ABOUT ENYA » And Winter Came...
And Winter Came, Enya's seventh solo album, was released on November 10, 2008 after 2 years of recording. The first single 'Trains and Winter Rains' premiered on September 29, 2008 on Terry Wogan's show (BBC Radio 2).
And Winter Came...
"Some people see the winter as an ending, with a whole story before it,
but I see it very much as a new beginning." -Roma Ryan
At the beginning, Enya intended to work on a Christmas themed album and she thought it was going to be mostly covers of Christmas carols and some original Christmas pieces she would write. But the theme that became very strong was the winter theme. Hence, the title 'And Winter Came'. As a result, the album contains only two traditional Christmas carols 'Oíche Chiuín ( Silent Night)' and 'Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel' and ten original compositions.
Promotion
Design and art direction were created by Mikkel Lundsager Hansen from Stylorouge, 'Trains And Winter Rains' music video was directed by Rob O'Connor with Mikkel co-directing. Other documentary clips and the TV spot were also prepared by Stylorouge: Rupert Style produced the promo clip, Simon Fowler took the album sleeve photography, and Jamie Gibson created online promo clips.
The Album Launch
The official launch party was held in the prestige confines of Two Temple Place, London which was brilliantly decorated for the occasion, in the theme of the album with snow falling and a huge white horse bringing to mind scenes from Russia in the 19th century.
The Tracks
And Winter Came is an extended version of 'Midnight Blue' (B-side from the 'Wild Child' single) and reflects upon the arrival of winter.
Trains and Winter Rains was chosen as a single because Enya particularly enjoyes the percussion arrangement in it. Roma describes the song as a "journey from home that everyone must make when they start to get too comfortable."
Enya said: "I find traveling by train gives you time to think and reflect. The rhythm of a train
journey is particularly soothing; it allows you to listen to your thoughts, even plan the future,
and daydream especially." Also the gloves in the music video hold a special special significance
for her: "I remember wearing gloves for the first time when I left home for College. They were my
Mother's gloves, and a source of comfort. For me, singing the lyric, I put my own memories into it."
White is in the Winter Night, American single released as download-only, was described by Nicky as “the kind of song you could hear at the Proms with everyone joining in, it has that kind of Christmassy vibe”.
My! My! Time Flies, dedicated to the late Irish guitarist Jimmy Faulkner, was the last piece recorded for the album. The lyrics are based on a conversation Enya, Roma and Nicky had that particular day and evolve around passing time and Jimmy's favourite music, making references to The Beatles or Tchaikovsky. This up-tempo song marks a slight departure from Enya's usual style as it features guitar solos performed by Pat Farrell.
Oíche Chiuín (Chorale) is a new rendering of a previously released track, but this time it incorporates what Nicky describes as the "choir of one". It's a technique he first fully adopted during the recording of Watermark that finds Enya performing multi-layered vocals to create a mellifluous sea of harmonies. "I enjoy the process, I love the excitement of not knowing if it will work," admits Enya. It's also her favourite piece on the album.
Miraculum is a b-side track available only as a digital download (Amazon.com and iTunes in certian territories). It has the same melody as 'One Toy Soldier' while the lyrics in Latin celebrate the 20th anniversary of Watermark. "Once we were singing the story of a great journey the moonlight on water, the shores, a star, the sky. To set sail, a wonderful thing. To sail away."
Album Sales
Since its release, the album has sold more than 1,700,000 copies. It peaked number-one to the Billboard "Top Holiday Albums" for a week and four weeks in the "Top New Age Albums". It also peaked number two at the Billboard "Top Internet Albums".
Album Releases
And Winter Came...
November 10, 2008
international version containing 12 tracks
more details and lyrics
And Winter Came... (Taiwan)
Enya signed two hundred copies of the album for a Taiwanese charity project.
Singles
Trains and Winter Rains
November 10, 2008
1. Trains and Winter Rains (single version)
White is in the Winter Night (USA - download only)
November 4, 2008
1. White is in the Winter Night (album version)
My! My! Time Flies (download only)
February 2, 2008
1. My! My! Time Flies (album version)