Age music 'it's air, thin air. It's a musical drug' and noted its often spineless nature, dissimilar to the approach taken in her own music.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2004-12-17|title=HUMO|url=http://www.enya.org/p_trans3/t086.htm|access-date=2023-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041217155457/http://www.enya.org/p_trans3/t086.htm|archive-date=17 December 2004}}</ref> In an interview first published in 2017, Enya said that she 'felt that title [New-Age] was given to any musician whom critics didn't know how to [[Pigeonholing|pigeonhole]].'<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2017-09-01|title=An Interview with Enya|url=https://www.thebeliever.net/an-interview-with-enya/|access-date=2024-03-25 |website=The Believer}}</ref>
The inspirations behind several of the visuals accompanying Enya's music originate from old artwork. The 1991 music video for "Caribbean Blue", and the 1995 album cover artwork for ''The Memory of Trees'' both feature adapted works from artist [[Maxfield Parrish]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/enya-dark-sky-island-album-interview/56b8fef26f753a30670000eb|title=Singer-Songwriter Enya|date=14 March 2016|publisher=HuffPost Live|time=21:25–21:48|access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref> In the 1996 music video for "On My Way Home", scenes of girls lighting paper lanterns to hang in flowery foliage were inspired by [[John Singer Sargent|John Singer Sargent's]] painting ''[[Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose]]''.
In addition to her native Irish, Enya has recorded songs in languages including English, French, Latin, Spanish, and Welsh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldmusic.about.com/od/bandsartistsaz/p/Enya.htm|title=Enya Profile – Celtic New Age Music Star Enya |publisher=Worldmusic.about.com|date=17 May 1961|access-date=14 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713094248/http://worldmusic.about.com/od/bandsartistsaz/p/Enya.htm|archive-date=13 July 2009}}</ref> She has recorded music influenced by works from fantasy author [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], including the instrumental "Lothlórien" from ''Shepherd Moons''. For ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', she sang "[[May It Be]]" in English and Tolkien's fictional language [[Quenya]], and she sang "[[Aníron]]" in another of Tolkien's fictional languages, [[Sindarin]]. ''Amarantine'' and ''Dark Sky Island'' include songs sung in [[Loxian]], a fictional language created by Roma Ryan, that has no official [[syntax]]. Its vocabulary was formed by Enya singing the song's notes to which Roma wrote their [[Phonetic transcription|phonetic]] spelling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enya.sk/amarantine.php#loxian |title=Loxian – Amarantine album|publisher=Enya.sk|access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref>
Enya adopted a composing and songwriting method that has deviated little throughout her career. At the start of the recording process for an album, she enters the studio, forgetting about her previous success, fame, and songs of hers that became hits. 'If I did that,' she said, 'I'd have to call it a day.'<ref name="guardian2000">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2000/nov/20/artsfeatures2|title=Interview: Enya – Queen of the castle|work=The Guardian|first=John|last=Aizlewood|date=20 November 2000|access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref> She then develops ideas on the piano, keeping note of any arrangement that can be worked on further. During her time writing the music, Enya works a five-day week, takes weekends off, and does not work on her music at home.<ref name="elainepage2008">{{cite episode|first=Elaine (host)|last=Paige |series=Elaine Page on Sunday|station=BBC Radio 2|date=23 November 2008|time=16:39–17:58}}</ref> With Irish as her first language, Enya initially records her songs in Irish as she can express 'feeling much more directly' in Irish than in English.<ref name="spin1989">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Yh9p0GCKsEC&pg=PA9|title=Above the Watermark|first=Jim|last=Fouratt |magazine=Spin |date=May 1989|page=9 |issn=0886-3032|access-date=31 December 2016}}</ref> After some time, Enya presents her ideas to Nicky to discuss what pieces work best, while Roma works in parallel to devise lyrics for the songs. Enya considered "Fallen Embers" from ''A Day Without Rain'' a perfect example of the lyrics exactly reflecting the feeling.<ref name="guardian2000" /> In 2008, she realised her tendency to write 'two or three songs' during the winter months, work on the arrangements and lyrics the following spring and summer, and then work on the next couple of songs when autumn arrives.<ref name="elainepage2008" />
===Live performances===
