Music like Enya

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Waff

True & Honest Fan
kiwifarms.net
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Jul 13, 2022
Any time I search this topic I only get people mentioning Engima this engima that but when I listen to engima it just sounds like a whored out version of Enya. Yes it is in the same genre of New Age music but its like comparing Neopagan black metal to christian metal (not that christian metal is good per se). With that said it probably is unlikely there are many musicians that can reach the angellic sound of Enya's music but I figured I would ask, as there are tons of musicians out there that make beaufiul music but just don't have the budget to reach as much people as those who are parts of big record labels like EMI.
 
I don't know anything about this genre of music, but I do seem to remember a compilation album that was heavily advertised in the 90s that included both Enya and Enigma among others. "Pure Moods" was the title. Finding it, or at least who else was on it, might be a good start.
 
Sara McLachlan's early stuff

Loreena McKennitt

Deep Forest

Enigma (a less whorey song of theirs)

these are some bands i remember being part of that neo hippy music wave in the 90s

also, the kind of people who are really into "ethnic" "meditative" music have this strange belief that listening to music tuned to 432Hz makes it more special somehow. you may have luck on youtube if you search for "new age 432Hz" or "celtic 432Hz"
 
I know Loreena McKennitt was already mentioned, so these are just my favorite songs. I added two versions of the same songs. In Loreena McKennit's The Mummers Dance one is an extended version that has a build up in the beginning while the other has a few more instruments.

Heather Dale's Mordred's Lullaby, one version is sung a little softly while the other Queens of Avalon is more aggressive in tone.

Sometimes one version of a song might be more favorable than the other because of these slight changes.

Loreena McKennitt - The Mystic's Dream


Loreena McKennitt - The Mummers' Dance (Extended)


Loreena McKennitt - The Mummers' Dance

Heather Dale - Mordred's Lullaby


Heather Dale - Mordred's Lullaby (Queens of Avalon)

 
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I know Loreena McKennitt was already mentioned, so these are just my favorite songs. I added two versions of the same songs. In Loreena McKennit's The Mummers Dance one is an extended version that has a build up in the beginning while the other has a few more instruments.

Heather Dale's Mordred's Lullaby, one version is sung a little softly while the other Queens of Avalon is more aggressive in tone.

Sometimes one version of a song might be more favorable than the other because of these slight changes.

Loreena McKennitt - The Mystic's Dream


Loreena McKennitt - The Mummers' Dance (Extended)


Loreena McKennitt - The Mummers' Dance

Heather Dale - Mordred's Lullaby


Heather Dale - Mordred's Lullaby (Queens of Avalon)

Sounds like it fits the bill almost exactly. I'll soulseek one album tonight...
It sounds like you want dreamlike Y2K music, or medieval larp music. Weird how they overlap like that.
I wouldn't say y2k music as one of my favorite albums from Enya is Watermark from 1988. Storms in africa pt 1 and 2 are perhaps my fav on it.
Sara McLachlan's early stuff
Completely forgot how much I love her voice as well...her instrumentals arent on the same level though.
 
Just go to any thrift store and look through the CDs. Many of them are groaning under the weight of 90s "new age" CDs, which all sounds like Enya.
 
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Going to throw some ideas out, cant stand enya knock offs so some orbiters of the space maybe. Not sure anyone sounds like Enya or captures that vibe but here we go.
  • Loreena Mckennit: Parallel Dreams or The Visit...irishy, folksy too, not too corny
  • A Winged Victory for the Sullen: first album with naked girl and The Undivided Five...instrumental only but somewhat orchestral without sounding like a movie soundtrack
  • Lisa Gerard, in particular her dead can dance stuff, notably The Serpents Egg, Aion, Within the Realm of a Dying Sun, and her soundtrack for the movie Whalerider.
 
I don't know anything about this genre of music, but I do seem to remember a compilation album that was heavily advertised in the 90s that included both Enya and Enigma among others. "Pure Moods" was the title. Finding it, or at least who else was on it, might be a good start.
You know I actually used to do this with trance music a lot and found some great music on compilations when trying to find music like Aphex Twin. I forgot about that method but I just tried it and found these interesting one. The key thing is to avoid compilations that have her feature as orinoco flow or others of her popular hits. I'll keep looking for others as well and see if I can find other similar ones with great music.
The Voice Of Music Vol. II
Traum-Melodien
When I was looking up the song she sung it also appeared there was a fan forum for her as well kind of like what Evanescence had:
Exile Enya Forum



EDIT:
THERE IS A COMPILATION FOR ANTARTICA;
It may have good stuff I'm listening right now but its such an oddity I can't not share.
Polar Shift (A Benefit For Antarctica)
Going to throw some ideas out, cant stand enya knock offs so some orbiters of the space maybe. Not sure anyone sounds like Enya or captures that vibe but here we go.
  • Loreena Mckennit: Parallel Dreams or The Visit...irishy, folksy too, not too corny
  • A Winged Victory for the Sullen: first album with naked girl and The Undivided Five...instrumental only but somewhat orchestral without sounding like a movie soundtrack
  • Lisa Gerard, in particular her dead can dance stuff, notably The Serpents Egg, Aion, Within the Realm of a Dying Sun, and her soundtrack for the movie Whalerider.
I think its admirable to try and seek a musical performance like her but I think its a very hard goal to meet considering her level of passion and experience. Nevertheless you are right that nobody can make music like her, though something around that sort of soundscape is still nice to hear. Thanks for the reccommendations as well!
 
Here are a few for you:

There's a reason for the similar sound. Ciarán, Pól and Moya are Enya's siblings, Noel and Pádraig were their uncles, and she was a member of the group in the early 80s.


As for a thread tax, might I suggest Hayley Westenra? Here she is covering Enya:
 
Seconding everyone in here who suggested Loreena McKennitt, Secret Garden, and Lisa Gerrard. Those are probably the closest. Lisa Gerrard's solo stuff might be the closest (rather than Dead Can Dance). The Silver Tree album has a similar ethereal sound. I will also suggest Yanni. A lot of what he did is more upbeat and faster tempo, but he did quite a few pieces which are also slower and more dream-like. I will also strongly recommend 'London Grammar.' They are closer to pop than Enya, but their songs have a dream-like quality to them, and the lead singer has one of the greatest female voices I have ever heard. Unbelievable range and expression, and as clear as a bell.
 
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Aine Minogue

Karl Jenkin's Adiemus outfit.

Also the solo project of Miriam Stockley, Adiemus's solo singer.

Emer Kenny
 
Some of the ostinato-rich vocal pieces of the Belgium composer Wim Mertens cry out for the Enya treatment. Indeed I used to imagine the two doing a collab.

And no love for Cocteau Twins?

 
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You might enjoy a couple of This Mortal Coil tracks. They have the same ethereal quality I enjoy in Enya's stuff.
 
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