Enya

From Tolkien Gateway
Enya

Eithne Patricia Ní Bhraonáin (May 17, 1961), better known by her stage name Enya, is an Irish singer.

History[edit | edit source]

Enya was born in Gaoth Dobhair in Ireland, the sixth of nine children. She came from a musical background, and joined the band of some of her siblings and two of her uncles, Clannad, to play keyboards. After a few years, she left together with their manager Nicky Ryan, and continued her career as a solo artist. Since then, Ryan has been Enya's manager, producer, and arranger, while his wife, Roma Ryan, is her primary lyricist. Among other sources of inspiration, Enya shares J.R.R. Tolkien's interest in the Catholic faith. Her music style became an iconic Celtic and Irish inspiration for several films and artists; the music of Titanic was heavily inspired by her music.

Ten years prior to her involvement in The Fellowship of the Ring movie soundtrack, Enya wrote and performed a short instrumental track, Lothlórien, named for the Elvish realm in Tolkien's writings. It is the ninth track on her third solo studio album, Shepherd Moons, which was released on November 4, 1991.

She performed vocals on two tracks of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which she also composed together with Roma Ryan, her lyricist. Aníron was the love-theme for Aragorn and Arwen, and the Academy Award-nominated May It Be was included in the closing credits. Following her introduction to Quenya and Sindarin, Roma Ryan created her own language, Loxian.

Discography, selected[edit | edit source]

Awards[edit | edit source]

External Links[edit | edit source]