ABOUT ENYA » Nicky Ryan

Nicky knows when he has captured the right performance from me. I may be a perfectionist, but he says when a song is done. I trust him. I have to take his word for it. I'm lucky to have him. Otherwise, I'd probably be in the studio forever. -Enya

Nicky Ryan is Enya's producer.

How it began

Nicky used to mix the live sound for acoustic groups – first Planxty, featuring the Irish singer and guitarist Christy Moore and then Clannad, whom he managed until 1982, and through whom his relationship with Enya developed. These groups left Nicky with a knowledge of recording unusual acoustic sounds which he would later use in recording the Uileann pipes, whistles and African hand drums on 'Watermark.'

During his period with Clannad Nicky decided to bring Enya into the ranks. 'Enya was still going to college at that time, but I knew of her interest in keyboards, and I knew she was good. I also knew she had an excellent voice, with an impressive range. I thought by introducing Enya into Clannad that we’d add not only a new vocal texture, but also make the group more interesting and more interested in what they were doing. Also, since she was a member of the family, I didn’t think there’d be any personality hassles.’

'I used to show Enya what we wanted in terms of background stuff for Clannad; what I wanted her to play; how the strings should feel at a certain point and so on – and we found ourselves working together during the spare time we had on tour. I began to notice that she had an awful lot to offer in her own right, and it wasn’t getting an airing in the group.’

Ultimately Enya and Nicky left Clannad to develop Enya's solo career.

Discography

Producer

• Clannad – Dúlamán (1976)
• De Danann – Selected Jigs Reels & Songs (1977)
• De Danann – Star-Spangled Molly (1978)
• Christy Moore – Live In Dublin (1978)
• Clannad – In Concert (1978)
• Clannad - Crann Ull (1980)
• Clannad - Fuaim (1982)
• General Humbert – II (1982)
• Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Frankie Kennedy – Ceol Aduaidh (1983)
• Paddy Keenan - Poirt an Phiobaire (1983)

Sound engineer

• Matt Molloy – Stony Steurps (1987)
• Arty McGlynn – Lead the Knave (1989)
• Sean Ryan - Take the Air (1995)

Editor

• Various – Singing Men Of Ulster (1977)

Something more

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