Róisín Murphy
Encyclopedia
Róisín Marie Murphy is an Irish
singer-songwriter
and record producer
, known for her electronic
style.
Murphy first came to note as part of the electronic music duo Moloko
. Her partner in the band was then-boyfriend Mark Brydon
. After the two ended their romantic relationship, Murphy released her debut solo album Ruby Blue
, written and produced with Matthew Herbert
, in 2005. Her second solo album Overpowered
was released in 2007. Murphy has a contralto
vocal range.
, County Wicklow
, Ireland
, in a Roman Catholic family. When she was twelve, her family moved to Manchester
in the UK. Murphy embraced 1960s fashions
from going with her mother, an antique dealer, to car boot sale
s and charity shop
s. She concealed her singing voice, not wanting other people to know she "sounded like Elaine Paige
" when she herself enjoyed listening to the likes of Sonic Youth
and Pixies instead.
After three years of living in Manchester, her parents divorced and moved back to Ireland
. Murphy insisted on remaining alone in the UK because she did not think that her mother had the strength to continue taking care of her.Sullivan, Caroline; "Her time is now" guardian.co.uk
, 27 May 2005 (Retrieved 22 July 2009) Murphy lived with her best friend for a year, until she could receive Housing Benefit
and live in a nearby flat
. She was bullied at school and befriended a group of "weird boys who wore black" and who listened to the Jesus and Mary Chain
. She enrolled in a sixth form college
at seventeen and later considered going to art school
. She moved to Sheffield
where she began going to nightclubs and was inspired by the Vivienne Westwood
designs she saw at Trash
.
in 1994 at a party, using the chat-up line "Do you like my tight sweater? See how it fits my body." Brydon brought Murphy to his Fon Studios, where he auditioned her voice on tape, and liked Murphy's theatrical delivery. They began dating, and the newly-formed Moloko were signed to Echo Records
, releasing their debut album Do You Like My Tight Sweater?
the following year. The album combined trip hop
and funk
with electronic dance music, using a more humorous approach than some of their contemporaries. The follow-up I Am Not a Doctor
covered similar musical ground, and a remix by Boris Dlugosch
of "Sing It Back
" enjoyed international success, and would go on to be featured on more than 110 compilation albums. In place of paying Dlugosch, Murphy helped write "Never Enough", which reached number sixteen on the UK Singles Chart
in June 2001.
October 2000 saw the release of Moloko's third album Things to Make and Do
, for which they employed more live instrumentation, and more multifaceted arrangements by keyboardist Eddie Stevens. The album reached number three on the UK Albums Chart
, and "The Time Is Now" became their most successful British single, reaching number two. Murphy and Brydon broke up but were contractually obligated to deliver further albums. After the 2003 release of Statues
, Brydon backed out of much of the album's promotion, so Murphy handled most of it herself. Although no official statement was issued pertaining to Moloko's future, Murphy had this to say in a Q Magazine
interview in May 2005 (which was reiterated in the review of Ruby Blue in July 2005):
and Boris Dlugosch
, for whom she sang on the track "Never Enough," which became a huge club hit, hitting the top three of the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Murphy recorded her first official solo material in 2004 with producer Matthew Herbert
, who had previously done remixes for Moloko. She had wanted to work with him again, commenting that "it felt very natural…because Matthew makes things seem quicker and easier." After the pair had recorded a few songs, Murphy found that she enjoyed working with Herbert, and her label Echo Records
let her work freely without any deadline. When she presented them the album, they found it odd and did not hear any songs that would make successful singles. The A&R
division suggested that Murphy make some changes to make it more radio-friendly. Murphy refused, stating that she "wanted it to be as pure as possible." The label later came to support her.
Murphy released her debut album Ruby Blue
in June 2005. Prior to this, tracks from the album were made available on three limited edition, vinyl-only releases: Sequins #1
, Sequins #2
and Sequins #3
. The release of the EP's was to precede a London exhibition by artist Simon Henwood, featuring paintings of Murphy in various sequined outfits (some of Henwood's paintings are used as cover images for the record jackets). The titling is also a pun on "sequins" and the related word "sequence". Henwood also directed the two video clips for the album's singles ("If We're in Love
" and "Sow into You
").
