Dark Sky Island (2015)

Album Announcement and Release

Irish singer and composer Enya made her highly anticipated return with her eighth studio album, Dark Sky Island.

The album took the music world by storm upon its official release on November 20, 2015, through Warner Bros. Records.

Enya first revealed the impending arrival of new music through an announcement on her official website in September 2015.

On October 7, 2015, she unveiled the captivating title, the lead single, and the full track listing, heightening global fan excitement.

Stream or download Enya songs

Available Formats and Chart Performance

Dark Sky Island made a major impact across digital and physical mediums upon launch.

The record was offered in both standard and 14-track deluxe editions, as well as a 180-gram vinyl press on December 18, 2015.

This marked a significant milestone as Enya's first vinyl offering since the 1992 re-release of her first album.

The album achieved notable commercial success and critical acclaim worldwide:

• Debuted at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart, her highest position since 1997.
• Reached No. 8 on the US Billboard 200 chart with 46,000 copies sold in its first week.
• Sold over 900,000 copies worldwide in 2015, becoming the 40th best-selling album of the year.
• Earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Age Album.

Inspiration and Central Themes

The album's title draws direct inspiration from the 2011 designation of the island of Sark in the Channel Islands as a dark-sky preserve.

It also finds deep resonance with a collection of island poetry written by lyricist Roma Ryan.

The title track, "Dark Sky Island", emerged as the very first composition written for the project, setting the stage for the rest of the work.

This album has a theme of journeys. Journeys to the island; through the length of a lifetime; through history, through emotions; and journeys across great oceans. So although it's not a 'themed' album, as such, we nevertheless have an underlying connection between songs.

Enya

Background and Studio Production

In an album 'introduction' video, Enya discussed the background and three-year hiatus preceding the album.

Following the release of And Winter Came... in 2008, Enya took an extended break to rest, travel to Australia, and purchase a home in southern France.

During this period, she also released her compilation The Very Best of Enya in 2009.

Recording at Aigle Studio

Major renovations at Aigle Studio in Killiney, County Dublin, lasted throughout 2011, delaying recording until spring 2012.

The recording process spanned three and a half years with long-time collaborators Nicky Ryan and Roma Ryan.

Enya maintained a strict daily routine, working in the studio from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays while composing initial melodies solo on the piano.

Expressing her excitement for the release, Enya noted:

"There's a stage, you know, within working on the album that you feel, uh, you have to commit yourself, to a release date. You know eventually you're gonna 'cross the t', 'dot the i' and this is going to finally, um, be finished, so there's an element of excitement".

She also highlighted how fan support kept her motivated during long recording sessions:

"The work in the studio is quite intense, and, to then get feedback of, that there are people waiting to hear the music [...] it's something really lovely to bring to the studio with you".

Track Details and Song Descriptions

The advanced press release and interview materials detailed the meanings, arrangements, and musical features of the album's tracks.

While connected by the underlying concept of travel, Enya clarified that it remains distinct from a singular concept record.

"The Humming"

Album opener "The Humming" muses on the cycle of the universe and universal change, composed in G-sharp minor.

The melody began as a small hum from Enya, which producer Nicky Ryan linked to scientific data from the Planck space telescope.

Scientists pitch-shifted the early universe's sound—originally 47 octaves below the lowest piano key—into an audible humming sound.

Musically infectious, the track drew comparisons to earlier hits like "Caribbean Blue" and was released as a promotional single on November 13, 2015.

"So I Could Find My Way"

"So I Could Find My Way" is a slow, sentimental waltz composed in the key of D major.

Featuring gentle church bells in its introduction, the song is dedicated to producer Nicky Ryan's late mother, Mona Ryan.

Enya described the theme of a mother moving on as universal, reflecting on memories, guidance, and legacy left behind.

The song's music video was filmed in Dublin's Chapel Royal Church alongside a female string ensemble and choir.

"Even in the Shadows"

"Even in the Shadows" features a pulsing rhythm elevated by guest musician Eddie Lee on double bass.