Enya says that Warner Music and she 'did not see eye to eye' initially as the label imagined her performing on stage 'with a piano... maybe two or three synthesizer players and that's it.'<ref name=hotpress2016/> Enya also explained that the time put into her studio albums caused her to 'run overtime', leaving little time to plan for other such projects.<ref name=enyabookofdays1997/> She also expressed the difficulty in recreating her studio-oriented sound for the stage. In 1996, Nicky Ryan said Enya had received and turned down an offer worth almost £500,000 to perform one concert in Japan.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-7.htm|title=The Musical Irish, from Oasis to Enya |first=Luke |last=Clancy |journal=[[World of Hibernia]]|year=1996|access-date=22 June 2016|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206051503/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-7.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, Enya spoke about the prospect of a live concert when she revealed talks with the Ryans during her three-year break after ''And Winter Came...'' (2008) to perform a show at the [[Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center)|Metropolitan Opera House]] in New York City that would be [[simulcast]] to cinemas worldwide. Before such an event could happen, Nicky suggested that she enter a studio and record "all the hits" live with an orchestra and choir to see how they would sound.<ref name=hotpress2016/>
Enya has performed with live and [[Lip sync#Lip synching in music|lip-syncing]] vocals on various talk and music shows, events, and ceremonies throughout her career, most often during her worldwide press tours for each album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enya.sk/articles-archive/enya-set-for-return-to-limelight-with-album-and-tour|title=Enya set for return to limelight with album and tour|date=25 June 2012 |publisher=Enya.sk |access-date=9 December 2014}}</ref> In December 1995, she performed "[[Anywhere Is]]" at a Christmas concert at Vatican City with [[Pope John Paul II]] in attendance; he later met and thanked her for performing.<ref name=enyabookofdays1997/> In April 1996, Enya performed the same song during her surprise appearance at the fiftieth birthday celebration for [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]], the king of Sweden and a fan of Enya's.<ref name=dailynews1997>{{Cite news|title=Enya Knocks on Heaven's Doors|first=Jim|last=Sullivan|work=Los Angeles Daily News|date=20 December 1997 |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-12.htm|access-date=6 January 2015 |archive-date=10 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710194239/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-12.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1997, Enya participated in a live Christmas Eve broadcast in London and flew to County Donegal afterward to join her family for their annual [[midnight Mass]] choral performance,<ref name=enyabookofdays1997>{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Sullivan|title=Enya Knocks on Heaven's Doors|date=20 December 1997|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-12.htm|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=29 December 2010|archive-date=10 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710194239/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-12.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> in which she participates each year.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Anita|last=Guidera|title=Donegal Catch as Proud Parents of Folk Music's First Family Get Freedom of County|date=15 July 2005 |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/donegal-catch-as-proud-parents-of-folk-musics-first-family-get-freedom-of-county-249795.html|work=Irish Independent |access-date=29 December 2010}}</ref> In March 2002, she performed "[[May It Be]]" with an orchestra at the year's [[Academy Award]]s/[[Oscars]] ceremony. Enya and her sisters performed as part of the local choir Cór Mhuire in July 2005 at St. Mary's church in Derrybeg during the annual [[Earagail Arts Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-24796149.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080650/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-24796149.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 February 2017|title=Enya gives rare choir recital with her sisters|date=15 July 2005|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=9 February 2017}}</ref>
==Discography==
{{main|Enya discography}}
'''Studio albums'''
* [[The Frog Prince (album)|''The Frog Prince'']] (1985, soundtrack)
* [[Enya (album)|''Enya'']] (1986) (reissued in 1992 as ''The Celts'')
* [[Watermark (Enya album)|''Watermark'']] (1988)
* ''[[Shepherd Moons]]'' (1991)
* ''[[The Memory of Trees]]'' (1995)
* ''[[A Day Without Rain]]'' (2000)
* [[Amarantine (album)|''Amarantine'']] (2005)
* ''[[And Winter Came...]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Dark Sky Island]]'' (2015)
==Personal life==
[[File:Enya Castle.jpg|right|thumb|[[Manderley Castle]], Enya's home since 1997]]
