"Enya" is the debut studio album by Irish singer, songwriter, and musician Enya, released on 02 February 1987. However, initial copies were released as "Enya" before it was reissued by Warner Bros. Records in 1992 as "The Celts" for the international market. Enya produced the album with Nicky Ryan, who was her longtime collaborator, and Roma Ryan wrote the album's lyrics.
The album drew its inspiration from Enya's past experience with the Irish band Clannad and traditional Irish music. It was not a commercial success in the starting stage, but the reissue in 1992 led to worldwide popularity. Then, it peaked at number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and reached number 83 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
The album is a melodic and atmospheric combination of ethereal soundscapes, synthesisers, layered vocals, and elements of Celtic music. The music is a mix of traditional Irish, classical, and church music. Despite being labeled as New Age and Celtic, Enya does not align herself to these music genres.
The title piece of this album, "Enya," was later re-titled as "The Celts." The album was initially made to accompany the BBC documentary series "The Celts," and when the series was aired, it achieved a far greater audience and much wider acclaim. It became a top-ten hit in the UK and sold over three million copies worldwide.
"Enya" received a mostly positive reception from critics and was reissued in a remastered and expanded version for its 25th anniversary in 2012. Some critics praised the album as a relaxing, tranquil listening experience, while others felt the music was overly repetitive and lacked variation.
From a musical perspective, "Enya" marked a turning point in the artist's career. It showed her willingness to experiment and venture beyond traditional musical norms. The album was the stepping stone for Enya’s illustrious music career, and many of her subsequent works carry the unique influence that she established with this album.
