Editing Enya (section)

==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>

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>

=== 1989–1998: ''Shepherd Moons'', ''The Memory of Trees'' and ''Paint the Sky with Stars'' ===

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 &#124; The BRIT Awards 2011|publisher=Brit Awards|quote=less that [sic] twelve months on, it has sold almost 3.5&nbsp;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===
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|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>
[[File:Enya from photo dated 16 May 2025.png|alt=Irish singer Enya, 63, May 2025, wearing a black doily top and white skirt, worn previously for two of her performances in 2016.  |thumb|395x395px|Enya, 16 May 2025]]
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|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>

In May 2025, a photo featuring Enya in attendance at a [[Gay wedding|wedding]] [[ceremony]] was made public, with her sister Moya also attending. 
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 .].