Ruby Blue samples
sounds made by everyday objects and actions, including cosmetics, brass mice, dancing and ornaments. It mixes the electronic music for which Moloko was known with jazz
and pop
styles. Although the album was a commercial failure, it drew mainly positive reviews; Pitchfork Media
called it "perfect, the ultimate combination of human warmth and technological know-how."
In May 2006, Murphy announced on her website forum that she had signed with EMI
and was working on new material. The first single, "Overpowered
", was released on 2 July 2007. "Overpowered" was written by Murphy and Seiji of Bugz in the Attic
and mixed by Tom Elmhirst (Amy Winehouse
, Röyksopp
, Grace Jones
). The single is accompanied by a series of remixes from the likes of Seamus Haji, Kris Menace
, Hervé and Loose Cannons. The second single "Let Me Know
" (a collaboration with Andy Cato
), was released in September and the album, named Overpowered
, was released soon after.
In September 2007, Murphy received a pre-nomination for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Inter Act, but did not make it to the final list. She performed "Let Me Know" on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
on 5 October 2007.
Murphy sustained an eye injury on 27 October 2007, while on tour in Russia to promote Overpowered. She was forced to cancel several subsequent dates on the tour.
, Murphy said in an interview in August 2008 that she was working on her third studio solo album. She said she was working with the producer from Overpowered, Seiji, to give the third album the "sleepy, synthesized vibe" that Overpowered has.
On 17 July 2009 BBC 6 Music
revealed Murphy would release a new single, "Demon Lover", by the end of the summer. The singer describes the song as "a big funky house track. It's a souped-up full on garage tune". About her third album she says: "It is quite gritty, it has a slightly London sound to it, it's a bit more urban and bass-ey than Overpowered".
On the same day, a Murphy news blog also revealed that she was pregnant with her first child.
Murphy recently previewed new material at the SEone club in London, performing "Momma's Place" and "Hold up Your Hands". She also said on her official forum that she has written some new songs including "Leviathan (Do It Yourself)", among others with producer Apollo Andel. On 2 November, she premiered her newest single "Orally Fixated" on her MySpace page. The song was released 16 November. The Guardian
offered a free download of the song for 48 hours beginning on 12 November.
In a January 2010 interview with Entertainment Weekly
, Murphy said, "First of all, I haven't recorded a new album as such. I've recorded a lot of songs, but I haven't planned beyond just putting the songs out there and letting them have their own life, and see how the music lives on its own, without videos, without a big promotion. It's more just about getting songs out there and letting them have their own life."
On 8 March 2010, DJ/production duo Crookers
released their new album Tons of Friends
which features Murphy on the tracks "Royal T" and "Hold Up Your Hand".
On 6 April 2010 David Byrne
and Fatboy Slim
released their project "Here Lies Love", which features Murphy on the track "Don't You Agree?"
Murphy has collaborated with Dutch DJ Mason
on the track "Boadicea". It has been released in the UK and the US as a single on 21 March 2011.
In 2011, she duets with Tony Christie
in his new album Now's The Time.
Always in 2011 she has revealed to XOXO magazine that she has been working on new music and is ready to release an album sometime in the near future. She also added that her new music is coming from 'a deeper place' than her last album Overpowered.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, known for her electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
style.
Murphy first came to note as part of the electronic music duo Moloko
Moloko
Moloko were an Anglo-Irish electronic/pop duo consisting of Róisín Murphy from Wicklow, Ireland and Mark Brydon, from Sunderland, England.- Origin of band name :...
. Her partner in the band was then-boyfriend Mark Brydon
Mark Brydon
Mark Errington Brydon is an English bassist, guitarist, composer, arranger, recording engineer, remix artist and producer best known as a member of the group Moloko.-Previous work:...
. After the two ended their romantic relationship, Murphy released her debut solo album Ruby Blue
Ruby Blue (album)
Ruby Blue is the debut solo album of Irish singer Róisín Murphy, released by Echo Records on 13 June 2005 . After she and Mark Brydon dissolved their electronic duo Moloko, Murphy began working with producer and musician Matthew Herbert, known for his musique concrète approach to music...
