Enya

Enya Patricia Brennan, born on May 17, 1961, in the Irish-speaking region of Gweedore, is a renowned Irish singer, songwriter, composer, and pianist. With an impressive record of over eighty million albums sold globally, she stands as one of the best-selling music artists in the world. Enya is not only the best-selling solo artist from Ireland but also ranks as the second-best-selling music act from the country, following the iconic band U2.

Enya's musical journey began in 1980 when she joined her family's folk band, Clannad. However, she departed from the group in 1982 to embark on a solo career, collaborating with former Clannad manager Nicky Ryan and his partner Roma Ryan as her lyricist. Over the next four years, she honed her unique sound, blending multi-tracked vocals and keyboards with diverse musical influences, including Celtic, classical, Gregorian chant, jazz, and ambient music.

Her early solo work included two instrumental pieces for the Touch Travel T4 cassette compilation in 1984, composed around 1982-83. Enya's first major project was the soundtrack for The Frog Prince in 1985, where she also performed two songs. Her eponymous debut album, released in 1987, featured music from the BBC documentary series The Celts, which caught the attention of Warner Music UK, leading to a record deal that granted her significant artistic freedom.

The release of her second studio album, Watermark, in 1988 marked a turning point in her career, thanks to the international success of the hit single