Lee is a member of the Sligo band Those Nervous Animals, former label mates of Clannad under Tara Music in the early 1980s.

Loxian Language Tracks

The fictional Loxian language, created by lyricist Roma Ryan, returns on "The Forge of Angels" and "The Loxian Gates".

First introduced on the 2005 album Amarantine, Loxian is an artistic language inspired by Tolkien's Elvish scripts.

These tracks explore intergalactic and futuristic narratives, themes shared alongside the Latin-titled track "Astra et Luna".

"Echoes in Rain"

The lead single "Echoes in Rain" was released on October 9, 2015, celebrating the joy of a journey's end.

Set in F-sharp minor with a marching rhythm, it features lavish vocal layering reminiscent of "Orinoco Flow".

It stands as Enya's first lead single to include a piano-based bridge, showcasing a vocal range spanning two octaves from B2 to E5.

Notably, it was the final track written and completed during the album sessions.

"I Could Never Say Goodbye" and "Sancta Maria"

"I Could Never Say Goodbye" presents a classic Irish lament structured with a sparse, hymnal arrangement.

"Sancta Maria" blends modern synthesizers with classical instrumentation across four otherworldly, hypnotic minutes.

Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks

The deluxe edition expands the original 11-track lineup with three additional bonus tracks:

• "Solace"
• "Pale Grass Blue"
• "Remember Your Smile"

Jump to lyrics, videos list, and credits.

Release dates

• November 20, 2015 — CD and digital download
• December 18, 2015 — Vinyl LP

Lyrics list

1. The Humming
2. So I Could Find My Way
3. Even In The Shadows
4. The Forge Of The Angels
5. Echoes In Rain
6. I Could Never Say Goodbye
7. Dark Sky Island
8. Sancta Maria
9. Astra Et Luna
10. The Loxian Gates
11. Diamonds On The Water
12. Solace (deluxe edition bonus track)
13. Pale Grass Blue (deluxe edition bonus track)
14. Remember Your Smile (deluxe edition bonus track)

Videos

1. "Echoes In Rain"
2. "So I Could Find My Way"
3. The Humming
4. Even In The Shadows

More videos in EnyaTube »

Lyrics

The Humming lyrics

And all the light will be revealed
And all the future prophecy
And all the waves deceive the sea
And on the road are you and me

Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm

And all the winds are like a kiss
And all the years are nemesis
And all the moments fall in mist
And all is dust, remember this

Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm

And all the light will be, will be
And all the waves deceive
And all the waves deceive the sea
When all the light will be

And all the dust will drift away
And all the nights and all the days
And all the heavens go their way
And only change is here to stay

Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm
Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm

And all the light will be, will be
And all the waves deceive
And all the waves deceive the sea
When all the light will be

And all the stars without a name
And all the skies that look the same
And all the clouds that fade and then
Then all of this begins again

Mmmhmmm, mmmhmmm

So I Could Find My Way lyrics

A thousand dreams you gave to me,
You held me high, you held me high.
And all those years you guided me,
So I could find my way.

How long your love had sheltered me,
You held me high, you held me high.
A harbour holding back the sea,
So I could find my way.

So let me give this dream to you,
Upon another shore.
So let me give this dream to you,
Each night and evermore.

Yet only time keeps us apart,
You held me high, you held me high.
You're in the shadows of my heart,
So I could find my way.

You held me high, you held me high…

So let me give this dream to you,
Upon another shore.
So let me give this dream to you,
Each night and evermore.

A thousand dreams you gave to me,
You held me high, you held me high.
And all those years you guided me,
So I could find my way.

So I could find my way…

Even In The Shadows lyrics

Even in the shadows
I turn around
to find you walk away
And even when I whisper
the winds will come
to steal the words I say

I could fall and keep on falling
I could call and keep on calling
Wonder why this love is over
Wonder why it's not forever

Even in the silence
I hear my heart
It's still a part of you
And even in the morning
when light has come
I don't know what to do

I could fall and keep on falling
I could call and keep on calling
Wonder why this love is over
Wonder why it's not forever

So high, so low
Love is gone and love is gone...