, written and produced with Matthew Herbert
Matthew Herbert
Matthew Herbert , also known as Herbert, Doctor Rockit, Radio Boy, Mr. Vertigo, Transformer, and Wishmountain, is a British electronic musician...
, in 2005. Her second solo album Overpowered
Overpowered
Overpowered is the second solo studio album by Irish recording artist Róisín Murphy, released in Ireland on 12 October 2007 and in the United Kingdom and rest of Europe on 15 October 2007. The album was to be released in the United States in late 2008 or early 2009, but was cancelled by EMI due to...
was released in 2007. Murphy has a contralto
Contralto
Contralto is the deepest female classical singing voice, with the lowest tessitura, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. It typically ranges between the F below middle C to the second G above middle C , although at the extremes some voices can reach the E below middle C or the second B above...
vocal range.
Early life
Murphy was brought up in ArklowArklow
Arklow , also known as Inbhear Dé from the Avonmore river's older name Abhainn Dé, is a historic town located in County Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland. Founded by the Vikings in the ninth century, Arklow was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the 1798 rebellion...
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, in a Roman Catholic family. When she was twelve, her family moved to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in the UK. Murphy embraced 1960s fashions
1960s in fashion
The 1960s featured a number of diverse trends. It was a decade that broke many fashion traditions, mirroring social movements during the period. In the middle of the decade, culottes, box-shaped PVC dresses and go-go boots were popular...
from going with her mother, an antique dealer, to car boot sale
Car boot sale
Car boot/trunk sales or boot/trunk fairs are a mainly British form of market in which private individuals come together to sell household and garden goods.The term refers to the selling of items from a car's boot or trunk...
s and charity shop
Charity shop
A charity shop, thrift shop, thrift store, hospice shop , resale shop or op shop is a retail establishment run by a charitable organization to raise money.Charity shops are a type of social enterprise...
s. She concealed her singing voice, not wanting other people to know she "sounded like Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige OBE is an English singer and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, North London, Paige attended the Aida Foster stage school, making her first professional appearance on stage in 1964, at the age of 16...
" when she herself enjoyed listening to the likes of Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
and Pixies instead.
After three years of living in Manchester, her parents divorced and moved back to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Murphy insisted on remaining alone in the UK because she did not think that her mother had the strength to continue taking care of her.Sullivan, Caroline; "Her time is now" guardian.co.uk
Guardian.co.uk
guardian.co.uk, formerly known as Guardian Unlimited, is a British website owned by the Guardian Media Group. Georgina Henry is the editor...
, 27 May 2005 (Retrieved 22 July 2009) Murphy lived with her best friend for a year, until she could receive Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit
Housing Benefit is a means tested social security benefit in the UK that is intended to help meet Housing costs for rented accommodation. The primary legislation governing Housing Benefit is the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. Operationally, the governing Regulations are...
and live in a nearby flat
Flat
In music, flat, or Bemolle , means "lower in pitch"; the flat symbol lowers a note by a half step. Intonation may be flat, sharp, or both, successively or simultaneously...
. She was bullied at school and befriended a group of "weird boys who wore black" and who listened to the Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
. She enrolled in a sixth form college
Sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Belize, Hong Kong or Malta where students aged 16 to 18 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In Singapore and India, this is...
at seventeen and later considered going to art school
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
. She moved to Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
where she began going to nightclubs and was inspired by the Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood
Dame Vivienne Westwood, DBE, RDI is a British fashion designer and businesswoman, largely responsible for bringing modern punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream.-Early life:...
designs she saw at Trash
Trash (nightclub)
Trash was a popular London indie and electro nightclub run by Erol Alkan.The club was held weekly on Monday night. The first night was in January 1997, while the last was 10 years later in January 2007...
.
