Rubyworks Records
Rubyworks Records | |
---|---|
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 based in Dublin, Ireland. Owner, Niall Muckian, started the company 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 went on to release "re-Foc" in September 2002 and has been managing Rodrigo y Gabriela since.[1]
Rubyworks owns two subsidiary labels, Gotta Run Records and Model Citizen Records.[2]
In May 2012 Rubyworks merged with UK independent record label Ark Recordings.[3][4]
History
Formation
Rubyworks was formed by Niall Muckian in Dublin in 2001. Muckian saw Rodrigo y Gabriela supporting Damien Rice at Vicar Street in Dublin and wanted to work with them. Rubyworks released "re-Foc" in September 2002, and continues to manage Rodrigo y Gabrela to this day.
Over the course of the last fourteen years, Rubyworks has released albums by important Irish artists like Hothouse Flowers, Sinead 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.
2004 to 2006
Rubyworks took its next step by releasing a new Hothouse Flowers ("Into Your Heart") album in early 2004.[5] Developing an international presence, the label helped established Irish acts like Aslan and Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club release their music outside Ireland.[6] 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.
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.[7] 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[8] and Koufax in the same year
2007 to 2008
2007/2008 saw Rubyworks busier than ever. With a new album from Sinéad O'Connor out in June,[9] a live CD/DVD package from the reformed Moving Hearts; and the debut album from County Down singer/songwriter Foy Vance as well as an album from Mary Coughlan.[10] 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.[11]
2009 to 2012
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.[12]
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 racked up over 10 million views on YouTube. Junior Label Manager Eoin Aherne joined the label during this period.
2013 to Present
In 2013, with the aid of Denis Desmond & Caroline Downey, Rubyworks introduced Hozier to a more mainstream audience.[13] He released his Music Video to debut track, Take Me To Church, in September 2013, where the track peaked at Number 2 on the Irish Singles Chart. The Music Video, recorded by Brendan Canty & Conal Thomson of Feel Good Lost, has racked up over 250 million views on YouTube. 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 to glowing acclaim.[14]
The year 2014 saw one of the busiest years for Rubyworks, with album releases from :
The Minutes - Live Well, Change Often
Rodrigo y Gabriela - 9 Dead Alive
This year also saw the release of eponymous debut album from Hozier, 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 December 5, 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 & Otherkin.
Artists
Current
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Alumni
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References
- ↑ "History - Rubyworks". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Fight Like Apes, Rodrigo y Gabriella and more for Rubyworks celebration". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Rubyworks and Ark unite". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Ark Recordings Headlines: Ark and Rubyworks Unite". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Return of the bloomtown rats". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "When a child is born". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Waves". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "The Inside Track". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Sinéad O’Connor live at The Sugar Club". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Blues is the healer". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Rubyworks music label". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Rubyworks Label Celebrates 10 Years". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Birth of a Buzz". Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ↑ "The Graceless Age Review, The Guardian". Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ↑ "Wait A Minute". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Give Me '05". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Have I Got Rock 'n' Roll News for You". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Nigel Mooney announces national tour". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Niall Muckian - Ireland". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Rubyworks Record label & Artist Management". Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ↑ "Artists - Rubyworks". Retrieved 17 August 2012.