2001 was a banner year for Enya, and it’s not over yet.

The whirlwind success following her latest full-length release, “A Day Without Rain,” continues to nurture her career. Dance music DJ Christian B, a self-proclaimed “huge Enya fan,” likes to think he played some small role in launching the ethereal vocalist back into the arms of the mainstream.

Enya’s once-floundering single, “Only Time,” topped charts and drove album sales to record high only after undergoing a rhythmic-treatment by Christian B and partner Marc Dold, both 30, of the Swiss American Federation.

The Los Angeles-based production/composing/remixing duo have in the past tinkered with songs for other artists as diverse as Alice Cooper and Peter Gabriel to Mandy Moore. One of its latest projects is reworking a new Celine Dion track.

But “Only Time” was a labor of love for Christian B, who also hosts a radio show 1 to 4 a.m. Saturday mornings on KIIS-FM (102.7).

“I always thought it would be great to do an Enya remix,” he says, admitting he had put off his desire until hearing “Only Time” early last year.

The single’s dreamy demeanor had been poorly received at radio, and album sales were down. Then the Swiss American Federation – or S.A.F. for short – got hold of the single with permission from both the record label Reprise and Enya’s producer, Nicky Ryan. By early summer, major radio stations across the country had the newly remixed single on heavy rotation. VH-1 recut the “Only Time” video to go with the remix, which was later picked up by MTV.

After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 happened, “Only Time” was sent into orbit. While the single rocketed up the charts, “A Day Without Rain” smashed her considerable previous accomplishments and made her the top-selling female artist of 2001.

“It got to the point where the record company people were like ‘I want the remix,’ ” Christian B says.

While the Golden Globe did not go to the enigmatic new age diva whose track “May It Be” from “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” soundtrack was up for best original song, she still has a shot at the Oscars.

In December, Reprise Records released the remix along with Enya’s two tracks from “The Lord of the Rings” soundtrack – including “May It Be,” which received a Golden globe nomination and is likely headed for an Oscar on as well – as a charity maxi-single, whose proceeds benefit the International Association of Firefighters. Christian B says he couldn’t be prouder.

“I’m still not real sure if she’s thrilled about the idea of the remix,” he says, admitting he has yet to hear from Enya. “I can only imagine that she is, hopefully, happy about it at this point. I mean, come on!”

Daily News (Los Angeles, CA) | Jan 27, 2002