Moloko (1994–2003)
Murphy met Mark BrydonMark Brydon
Mark Errington Brydon is an English bassist, guitarist, composer, arranger, recording engineer, remix artist and producer best known as a member of the group Moloko.-Previous work:...
in 1994 at a party, using the chat-up line "Do you like my tight sweater? See how it fits my body." Brydon brought Murphy to his Fon Studios, where he auditioned her voice on tape, and liked Murphy's theatrical delivery. They began dating, and the newly-formed Moloko were signed to Echo Records
Echo Records
The Echo Label was a record label started by Chrysalis Group in 1994, and linked with Pony Canyon in Japan. The Chrysalis Group were the original owners of Chrysalis Records, which they sold to EMI....
, releasing their debut album Do You Like My Tight Sweater?
Do You Like My Tight Sweater?
Do You Like My Tight Sweater? is the debut album of the electronic/dance duo Moloko, released in November 1995. The title of the album derives from singer Róisín Murphy's pick-up line to Mark Brydon at a party in 1995: "Do you like my tight sweater? See how it fits my body!" A romantic and...
the following year. The album combined trip hop
Trip hop
Trip hop is a music genre consisting of downtempo electronic music which originated in the early 1990s in England, especially Bristol. Deriving from "post"-acid house, the term was first used by the British music media and press as a way to describe the more experimental variant of breakbeat which...
and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
with electronic dance music, using a more humorous approach than some of their contemporaries. The follow-up I Am Not a Doctor
I Am Not a Doctor
I Am Not a Doctor is the second album from the electronic/dance duo Moloko, released in 1998. Upon release the album received critical praise, although it was not a big seller. I Am Not a Doctor was issued in the UK via Echo Records...
covered similar musical ground, and a remix by Boris Dlugosch
Boris Dlugosch
Boris Dlugosch is a house music producer from Germany. Boris is usually known for funky/deep house tracks, mostly produced in conjunction with Mousse T. and Michi Lange, his partners in the Peppermint Jam Records label....
of "Sing It Back
Sing It Back
"Sing It Back" is a song written and performed by Moloko . It first appeared in its original version on Moloko's second album, I Am Not a Doctor...
" enjoyed international success, and would go on to be featured on more than 110 compilation albums. In place of paying Dlugosch, Murphy helped write "Never Enough", which reached number sixteen on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in June 2001.
October 2000 saw the release of Moloko's third album Things to Make and Do
Things to Make and Do
Things to Make and Do is the third album from the electronic/dance duo Moloko. It was issued in the UK in 2000 by Echo Records. Things to Make and Do was a departure sonically for Moloko, as the album featured songs relying less on electronics and more on live musicians...
, for which they employed more live instrumentation, and more multifaceted arrangements by keyboardist Eddie Stevens. The album reached number three on the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
, and "The Time Is Now" became their most successful British single, reaching number two. Murphy and Brydon broke up but were contractually obligated to deliver further albums. After the 2003 release of Statues
Statues (album)
-Weekly charts:-Certifications:-Year-end charts:...
, Brydon backed out of much of the album's promotion, so Murphy handled most of it herself. Although no official statement was issued pertaining to Moloko's future, Murphy had this to say in a Q Magazine
Q (magazine)
Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology...
interview in May 2005 (which was reiterated in the review of Ruby Blue in July 2005):
Solo career (2004–present)
Murphy began doing solo work while still in Moloko, which included her contributions to the works of other artists including Handsome Boy Modeling SchoolHandsome Boy Modeling School
Handsome Boy Modeling School was a collaborative project between renowned hip hop producers Dan the Automator and Prince Paul...
and Boris Dlugosch
Boris Dlugosch
Boris Dlugosch is a house music producer from Germany. Boris is usually known for funky/deep house tracks, mostly produced in conjunction with Mousse T. and Michi Lange, his partners in the Peppermint Jam Records label....
, for whom she sang on the track "Never Enough," which became a huge club hit, hitting the top three of the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Ruby Blue
Matthew Herbert
Matthew Herbert , also known as Herbert, Doctor Rockit, Radio Boy, Mr. Vertigo, Transformer, and Wishmountain, is a British electronic musician...
