Rubyworks Records | |
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Founded | 2001 |
Founder | Niall Muckian |
Genre | Various |
Country of origin | Ireland |
Official website | rubyworks.com |
Rubyworks Records is an independent record label and music management company created in 2001 by Niall Muckian and based in Dublin, Ireland.
Rubyworks owns two subsidiary labels, Gotta Run Records and Model Citizen Records. The second subsidiary label Model Citizen Records creates rearrangements of their artists songs to be used for PD (Public Domain) [1] In May 2012 Rubyworks merged with UK independent record label Ark Recordings. [2] [3]
Rubyworks was formed by Niall Muckian [4] in Dublin in 2001. Muckian was initially working with Damien Rice, helping him with the formation of his solo career when he saw Rodrigo y Gabriela supporting him at Vicar Street in Dublin. He decided he wanted to work with them. Rubyworks released re-Foc in September 2002, and continues to manage Rodrigo y Gabrela to this day. [5]
Over the course of the last fourteen years, Rubyworks has released albums with Irish artists like Hothouse Flowers, Sinéad O'Connor, Mary Coughlan and Moving Hearts. In more recent times the label, which also includes offshoot imprints Model Citizen, Ark Recordings and Gotta Run, has developed a new generation of Irish talent including Hozier, in partnership with Columbia Records in North America and Australia and Island / Universal for the rest of the world, Ryan Sheridan (in partnership by Universal Music Germany), O.R.B. (The Original Rudeboys), The Minutes and Funeral Suits. [6] [7]
Rubyworks took its next step by releasing a new Hothouse Flowers album (Into Your Heart) in early 2004. [8] Developing an international presence, the label helped established Irish acts like Aslan and Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club release their music outside Ireland. [9] The next major break through came later in 2004, when the second Rodrigo y Gabriela album, Live: Manchester and Dublin , became the first wholly instrumental album to debut in the Irish album chart Top 10. Rodrigo y Gabriela's and Rubyworks' local and international profile started to increase from this juncture.[ citation needed ]
In 2005, Roger Quail joined Rubyworks from the UK, having previously had long spells at 3mv (Oasis, Suede, Ministry of Sound) and Sony's SINE independent label development wing with a view to developing Rubyworks' international profile. The label enjoyed further critical success with Dublin rock group The Devlins. [10] In early 2006 the label enjoyed its greatest success to date with the third Rodrigo y Gabriela album, which charted at # 1 in the Irish album charts in February 2006. The label also released new albums from Leya [11] and Koufax in the same year[ citation needed ]
In 2007 and 2008, Rubyworks released: a new album from Sinéad O'Connor in June; [12] a live CD/DVD package from the re-formed Moving Hearts; the debut album from County Down singer/songwriter Foy Vance; and an album from Mary Coughlan. [13] Due to international licensing deals in North America, Australia, Europe, Japan and South Africa, global sales of the Rodrigo y Gabriela rose to over 500,000. [14]
In May 2012 Rubyworks merged with UK independent record label Ark Recordings. In August 2012 Rubyworks celebrated its first decade in existence with three Dublin concerts featuring performances from bands like Rodrigo y Gabriela and Fight Like Apes. [15]
Dublin band Funeral Suits released their debut album, Lily of the Valley, in June 2012. One of the songs released from the album, "All Those Friendly People", has since collected over 17 million views on YouTube. Junior label manager Eoin Aherne joined the label during this period.
In 2013, with the aid of Denis Desmond & Caroline Downey, Rubyworks introduced Hozier to a more mainstream audience. [16] He released his debut music video track, "Take Me To Church", in September 2013, when it peaked at number 2 on the Irish Singles Chart. The music video, recorded by Brendan Canty & Conal Thomson of Feel Good Lost, has collected over 530 million views on YouTube across two versions. Hozier then went on to release his debut EP, Take Me To Church, which included the track of the same name and "Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene".
American Musician John Murry released his album, The Graceless Age, with Rubyworks. [17]
In 2014, Rubyworks released albums from: The Minutes ( Live Well, Change Often ), O.R.B. ( All We Are ) and Rodrigo y Gabriela ( 9 Dead Alive ), and also Hozier's eponymous debut album, which was released in Ireland in September 2014 and globally in October 2014. Prior to this, Hozier released his second EP, From Eden, which included the single "From Eden". On 5 December 2014, it was announced that "Take Me to Church" was nominated at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards for Song of the Year in 2015, losing this award to Sam Smith.
2015 saw the release of Ryan Sheridan's follow-up album, Here and Now, on 28 August 2015 in Ireland, and topped the Irish Album Charts on 4 September 2015. The album was released in Germany on 11 September 2015 in conjunction with Universal Music Group, Germany. This year also saw the signing of two new bands to the label, Wyvern Lingo and Otherkin.
Current
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Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock band that combine traditional Irish music with influences from soul, gospel and rock. Formed in 1985 in Dublin, they started as street performers. Their first album, People (1988), was the most successful debut album in Irish history, reaching No. 1 in Ireland and No. 2 in the UK. After two more albums and extensive touring, the group separated in 1994. Since getting back together in 1998, the band members have been sporadically issuing new songs and touring, but also pursuing solo careers.
John Miller Murry is an American musician, singer-songwriter, composer and producer. He is from Tupelo, Mississippi, and currently lives in Drumlish, County Longford, Ireland.