Known for her private lifestyle alongside the music, Enya said in the mid-1990s, 'The music is what sells. Not me, or what I stand for... that's the way I've always wanted it.'<ref name=enyabookofdays1997/><ref name="thetimes1995">{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Alan|date=24 November 1995|title=You Can't Hurry Loveliness|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-3.htm|access-date=23 March 2016|archive-date=31 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131002500/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/tmot-3.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In a German interview from 2005, Enya stated 'I have always been shy. In former times, I wasn’t happy with that, but today I accept it and live my life after it. And I dare to express something private like emotions in my music and make it visible for the public.'<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |date=2021-04-27 |title=Enya: Amarantine. Enya about her Solitariness |url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_10.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427212734/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_10.htm |archive-date=27 April 2021 }}</ref> She later mentioned in 2008 that 'it’s more important to have my private life and freedom than come out and argue about how I’m seen', regarding it as 'a small disadvantage in trying to retain my privacy. I can live with it.'<ref name=":11" />
Enya has never married or had children, but has many nieces and nephews and is [[Fictive kinship|considered an aunt]] to the Ryans' two daughters, having shared their Artane home for almost a decade.<ref name="thetimes2005">{{cite web|last=Williamson|first=Nigel|date=10 December 2005|title=The Invisible Star|url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_16.htm|access-date=29 December 2016|work=The Times|archive-date=1 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501155944/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_16.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Williamson|first=Nigel|date=10 December 2005|title=The Invisible Star|work=[[The Times]] (in The Magazine supplement)|quote=her "best friends" are her managers, Nicky and Roma Ryan, a generation older and with whom she lived for several years when she was struggling to get established.}}</ref> In 1991, she said, 'I'm afraid of marriage because I'm afraid someone might want me because of who I am instead of because they loved me... I wouldn't go rushing into anything unexpected, but I do think a great deal about this.'<ref name="hotpress1991">{{Cite journal |last=Burke|first=Molly McAnally|date=14 November 1991|title=I Hear The Angels Sing|url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-2.htm |journal=Hot Press|edition=22|volume=15|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512080856/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/sm-2.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Press often alluded to a relationship ending for Enya in 1997,<ref name="dailynews1997" /> and that around this time she was considering taking time out of music to have a family. Enya found she was putting pressure on herself over the matter and has 'gone the route [she] wanted to go' after all.<ref name="guardian2000" />
Enya has identified herself as '[[Spiritual but not religious|more spiritual than religious]]' and has said that she sometimes prays, but prefers 'going into churches when they're empty'.<ref name="latimes1996" /> Though her political stances are rarely disclosed, in 1988 she stated that 'there is money in Ireland but it's not fairly divided. Generations-old [[Wiktionary:potentate|potentates]] and [[politician]]s have reduced the whole nation to beggary.'<ref name=":1" />
As a result of injury from a [[car crash]] in Dublin in July 1997, Enya recalled that 'it took a lot of work to get my body back to singing. It was traumatic and shocking, but as a result I became more aware of my health and stronger as a person.'<ref name=":15">{{Cite web |author=Natsumi Ito |title=Enya 100Q |url=http://www.pia.co.jp/100q/44/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726002410/http://www.pia.co.jp/100q/44/ |archive-date=2015-07-26 |access-date= |language=ja |trans-quote=Answer to Q23 What was the first record you bought yourself? I was in boarding school all my life so I bought it late - 'White Regatta' (sic)(Reggatta de Blanc) by The Police.}}</ref> This occurred several weeks before the [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|fatal car crash]] in Paris that took the life of [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]]. In November 1997, Enya mentioned upon news of her contributing to Diana's tribute album, 'I met Lady Diana twice and the second time we met she told me that my composition "Watermark" was a favourite melody of hers.'<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-16 |title=Enya: Paint the Sky with Stars |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-18.htm |access-date=2025-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216184634/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/ptsws-18.htm |archive-date=16 December 2021 }}</ref> Enya's track "Watermark" was included on the end-of-year artist [[compilation album]], ''[[Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute]]''.
