The music industry tends to expect that female artists will offer up their private lives for public consumption, but Enya refuses to play the celebrity game. Known for her facility with languages, she has recorded songs in Gaelic, Latin, Japanese, and Sindarin-the latter an Elvish language invented by J.R.R. Unless otherwise noted in song credits, Enya performs all the vocals for her music and plays all the instruments. The three began experimenting with looping harmonies, eventually creating what is now Enya’s signature layered sound. In 1982, she became a solo artist in partnership with Nicky Ryan, who she met when he was Clannad’s sound engineer, and his wife Roma, a lyricist they remain her creative team to this day. As one of the best-selling artists in the world, Enya shows us there is another way to achieve wealth and fame.īorn Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin, Enya began her music career singing with Clannad, her family’s award-winning Irish music band.
Enya album with only time professional#
It is also a mute but radical demonstration that professional success as a musician can be achieved without living the life of a celebrity, perpetually in the spotlight. In a world where obsessive fans have endangered the lives of female musicians, her choice to live a private life is a salutary example setting boundaries is an act of self-preservation and an empowering choice, not necessarily an eccentric one. Her ethereal songs are a testament to the worth of gentleness and beauty, qualities that have historically been categorized as feminine and, therefore, of little value.
My deep affection for Enya’s music is rooted in more than just nostalgic childhood memories. Enya was always on heavy rotation and, as a result, still occupies a special place in my heart and on my Spotify playlists. His taste was (and remains) eclectic during those drives, he played everything from The Moody Blues, to German musical project Enigma, to ambient techno from the now-defunct 90s website m p3.com. When I was growing up, my dad often assumed the role of school chauffeur and minivan DJ. I, however, love Enya-and not ironically. Music critics often offer muted or grudging praise for her albums, but they don’t take her seriously. The singer has a reputation for being a bit of a recluse, rarely making public appearances or granting interviews. Familiar tracks like “Only Time” provide ambience at yoga retreats, LARPs, facials, and tarot card readings. To many, her songs are the aural equivalent of astrology: mystical and fun, but lacking substance. Her body of work is often dismissed as New Age, a label she has disavowed. November 10, 2008.Įnya, the Irish singer-musician, is perhaps one of the most mocked and memed artists of our time. Credit: Sunrise at 7 / Flickr Enya on Australia's Sunrise at 7.