Transitions
Enya
Enya
Sweeping vocals that fill the audiences’ ear, enchanting, ethereal arrangements of both vocals and instrumentation, poetic lyrics in various languages, could only be describing one woman, Enya.
Enya was born Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, in Donegal Ireland in 1961. She started her music journey when she became a member of her family band Clannad in 1980. Enya, along with her siblings, joined her twin uncles as members, with Enya playing the keyboard and producing lead/backing vocals. The Folk / Folk Rock / New Age band released songs such as ‘An tÚll’ and ‘Theme’ From Harry’s Game. It was not until 1981 that Enya became an official member of the family band, and only a short year later Nicky Ryan Manager and Producer of Clannad quit and Enya followed.
After leaving the family band Enya began her solo career with Nicky Ryan taking on the role as Manager and Producer. Enya also established her own recording studio ‘Aigle’. As a solo artist she collaborates with Nicky Ryan (her manager and producer) and his wife Roma Ryan (her lyricist and inventor of the Loxian language that some of Enya’s songs are sung in).
In 1986 Enya recorded and provided music for the BBC documentary ‘The Celts’. This exposure helped her to widen her fan base and she used this for her debut album ‘Enya’. The self titled album didn’t get as much recognition as hoped, but in saying this it was the stepping stone that led to her breakthrough in 1988, with the world recognised album entitled ‘Watermark’ Songs. The album included ‘Storms in Africa, River’ and her first major hit ‘Orinoco Flow’. Enya has continued her success in later albums such as ‘A Day Without Rain’ and ‘And Winter Came’.
Self described as ‘New Age Fusion’, Enya’s music bridges the division between traditional and contemporary Irish music. Her vocals contain traditional Irish ornamentation and are supported by synthesisers and Western percussion, rather than a traditional Irish band. Enya has won the Grammy for Best New Age album four times, as well Best Selling Female Artist in 2001.
Enya is also well known for her work in The Lord of The Rings Soundtracks. Her use of angelic choir vocals coated in reverb within songs such as ‘May it Be’ and ‘The Council of Elrond’ demonstrate her fusion of the traditional and contemporary styles.
In a 2005 Times Magazine interview with Nigel Williamson, Enya stated;
I could have been more famous if I did all the glitzy things, but celebrity always seemed so unnecessary ... Fame and success are very different things, anyway. The music sold itself before anybody knew who I was, so I felt I had a choice. I told the record company I didn't feel the need to be out there at red-carpet events. I wanted a career. But I wanted to keep myself intact as a person.
Most recently in 2011 Enya has been recording at Abbey Road Studios with a live orchestra. As most of her albums over the decades have not been recorded with a live band this is a new step for Enya and may spawn a future tour with her manager/ producer quoted saying We have considered touring before, but we didn't make
the time. Working with musicians in Abbey Road is with a view to bringing people on the road there would be a classical feel to the performances with Enya playing beautiful venues in front of an orchestra.
Enya was born Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, in Donegal Ireland in 1961. She started her music journey when she became a member of her family band Clannad in 1980. Enya, along with her siblings, joined her twin uncles as members, with Enya playing the keyboard and producing lead/backing vocals. The Folk / Folk Rock / New Age band released songs such as ‘An tÚll’ and ‘Theme’ From Harry’s Game. It was not until 1981 that Enya became an official member of the family band, and only a short year later Nicky Ryan Manager and Producer of Clannad quit and Enya followed.
After leaving the family band Enya began her solo career with Nicky Ryan taking on the role as Manager and Producer. Enya also established her own recording studio ‘Aigle’. As a solo artist she collaborates with Nicky Ryan (her manager and producer) and his wife Roma Ryan (her lyricist and inventor of the Loxian language that some of Enya’s songs are sung in).
In 1986 Enya recorded and provided music for the BBC documentary ‘The Celts’. This exposure helped her to widen her fan base and she used this for her debut album ‘Enya’. The self titled album didn’t get as much recognition as hoped, but in saying this it was the stepping stone that led to her breakthrough in 1988, with the world recognised album entitled ‘Watermark’ Songs. The album included ‘Storms in Africa, River’ and her first major hit ‘Orinoco Flow’. Enya has continued her success in later albums such as ‘A Day Without Rain’ and ‘And Winter Came’.
Self described as ‘New Age Fusion’, Enya’s music bridges the division between traditional and contemporary Irish music. Her vocals contain traditional Irish ornamentation and are supported by synthesisers and Western percussion, rather than a traditional Irish band. Enya has won the Grammy for Best New Age album four times, as well Best Selling Female Artist in 2001.
Enya is also well known for her work in The Lord of The Rings Soundtracks. Her use of angelic choir vocals coated in reverb within songs such as ‘May it Be’ and ‘The Council of Elrond’ demonstrate her fusion of the traditional and contemporary styles.
In a 2005 Times Magazine interview with Nigel Williamson, Enya stated;
I could have been more famous if I did all the glitzy things, but celebrity always seemed so unnecessary ... Fame and success are very different things, anyway. The music sold itself before anybody knew who I was, so I felt I had a choice. I told the record company I didn't feel the need to be out there at red-carpet events. I wanted a career. But I wanted to keep myself intact as a person.
Most recently in 2011 Enya has been recording at Abbey Road Studios with a live orchestra. As most of her albums over the decades have not been recorded with a live band this is a new step for Enya and may spawn a future tour with her manager/ producer quoted saying We have considered touring before, but we didn't make
the time. Working with musicians in Abbey Road is with a view to bringing people on the road there would be a classical feel to the performances with Enya playing beautiful venues in front of an orchestra.