At an auction in 1997, Enya spent £2.5 million<ref>{{Cite news|last=Aizlewood|first=John|date=2000|title=Queen of the castle|newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2000/nov/20/artsfeatures2}}</ref> on a 157-year-old [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] [[Record of Monuments and Places|listed]] castellated [[mansion]] in [[Killiney]].<ref name="themirror2005">{{Cite news|title=Enya Pad Will Be a Fortress|work=The Mirror|date=2 May 2005 |url=http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_11.htm|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304114508/http://enyabookofdays.com/articles/amaran_11.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="theexpress2021">{{Cite news|title=Enya at 60: Singer broke the rules to become Ireland's biggest star – Where is Enya now?|work=The Express|date=18 May 2021}}</ref> Formerly known as ''Victoria Castle'' and ''Ayesha Castle'', the house was renamed by Enya as [[Manderley Castle]] after the house featured in [[Daphne du Maurier]]'s 1938 novel ''[[Rebecca (novel)|Rebecca]]'' .<ref name="independent.ie2011">{{Cite news |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/nextalbum-1.htm|title=Why Enya's ready to come out of the shadows|first=John|last=Meagher|date=14 May 2011|access-date=20 March 2016|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203412/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/nextalbum-1.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Prior to moving into the castle, Enya was believed to have resided in London, and spent time there throughout the 2000s. She spent several years renovating the castle, and installing considerable [[security]] measures because of threats from [[stalkers]].<ref name="theexpress2021" /> The improvements covered gaps in the house's outer wall, installed new solid [[timber]] entrance gates and {{convert|1.2|m|ft|0|adj=on}} iron railings, and brought the surrounding {{convert|41|m|ft|0}} of stone wall up to a new height of {{convert|2.7|m|ft|0}}.<ref name="themirror2005" /> In late 2005, the property had two security breaches; during one incident, two people attacked and tied up one of her housekeepers before stealing several items.<ref>{{cite news |last=McKittrick|first=David|date=5 October 2005|title=Enya escapes intruder by hiding in panic room|work=The Independent|___location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/enya-escapes-intruder-by-hiding-in-panic-room-317211.html|access-date=14 August 2009}}</ref> Enya alerted police by raising an alarm from her [[safe room]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4305058.stm|title=Enya's castle invaded by stalker|access-date=14 February 2007|date=3 October 2005|work=BBC News}}</ref> Enya oversaw most of the interior design (decorations and furnishings of her castle) as she was 'not going to trust that to anyone else.'<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Forbes|first=Michelle|date=2000|title=Enya At Ease |url=http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/adwr-9.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613132643/http://www.enyabookofdays.com/articles/adwr-9.htm|archive-date=2021-06-13}}</ref> Enya also has an autographed picture of [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]] in her home.<ref name=":2" /> Enya later bought a home in the south of France, also close in ___location to the home of U2 singer [[Bono]], near [[Èze]]. She spent time renovating it to a more [[Contemporary art|contemporary]] style than the Victorian style of her castle home.<ref name=":12" />
