Roma Ryan, the lyricist, has a strange job. She must write words that fit Enya’s vocal shapes—often in languages that don't exist. Many of Enya’s hits are sung in Loxian, a constructed language Roma invented for the album Amarantine.
Why sing in a fake language? Because meaning is a trap. When Enya sings “Who can say where the road goes, where the day flows, only time”, the words are simple. But when she shifts into Loxian, the human brain stops trying to parse grammar and just feels the vowel sounds. The voice becomes an instrument. Roma Ryan, the lyricist, has a strange job
Her music deals in emotional archetypes: loss, hope, nature, and eternity. Only Time became the unofficial anthem of 9/11 in America, despite being written years earlier. May It Be, written for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, earned an Academy Award nomination because it captured the "walking into the unknown" essence of Tolkien perfectly. Why sing in a fake language
Enya is not just a musician; she is a national institution—and a controversial one for a time. In 2006, it was revealed that Enya had moved her multi-million euro fortune to a company registered in the tax haven of the Netherlands. But when she shifts into Loxian, the human
The Irish public was furious. She had become the poster child for wealthy artists avoiding the "Celtic Tiger" taxes. Enya never responded to the criticism, but her accountant eventually renegotiated her status. Despite the tax scandal, she remains one of Ireland's top five richest musicians, with a net worth estimated over $150 million.
Since "Enya" is synonymous with ethereal soundscapes, New Age aesthetics, and a sense of calm, I have designed a feature for a hypothetical music/wellness app dedicated to her artistry.
Here is a concept for an immersive audio-visual experience.