Aslan are an Irish rock band from Dublin who formed in 1982. Composed originally of Christy Dignam, Joe Jewell, Tony McGuinness, Billy McGuinness and Alan Downey, the band has released six studio albums: Feel No Shame (1988), Goodbye Charlie Moonhead (1994), Here Comes Lucy Jones (1997), Waiting For This Madness To End (2001), For Some Strange Reason (2007) and Nudie Books and Frenchies (2012).
Damien Dempsey is an Irish singer and songwriter who mixes traditional Irish folk contemporary lyrics that deliver social and political commentaries on Irish society. Damien sings in his native, working-class accent in the English language, and to a lesser extent in the Irish language.
Mary Coughlan is an Irish singer.
Rodrigo y Gabriela are a Mexican acoustic guitar duo whose music is influenced by a number of genres including nuevo flamenco, rock, and heavy metal. The duo's recordings consist largely of instrumental duets on the flamenco guitar. Currently residing in Mexico City, they began their career in Dublin, Ireland, during an eight-year stay. They have toured internationally and in 2010, performed at The White House for President Barack Obama. In 2020, their fifth studio album Mettavolution won a Grammy Award for the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. Their most recent album, In Between Thoughts…A New World, was released in April 2023.
Relish are a rock band from Northern Ireland composed of brothers Ken and Carl Papenfus, and until 2013 Darren Campbell. They have released three albums: 2001's "Wildflowers" (Platinum), "Karma Calling" (Gold) in 2003, and "Connected" in 2011. "Wildflowers | Karma Calling was released as a double album package by Universal Records (Ireland) in 2015.
Live: Manchester and Dublin is the first live album by Rodrigo y Gabriela, a Mexican guitar duo.
Ruth-Anne Cunningham, known professionally as RuthAnne, is an Irish singer-songwriter. She is best known for co-writing "Too Little Too Late", performed by the US singer JoJo, "In the Name of Love" performed by Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha, "Work Bitch" performed by Britney Spears, "Slow Hands" performed by Niall Horan, "Where Do Broken Hearts Go", "No Control" performed by One Direction and "Beautiful World" performed by Westlife. She also wrote and vocally features on the Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack with her song "Pray". In 2013, she also has uncredited vocals for the EDM-oriented song, "All You Need is Love", on Swedish DJ Avicii's True album.
Live in Japan is the second live album by Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. It was released on independent label Rubyworks Records on October 17 and October 20 in Ireland and the UK, respectively. The album captures Rodrigo & Gabriela making their live Japanese debut, at Tokyo’s Duo club on March 30, 2008.
11:11 is the third studio album by Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. It was released on independent label Rubyworks around the world from 2 to 8 September 2009. It guest stars Strunz & Farah on the song "Master Maqui" and Alex Skolnick on the song "Atman". The song "Buster Voodoo" was performed by the band on The Tonight Show hosted by Conan O'Brien on Thursday, 1 October 2009 and on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Wednesday, 28 October 2009. Each song on the album is a tribute to an artist that has inspired both Rodrigo and Gabriela.
Ryan Sheridan is an Irish singer, songwriter and guitarist from County Monaghan.
Area 52 is a 2012 album by acoustic duo Rodrigo y Gabriela and the Cuban orchestra known as C.U.B.A. It is Rodrigo y Gabriela's fifth album overall, and their first collaboration with another group. Their aim was to 'do our music with a Cuban orchestra that plays in a very traditional way, a fusion'. All the songs on this album are re-recordings of songs previously released in their previous two studio albums. The duo spent 20 days recording in Cuba where 'the pianist also made the arrangements for the orchestra. We’d play along with the musicians so they could hear our energy'. Afterwards, the band overdubbed solo parts at their own studio.
Hudson Taylor was an Irish folk and Americana duo formed in 2011, who split up in 2022. The lineup consisted of brothers Harry and Alfie Hudson-Taylor, who were signed to Rubyworks Records.
Josephine Ejiroghene Oniyama is an English singer-songwriter. She has released three albums and a number of singles.
Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, known professionally as Hozier, is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. His music primarily draws from folk, soul and blues, often using religious and literary themes and taking political or social justice stances.
"Take Me to Church" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier. It was released as his debut single on 13 September 2013, originally featuring on his extended play of the same name, before being featured as the opening track of his 2014 debut album Hozier. A struggling musician at the time of its composition, Hozier wrote and recorded the song in the attic of his parents' home in County Wicklow. A mid-tempo soul song, its lyrics use religious terminology to describe a romantic relationship in the face of Church discrimination. The song caught the attention of Rubyworks Records, where producer Rob Kirwan collaborated with Hozier on the final recording.
Hozier is the debut studio album by Irish musician Hozier. It was released on 19 September 2014 by Island Records and Rubyworks Records. Before the album's release, he attracted attention from his 2013 and 2014 EPs Take Me to Church (2013) and From Eden (2014), which contained songs that were later included on the album. Hozier collaborated with producer Rob Kirwan during its recording. Hozier has been described as a blues, soul and indie rock album with elements of gospel, R&B and folk music.
Mettavolution is the fifth studio album by Mexican duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. It was released on April 26, 2019 through Rubyworks and ATO Records.
David Keenan is an Irish songwriter and musician from Dundalk, County Louth. He is currently releasing independently through his own label Barrack Street Records.