, who had previously done remixes for Moloko. She had wanted to work with him again, commenting that "it felt very natural…because Matthew makes things seem quicker and easier." After the pair had recorded a few songs, Murphy found that she enjoyed working with Herbert, and her label Echo Records
Echo Records
The Echo Label was a record label started by Chrysalis Group in 1994, and linked with Pony Canyon in Japan. The Chrysalis Group were the original owners of Chrysalis Records, which they sold to EMI....
let her work freely without any deadline. When she presented them the album, they found it odd and did not hear any songs that would make successful singles. The A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
division suggested that Murphy make some changes to make it more radio-friendly. Murphy refused, stating that she "wanted it to be as pure as possible." The label later came to support her.
Murphy released her debut album Ruby Blue
Ruby Blue (album)
Ruby Blue is the debut solo album of Irish singer Róisín Murphy, released by Echo Records on 13 June 2005 . After she and Mark Brydon dissolved their electronic duo Moloko, Murphy began working with producer and musician Matthew Herbert, known for his musique concrète approach to music...
in June 2005. Prior to this, tracks from the album were made available on three limited edition, vinyl-only releases: Sequins #1
Sequins 1
Sequins 1 is a limited edition extended play by Irish singer Róisín Murphy. It was released by Echo Records on 12-inch vinyl in January 2005.-Songs:...
, Sequins #2
Sequins 2
-Track listing:All tracks written and composed by Róisín Murphy and Matthew Herbert.# "Sow into You" – 3:56# "Love in the Making" – 5:06# "Dear Diary" – 5:50# "Leaving the City" – 4:49-Personnel:The following people contributed to Sequins 2:...
and Sequins #3
Sequins 3
-Track listing:All tracks written and composed by Róisín Murphy and Matthew Herbert.# "If We're in Love" – 4:31# "Sinking Feeling" – 3:32# "Ramalama " – 3:35# "The Closing of the Doors" – 3:29-Personnel:...
. The release of the EP's was to precede a London exhibition by artist Simon Henwood, featuring paintings of Murphy in various sequined outfits (some of Henwood's paintings are used as cover images for the record jackets). The titling is also a pun on "sequins" and the related word "sequence". Henwood also directed the two video clips for the album's singles ("If We're in Love
If We're in Love
"If We're in Love" is a song written and produced by Róisín Murphy and Matthew Herbert for Murphy's debut solo album Ruby Blue . It was released as the album's lead single in June 2005.-Music video:...
" and "Sow into You
Sow into You
"Sow into You" is an electronica song written and produced by Róisín Murphy and Matthew Herbert for Murphy's debut solo album Ruby Blue, released in 2005. The song uses a metaphor of rain and harvesting for love and sex. It was released as the album's second single in October 2005 .-Critical...
").
Ruby Blue samples
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
sounds made by everyday objects and actions, including cosmetics, brass mice, dancing and ornaments. It mixes the electronic music for which Moloko was known with jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
styles. Although the album was a commercial failure, it drew mainly positive reviews; Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
called it "perfect, the ultimate combination of human warmth and technological know-how."
Overpowered
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and was working on new material. The first single, "Overpowered
Overpowered (song)
"Overpowered" is a song by Irish recording artist Róisín Murphy from her second solo studio album, Overpowered. Released as the album's lead single on 9 July 2007, the song was written by Murphy, Paul "Seiji" Dolby and Mike Patto and produced by Murphy herself and Seiji...
", was released on 2 July 2007. "Overpowered" was written by Murphy and Seiji of Bugz in the Attic
Bugz in the Attic
Bugz in the Attic is a collective of DJs and producers based in West London, who are prominent in broken beat. The collective includes Orin Walters , Paul Dolby , Kaidi Tatham, Daz-I-Kue, Alex Phountzi , Cliff Scott, Mark Force, Matt Lord, and Mikey Stirton. The group also has a label, BitaSweet...
and mixed by Tom Elmhirst (Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
, Röyksopp
Röyksopp
Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland....
, Grace Jones
Grace Jones
Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American singer, model and actress.Jones secured a record deal with Island Records in 1977, which resulted in a string of dance-club hits. In the late 1970s, she adapted the emerging electronic music style and adopted a severe, androgynous look with square-cut hair and...