The Forge of Angels lyrics

`day o um day o um
day o um day o um ay o um
ee o rhay a rhay menemmay
a day rhay da rhay dayee
o phen ayla may ayee ayee
a ay rhayee o ay
ee o ay dada ay ayoay dadanay
dadanay o nay o nay
ee o ay ahay menemmay
o rhay moay
ee o ay a menemmay
ee o ay ee o ay

Translation:
Always wondering what came before the beginning
Always wondering what comes after the end
But one must first love their journey through the stars for,
though the night may seem forever,
the first stars have already gone…

Echoes In Rain lyrics

Into the wind, I throw the night
Silver and gold turning into light
I'm on the road, I know the way
Everything flows. Here comes another new day

Alleluia
Alle-Alle Alleluia
Alleluia
Alleluia

Echoes in rain, drifting in waves
Long journey home, never too late
Black as a crow, night comes again
Everything flows. Here comes another new day!

Alleluia
Alle-Alle Alleluia
Alleluia
Alleluia

Alleluia
Alle-Alle Alleluia
Alleluia
Alleluia

I Could Never Say Goodbye lyrics

Night has gone
Without my tears
Now I walk alone
You're no longer here

The days turn to years
I could never say goodbye
To the silence in my eyes
You know you are in my heart
But the miles keep us apart

Time moves on
In the falling grey
I still dream of you
And whisper your name
Where I see you once again

I could never say goodbye
To the silence in my eyes
You know you are in my heart
But the miles keep us apart

I could never say goodbye

Dark Sky Island lyrics

Listen to the waves speak up
The blue voice of the sea
And they whisper us they taught the shore
Come back to me, come back to me

Boat by boat upon the waves
All come to find the light
In the darkness of the sky above
Come back to me, come back to me

Capella...auriga...eta carinae...
Sagitta...aquila...alpha centauri...

Twilight comes to close the day
And let the night break free
And from deep blue skies
The heavens rise
Come back to me, come back to me
Come back to me, come back to me

Capella...auriga...eta carinae...
Sagitta...aquila...alpha centauri...

Moonlight brings the ocean's storms
Like waves upon the sea
And the midnight shore calls out once more
Come back to me, come back to me
Come back to me, come back to me
Come back to me, come back to me

Sancta Maria lyrics

Sancta Maria Sancta Maria
Sancta Maria Sancta Maria

Sancta Maria, Maria, Maria
Sancta Maria, Maria, Maria
Sancta Maria, Maria, Maria
Sancta Maria, Maria, Maria

(Repeat 3 times)

Astra et Luna lyrics

Caelum noctis;
in tenebris
astra et astra et luna
non nubilae
caelum serenum
tantus cantus ventus

Amoenum mare
Amoena terra
Amoena orbis terrarium

Salum et aestas
et via procul
Navis noctuabundum

Amoenum mare
Amoena terra
Amoena orbis terrarium
Amoenum mare
Amoena terra
Amoena orbis terrarium

Translation:
The night sky;
in the darkness the stars
and the stars and the moon,
no clouds, a clear sky,
the great song of the wind;

The beauty of the sea
the beauty of the earth
the beauty of the world around me

The open sea and summer and a distant journey.
A ship travelling by night.

The Loxian Gates lyrics

phormmayonay
menemmay bayrr o no
orpirrrommay
eepha lyi kul ay o no

oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee
oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee

orluuammay
oanrro a kaleean
orberummay
essa phayr mayvollan

oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee
oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee

orjummay
rro llay kollan ju
orrommayanay
kammay a menemmay

oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee
oooo vaya vee oooo daya dee

horoommay
no bey a errusay
eella erkaka
`huruhuru netheejan

horkanmmaynay
seva beru sevaran
nay a korheeay
`huruhuru netheejan

Translation:
Through the gates of night
there is wisdom is waiting to be found…

That first place of night
was an island in the colour of stars.
Spring;
green grew and the flowers blossomed.

