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
2007/2008 saw Rubyworks busier than ever. With a new album from Sinead O'Connor, a live CD / DVD package from the reformed and resurgent Moving Hearts; and the debut album from County Down singer / songwriter Foy Vance as well as a great return to form album from Mary Coughlan. Thanks to astute international licensing deals in North America, Australia, Europe Japan and South Africa, global sales of the Rodrigo y Gabriela have rose to over 500,000.
With the release of their latest studio album 11:11 global sales of Rodrigo Y Gabriela have passed the 1,000,000 mark while sell-out world tours and a recent intimate performance for US President Obama at the White House have cemented Rodrigo Y Gabriela in the top tier of international artists recording and performing today.
Closer to home the Rubyworks subsidiary label Model Citizen has reaped great success with two Choice Prize nominated albums from indie noiseniks Fight Like Apes and with an upcoming debut album from Dublin rockers The Minutes on the cards the imprint is sure to grow in success and stature.
The Rubyworks family has continued to grow with the signings of Gavin Friday for his first solo album since 1995's Shag Tobacco and Monaghan singer-songwriter Ryan Sheridan. Both albums will be released in May 2011.
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.
