Thursday Throwback is a weekly colour scheme inspired by an iconic album cover of yesteryear. This week’s throwback is the 1988 album “Watermark” by Enya. The colours are as follows:
| Colours | HEX | RGB | HSB | CMYK | LAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colour 1 | #B5AABF | 181, 170, 191 | 271, 11, 75 | 5, 10, 0, 25 | 71, 7, -9 |
| Colour 2 | #F0F2E9 | 240, 242, 233 | 73, 4, 95 | 0, 0, 3, 5 | 95, -2, 4 |
| Colour 3 | #F2B279 | 242, 178, 121 | 28, 50, 95 | 0, 26, 50, 5 | 77, 16, 38 |
| Colour 4 | #D98C5F | 217, 140, 95 | 22, 56, 85 | 0, 35, 56, 14 | 65, 24, 35 |
| Colour 5 | #BF3434 | 191, 52, 52 | 0, 73, 75 | 0, 72, 72, 25 | 43, 54, 33 |
Enya’s “Watermark” is more than just an album; it’s a transcendent journey into an imaginary world of enchantment and wonder. Released on 19 September 1988, this ethereal masterpiece catapulted Enya to international fame and solidified her reputation as one of her generation’s most innovative and influential artists.
Enya’s journey to musical stardom began in March 1987 with the single “I Want Tomorrow,” taken from her self-titled debut album. “Enya” was produced as the soundtrack to a BBC2 documentary series called “The Celts” and was made in collaboration with producer Nicky Ryan and his wife, lyricist Roma Ryan. The album caught the attention of Rob Dickins, then chairman of Warner Music UK. A few weeks after the album charted with moderate success, Enya and the Ryans attended the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) awards show. When they discovered that someone had forgotten to reserve a place for them at the aftershow dinner, they were invited to join the Warner contingent, which included Dickins. That evening signalled the first of many negotiations which led to Enya signing to the label.
“Watermark” marked a significant milestone in Enya’s career, introducing audiences to her mesmerising vocal harmonies, lush instrumentation, and ethereal production techniques thanks to the success of the album’s lead single “Orinoco Flow”. On the 15th of October 1988, “Orinoco Flow” entered the United Kingdom singles chart at number 29. By the 23rd, the single had climbed to number 1 and remained there for 3 weeks. The album peaked at number 5 and remained in the top 40 for 5 weeks. From the haunting melody of “Orinoco Flow” to the celestial beauty of “Evening Falls,” “Watermark” transports listeners to distant realms of imagination and emotion. Enya’s evocative lyrics, sung in her distinctive layered vocal style, evoke feelings of longing, nostalgia, and introspection, resonating with audiences on a deeply personal level. The album’s lush arrangements, featuring synthesizers, pianos, strings, and percussion, blend seamlessly with Enya’s otherworldly vocals, creating an immersive sonic experience that transcends the boundaries of traditional pop music.
Beyond its captivating melodies and ethereal vocals, Enya’s album “Watermark” is also celebrated for its mesmerizing cover art. The imagery encapsulates the album’s enchanting ambience, inviting listeners into a world of magic and mystery. The cover image of Enya was shot by David Hiscook with additional photography by Russel Yamy. The final shot was then made into a slide which was painted over by graphic designer Laurence Dunmore who finalised the sleeve design. The artwork later inspired the music video for “Orinoco Flow”. Dickins realised the cover was an important aspect of the album’s marketing campaign. “Watermark” was vastly different to the music being listened to at the time, so traditional marketing methods may not have worked. The sleeve design needed to be as eye-catching as possible. Dickins felt that the final result worked perfectly. Enya expressed that she was very happy with the cover. She felt the classic, oil-painted appearance not only matched the sound of the music but portrayed her as someone completely different from the popular female starlets of the time. To heighten the mystery of the album, Dickins decided against the inclusion of detailed liner notes, even for the songs sung in Gaelic. Enya pointed out in an interview how effective the ploy was.
“Everyone seems to conjure up their own images and emotions with the music. It’s something very personal to them — which is true, because they bought the album, it is theirs.”
Enya
Enya’s “Watermark” is a testament to the transformative power of music, transporting listeners to realms of imagination and emotion beyond the confines of everyday life. Nearly four decades after its release, “Watermark” remains a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate listeners with its timeless beauty and enchanting melodies.
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