Enya recalled reading books in her youth such as ''The Lord of the Rings'', and the [[Malory Towers]] series by [[Enid Blyton]], prior to going to boarding school herself.<ref name="Petersen_ivw" /> Enya mentioned her favourite books being ''Rebecca'' by Daphne du Maurier and ''[[The Picture of Dorian Gray]]'' by [[Oscar Wilde]].<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=OfficialEnya |date=2016-03-15 |title=[AMA] I Am Singer-Songwriter, Musician, and Producer Enya - Ask Me Anything! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/4ak23o/ama_i_am_singersongwriter_musician_and_producer/?rdt=41361 |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=r/Music}}</ref> Enya has shown admiration for the [[Literature|literary works]] of both Wilde and [[J. R. R. Tolkien]].<ref name=":14">{{Cite web|date=2016-02-14|title="La gente se mueve a un ritmo vertiginoso y no ve lo esencial de la vida"|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/magazine/personalidades/enya-gente-se-mueve-un-ritmo-vertiginoso-no-ve-lo-esencial-vida.html|access-date=2023-08-24|website=La Vanguardia|language=es}}</ref> She has also stated that she collects [[first edition]]s of books.<ref name=":2" />
Enya has mentioned watching operas, such as [[Madama Butterfly|''Madame Butterfly'']] at the [[Sydney Opera House]], especially as she frequently travels to Australia to visit her sister and other relatives, occasionally getting noticed 'at the most obscure places' she added in 2008.<ref name=":11" /> She also likes watching [[Black-and-white|classic black-and-white films]], especially those directed by [[Alfred Hitchcock]]. She is also drawn to watching [[crime drama]]s or [[period drama]] series, such as ''[[Breaking Bad]],'' and ''[[Mad Men]],'' saying 'myself, Nicky, and Roma are huge fans of ''Breaking Bad''. We just didn't miss an episode.'<ref name=":3" />
Enya met [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] at the [[74th Academy Awards]] in 2002. The band's 1983 single [[Every Breath You Take]] is one of Enya's favourite songs, and the first album she got was the 1979 album ''[[Reggatta de Blanc]]''.<ref name=":15" />
As well as music, Enya has expressed interest in happenings of other areas of the arts, such as dancing, and painting. As of 2000, Enya had collected artwork by Irish artists in particular, including [[Jack Butler Yeats]], [[Louis le Brocquy]] and the British artist [[Albert Goodwin (artist)|Albert Goodwin]].<ref name=":2" /> She also likes to [[Painting|paint]], excelling in watercolours and landscape painting from a young age. However, Enya has been reluctant to share her artwork publicly: 'it shows too much of myself. If it is included in a song, it’s less a problem for me' as mentioned in 2005.<ref name=":13" /> In a Spanish interview in 2016, Enya mentioned that her painting is 'something very personal. I share my thoughts when composing music but I prefer painting to stay private, at least for a few years.'<ref name=":14" />
==Recognition and legacy==
Enya is the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling Irish solo artist]] and one of the most influential vocalists of all time.<ref name="folk">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/music-news/enya-irelands-wealthiest-female-performer-despite-not-touring-as-u2-ranked-third-in-music-millionaires-top-50-list/34646726.html|title=Enya Ireland's wealthiest female performer despite not touring as U2 ranked third in Music Millionaires Top 50 list|work=[[Irish Independent]]|access-date=1 November 2024|date=21 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2009/01/10/99190609/enyas-new-album-celebrates-winter|title=Enya's New Album Celebrates Winter |publisher=[[NPR]]|access-date=1 November 2024|date=10 January 2009}}</ref> At the family pub Leo's Tavern, memorabilia that celebrate musical achievements of Enya and her siblings, notably those in Clannad, are displayed across the walls inside. Enya is admired by, and has influenced a number of artists from several genres,<ref name="Pitch">{{cite magazine|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/enya-is-everywhere/|title=Enya Is Everywhere|magazine=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=1 November 2024|date=15 September 2020|first=Jenn|last=Pelly}}</ref> including [[Aurora (singer)|Aurora]], [[Weyes Blood]], [[FKA Twigs]], [[Grimes]], [[Adam Young (American musician)|Adam Young]], [[Cynthia Erivo]], and [[Nicki Minaj]], who declared in a television interview: 'One of my biggest [musical influences] is Enya.'