Editing Enya (section)

==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 was also an early adopter of synthesiser music, a skilled synth player, which equalled the significance of her singing, especially on her 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 Awards in the category. 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>