"Amarantine" is the sixth studio album by Irish singer, songwriter, and musician Enya, released on 21 November 2005 by Warner Music. The album was named after an unfading flower mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's work. It took nearly two years to produce the album in collaboration with producer Nicky Ryan and lyricist Roma Ryan.
The album observes Enya incorporating a quasi-classical feel to her music, but the album is distinct in featuring songs sung entirely in Japanese and Loxian, a fictional language created by Roma. The Loxian language was developed because Enya found the perfect melodies, but English didn't suit the tunes, and it was difficult to capture the desired mood for the songs in the Irish language.
After its release, "Amarantine" was a worldwide success and entered the top 10 in both the UK and the US. The album later won Enya her fourth Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 2007, and a Japanese Juno Award for International Album of the Year in 2006. The record was supported by the singer's album tour.
"Amarantine" has been described as light, optimistic, and cheerful as compared to Enya's earlier albums featuring more introspective songs. This 12-track album had a great influence on the then millennium, with its strong focus on the themes of homecoming, eternity and love.