<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/11/01/560451598/shocking-omissions-enya-watermark|title=Shocking Omissions: Enya, 'Watermark'|publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=1 November 2024|date=1 November 2017|first=Melissa|last=Locker}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/enya-watermark-anniversary-artists-inspired-by-nicki-minaj-brandy-grimes|title=5 Artists Influenced By Enya: Brandy, Nicki Minaj, Grimes & More|publisher=[[Grammy Awards]]|access-date=1 November 2024|date=19 September 2023|first=Jon|last=O'Brien}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/why-todays-stars-love-enya-hfr9npkqf|title=Why today's stars love Enya|newspaper=[[The Times]]|access-date=1 November 2024|date=25 June 2021|first=Steve|last=Cummins|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 2016, ''[[Sunday Times Rich List]]'' estimated her fortune at £91 million, making her part of their Top 50 millionaire musicians in Britain and Ireland.<ref name="folk"/> According to ''Billboard'', Enya is one of the all-time highest-charted Irish acts on U.S charts,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/top-10-irish-musicians-bands-of-all-time-ever/u2-2/|title=Top 10 Irish Musicians of All Time |magazine=Billboard|access-date=1 November 2024|date=17 March 2014|first=Jessica|last=Letkemann}}</ref> and is one of the [[List of highest-certified music artists in the United States|highest-certified music artists]] by album units in the U.S. ''Billboard''{{'s}} Mark Dezzani commented in 1997, that she popularized conventional pop melodies and ethereal ethnic music,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQ4EAAAAMBAJ&dq=Enya&pg=PA36|title=International: Sony Music Italy Dominates Sanremo: Label Acts Take Top Newcomer, Estalbihsed Prizes|magazine=Billboard|access-date=1 November 2024|date=8 March 1997|first=Mark|last=Dezzani|page=36}}</ref> while [[Audio (magazine)|''Audio'']] magazine credited her for helping popularize the "[[Celtic music|New Celtic]]" sound.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pKU4AQAAIAAJ&q=Enya|title=They are one of the pioneers of the " new Celtic " sound , popularized by superstars including Enya|magazine=[[Audio (magazine)|Audio]]|access-date=1 November 2024|date=1995|page=19|volume=79|number=7–12}}</ref> Enya was described by [[National Geographic]]'s ''Ireland'' (2022) book, as the 'Queen of ambient Celtic lullabies.'<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QfaIEAAAQBAJ&dq=Enya&pg=PT293|title=Ireland|publisher=[[National Geographic Books]]|access-date=1 November 2024|date=2022|first=Christopher|last=Somerville|isbn=978-88-5441-948-3}}</ref>
In [[Lonely Planet]]'s 2024 description of Donegal, the county in Ireland that Enya is from, Donegal was described by the Destination Editor as the 'wild child of Ireland',<ref>{{Cite web |last=highlandnews |date=2024-03-12 |title=Lonely Planet Destination Editor says Donegal is the "wild child" of Ireland |url=https://highlandradio.com/2024/03/12/lonely-planet-destination-editor-says-donegal-is-the-wild-child-of-ireland/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> a likely reference to the single "[[Wild Child (Enya song)|Wild Child]]" by Enya in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Donegal travel |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland/county-donegal |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Lonely Planet}}</ref> Two of Enya's albums, ''Paint the Sky with Stars: The Best of Enya'' (1997) and ''Themes from Calmi Cuori Appassionati'' (2001) have sold over a million copies in Japan, the latter a soundtrack of Enya's hits from 1986 to 2000 that was included in the Japanese film ''Calmi Cuori Appassionati''.
Enya receiving the RTÉ Choice Music Prize for Classic Album in 2025 is testament to her lasting significance in Irish music and beyond.
The BBC produced a compilation of archive footage, ''[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00293tm Enya at the BBC]'' which first aired 15th March 2025. It recognises Enya as an artist with a noteworthy music repertoire and legacy.