…a lost time, for in the distance…

Summer;
the sun and the sand,
Autumn;
the shape of yellow leaves falling.

…a lost time, far in the distance…

Winter;
the sky sang snow.
Written into the night;
a world of stars.

…a lost time, for in the distance…

Now, is the season of water;
the island, the cities, the darkness.
Through time this became our world,
but our quest is not yet over.

Now, is the season of the moon;
soft breezes whispering,
night and day.
But our quest is not yet over.

Diamonds on the Water lyrics

Listen to the river
It echoes softly
Drifting in my memories
The sound of summer

Listen to my heart beat
As I lie dreaming
Everywhere is whispering
The sound of summer

The diamonds on the water
Are falling from the sun
The diamonds on the water
Are...are...

Solace lyrics

What can I do to comfort you?
Don’t hide away in solitude.
What can I say to show the way?
Let tears become a soft rain…

Why do you hide the loss inside?
The love you feel is in your eyes.
Why do you go upon this road
when you could find your way home?

Pale Grass Blue lyrics

A silver hue on wings of blue as all
around me shadows dance in light
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay
And everywhere the blues are moving
in the air I see them in their flight
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay

For seven days they make the sky look
down upon them as they go their way
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay

For seven nights they wait the moment
for the morning light to come again
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay

And one by one they wander one by
one meander never go astray
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and all I want to do is stay

And so I stand and gaze and so I watch
the maze of blues depart the day
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and one by one they fly away
Sun is high above and winds are still
enough and one by one they fly away

Remember Your Smile lyrics

Lost in the mountains
far from the crowds
we would wander together
walking for miles
with the night still before us
and day passing by
I always remember your smile

Cool in the evening
warm in the sun
the clouds moving slowly
time was undone
yet the days fell before us
and nights rolled on by
I always remember your smile

Every step and each moment
were all so worthwhile
I always remember your smile

I always remember your smile

And it’s strange how for a moment
the heavens were mine
I always remember your smile

Each one has a journey
that’s how it goes
sometimes we’re together
sometimes alone

Credits

Everything you hear on the album is Enya multi-layered to perfection:

MUSIC COMPOSED BY ENYA
LYRICS BY ROMA RYAN
PRODUCED BY NICKY RYAN

All instrumentation* and vocals performed by Enya.
All titles arranged by Enya and Nicky Ryan.
Engineered by Nicky Ryan. Mixed by Nicky Ryan and Enya.
Recorded at Aigle Studio.

Mastered by Dick Beetham at 360 Mastering, Hastings.
Digital advisor and technician: Daniel Polley.

Album sleeve conception by Nicky Ryan and Simon Fowler.
Booklet layout: Richard Welland. Photography: Simon Fowler.
Commissioned by Michael Whitham.

*other than Eddie Lee on Double Bass on ‘Even in the Shadows’

Loxian language and font by Roma Ryan.

Lyrics reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
All titles © 2015 Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd.

Recorded in the digital domain by an analogue brain.

Enya, Nicky and Roma would like to thank:
All of our friends at the Warner Music family worldwide.
Thanks in particular to our Warner UK Team,
especially Max Lousada and Miles Leonard.
Also to Stu Bergen, Cameron Strang, Jeremy Marsh and Bernd Dopp.

To Fran Malyan and Guy Moot of Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd.
To all of our Moderators, both past and present, we say “Thank-you”
with particular thanks to Nigel Sellens and Jackie Lane.
To all our Forum members, thanks for your support and encouragement.

To Ronny Schreinzer and Robert Trebus and Fairlight EU.
To Phillip Lawo of Lawo AG and the Lawo team.

A special mention also for Dick Beetham,
Lee Tobin, Aran Gues, Nadia Pfeiffer,
Brian Curtin of DC Chauffeur Drive, Frank Byrne,
Ailish McKenna and Alan Lander.

And finally, to Daniel Polley.

www.enya.com
www.romaryan.com
www.nickyryan.net