Rubyworks took its next step by releasing a new Hothouse Flowers (“Into Your Heartâ€) 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 saw Rubyworks busier than ever. With new albums from Sinead O’Connor, Moving Hearts and Foy Vance. Thanks to astute international licensing deals in North America, Australia and South Africa, global sales of the current Rodrigo y Gabriela album stand at 430,000 and rising.
2008 will see ongoing promotion of Rodrigo y Gabriela (full European and Japanese releases due February and March) around the world. Plus further releases from Foy Vance, Sinead O'Connor (with Republic Of Loose) and Moving Hearts.
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.RODRIGO Y GABRIELA : Diablo rojo - Taratata
TARATATA N°268 (France 4 - Diff. le 09/05/08)