In early 2025, Enya was announced as the winner of the 2025 [[Choice Music Prize|RTÉ Choice Music Prize]]'s Classic Irish Album, with her 1988 album ''Watermark''. The announcement of her award was soon followed by Enya's statement: 'I am delighted to win the RTÉ Choice Music Classic Album Prize. ''Watermark'' has a special place in my heart - it was my second album and really launched my career internationally. It is wonderful that people are still discovering it today and it's an honour to be chosen for this prize recognising Irish music.'<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Staff |date=2025-02-20 |title=Donegal's Enya scoops RTÉ Choice Music Prize Classic Irish Album |url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2025/02/20/donegals-enya-scoops-rte-choice-music-prize-classic-irish-album-1/ |access-date=2025-02-21 |website=Donegal Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> In Enya's winning speech, read out on her behalf, she expressed her excitement to have been able to make ''Watermark'', and how she was 'so delighted that it has stood the test of time, and still resonates with so many people around the world.
===Honorary degrees and namings===
{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by Enya}}
In 1991, a [[minor planet]] first discovered in 1978, [[6433 Enya]], was named after her.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=(6433) Enya |date=2003 |pages=532 |publisher=Springer |isbn=3-540-29925-4 |doi=10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_5865 |doi-access=free |title=Dictionary of Minor Planet Names}}</ref> In June 2007, she received an honorary [[PhD]] [[Doctor of Music|doctorate]] from the [[National University of Ireland, Galway]], for her [[Doctor of Music|contributions to music.]]<ref name="Doctorate">{{cite web |url=http://www.johnbreslin.com/blog/2007/06/29/enya-receives-honorary-doctorate-from-the-national-university-of-ireland-galway/|title=Enya received honorary doctorate from NUI |publisher=Johnbreslin.com|date=29 June 2007|access-date=14 August 2009}}</ref> A month later, she also received another honorary doctorate, a [[Doctor of Letters|DLitt]] from [[Ulster University]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/article2751156.ece|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719135923/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/education/article2751156.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 July 2012|first=Lisa|last=Smyth |title=Enya receives second doctorate|work=[[The Belfast Telegraph]]|date=10 July 2007 |access-date=16 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UU Honours Musician Enya |url=http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2007/3306.html|publisher=University of Ulster|date=11 July 2007|access-date=14 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224183841/http://news.ulster.ac.uk/releases/2007/3306.html|archive-date=24 February 2015}}</ref> In 2017, a newly discovered species of fish, ''[[Leporinus enyae]]'', found in the [[Orinoco]] River drainage area, was named after Enya, in reference to her song, "Orinoco Flow".<ref>{{cite web|date=19 July 2017|title=New Orinoco Fish Named After Enya |url=http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/news/fishkeeping-news/articles/2017/7/19/new-orinoco-fish-named-after-enya|website=Practical Fishkeeping}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author1=Burns, Michael D.|author2=Chatfield, Marcus|author3=Birindelli, José L.O.|author4=Sidlauskas, Brian L.|year=2017 |title=Systematic assessment of the ''Leporinus desmotes'' species complex, with a description of two new species |journal=Neotropical Ichthyology |volume=15 |issue=2 |doi=10.1590/1982-0224-20160166 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of Irish musicians]]
* [[List of Irish Grammy Award winners and nominees]]
* [[List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart]]
* [[List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 1990s]]
* [[List of highest-certified music artists in the United States]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
'''Sources'''
* {{cite book |title=Dream Repairman: Adventures in Film Editing |first=Jim |last=Clark |author-link=Jim Clark (film editor) |year=2012 |publisher=eBookIt.com |isbn=978-0-984-51294-2}}
* {{cite book |title=Water Shows the Hidden Heart |first=Roma |last=Ryan |author-link=Roma Ryan |date=2005 |publisher=Valley-Dwellers |isbn=0-9552011-0-1}}
==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
*{{allMusic}}
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