Rubyworks was formed by Niall
Muckian in Dublin in 2001.
Niall was promoting the now famous
Ruby Sessions acoustic evening in Doyle’s Pub. The
first release was by the forty legged groove machine which
was the Global Funk Orchestra, fondly remembered for their
late night Dublin Olympia gigs.
However, the story really
starts with a couple of Mexican guitarists called Rodrigo
y Gabriela, who had left Central America at the turn of the
millennium armed with two acoustic guitars and a taste for
adventure. Niall saw them supporting Damien Rice at Vicar
Street in Dublin and knew immediately that he wanted to work
with them. (Niall was working with Damien Rice at the time
helping him with the formative stages of his solo career).
Rubyworks released “Re – Foc” in September
2002, and continues to manage Rodrigo y Gabriela to this
day.
Rubyworks took its next step by releasing a new Hothouse
Flowers (“Into Your Heart”) album in early 2004.
Developing an international presence, the label helped established
Irish acts like Aslan and Jerry Fish release their music
outside of Ireland. 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. (The album has gone onto to achieve platinum status).
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
jazz ‘n’ blues maestro Nigel Mooney and Dublin
melodic rockers The Devlins. In early 2006 Tara McCormack
joined Rubyworks to manage PR in-house and the label enjoyed
its greatest success to date with the eponymous third Rod & Gab
long player, which charted at # 1 in the Irish album charts
in February 2006, beating off the challenge of Arctic Monkeys
and Johnny Cash. Extensive touring in the UK and Europe started
to pay off for RyG and Rubyworks was there to develop and
support them along the way. The label also released new albums
from Leya and Koufax in the same year
2007 sees Rubyworks busier than ever. With a new album from
Sinead O’Connor out in June, a forthcoming live CD
/ DVD package from the reformed and resurgent Moving Hearts;
and the debut album from County Down singer / songwriter
Foy Vance in the works. Thanks to astute international licensing
deals in North America, Australia and South Africa, global
sales of the current Rodrigo y Gabriela stand at 250,000
and rising.
With a philosophy based on signing charismatic performers
with amazing live ability and memorable tunes; Rubyworks
is living proof that an Irish based independent label can
flourish on both domestic and international platforms. |