). The single is accompanied by a series of remixes from the likes of Seamus Haji, Kris Menace
Kris Menace
Kris Menace is an electronic musician.-History:Christophe Hoeffel began to work as a producer and writer in the mid 1990s for different projects and started using the pseudonym "Kris Menace" in 2005....
, Hervé and Loose Cannons. The second single "Let Me Know
Let Me Know
"Let Me Know" is a song by Irish recording artist Róisín Murphy from her second solo studio album, Overpowered. Written and produced by Murphy and Andy Cato of Groove Armada, the song was released as the album's second single on 8 October 2007. "Let Me Know" reached number twenty-eight in the...
" (a collaboration with Andy Cato
Andy Cato
Andy Cato is one half of the electronic dance band, Groove Armada, the other half being Tom Findlay. He is also involved with Rachel Foster in Weekend Players, another electronic dance group.-Early life:...
), was released in September and the album, named Overpowered
Overpowered
Overpowered is the second solo studio album by Irish recording artist Róisín Murphy, released in Ireland on 12 October 2007 and in the United Kingdom and rest of Europe on 15 October 2007. The album was to be released in the United States in late 2008 or early 2009, but was cancelled by EMI due to...
, was released soon after.
In September 2007, Murphy received a pre-nomination for the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Inter Act, but did not make it to the final list. She performed "Let Me Know" on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross was a British comedy chat show presented by Jonathan Ross. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 2 November 2001. The programme featured Ross's take on current topics of conversation, guest interviews and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
on 5 October 2007.
Murphy sustained an eye injury on 27 October 2007, while on tour in Russia to promote Overpowered. She was forced to cancel several subsequent dates on the tour.
Third album
Despite well-known troubles at EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, Murphy said in an interview in August 2008 that she was working on her third studio solo album. She said she was working with the producer from Overpowered, Seiji, to give the third album the "sleepy, synthesized vibe" that Overpowered has.
On 17 July 2009 BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
revealed Murphy would release a new single, "Demon Lover", by the end of the summer. The singer describes the song as "a big funky house track. It's a souped-up full on garage tune". About her third album she says: "It is quite gritty, it has a slightly London sound to it, it's a bit more urban and bass-ey than Overpowered".
On the same day, a Murphy news blog also revealed that she was pregnant with her first child.
Murphy recently previewed new material at the SEone club in London, performing "Momma's Place" and "Hold up Your Hands". She also said on her official forum that she has written some new songs including "Leviathan (Do It Yourself)", among others with producer Apollo Andel. On 2 November, she premiered her newest single "Orally Fixated" on her MySpace page. The song was released 16 November. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
offered a free download of the song for 48 hours beginning on 12 November.
In a January 2010 interview with Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, Murphy said, "First of all, I haven't recorded a new album as such. I've recorded a lot of songs, but I haven't planned beyond just putting the songs out there and letting them have their own life, and see how the music lives on its own, without videos, without a big promotion. It's more just about getting songs out there and letting them have their own life."
On 8 March 2010, DJ/production duo Crookers
Crookers
Crookers are an Italian DJ/production duo who have worked together since 2003. When the two artists met, both were trying to branch out of their genre and explore dance music. Their first collaboration worked...
released their new album Tons of Friends
Tons of Friends (Crookers album)
Tons of Friends is the debut album by Italian electronic duo Crookers. It was released on March 8, 2010 on Southern Fried Records. Many of the songs feature collaborations, including Kid Cudi, Soulwax, Kelis, will.i.am, Róisín Murphy, Miike Snow and many more.The song "Royal T" featuring Róisín...
which features Murphy on the tracks "Royal T" and "Hold Up Your Hand".
On 6 April 2010 David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
and Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
released their project "Here Lies Love", which features Murphy on the track "Don't You Agree?"
Murphy has collaborated with Dutch DJ Mason
Mason (DJ)
Mason is the stage name of the Dutch music producer duo Iason Chronis and Coen Berrier . They had a number one on the UK Dance Chart in 2007 with their track Exceeder. Exceeder had originally been an instrumental and had received a vinyl only release in the UK in 2006...
on the track "Boadicea". It has been released in the UK and the US as a single on 21 March 2011.
In 2011, she duets with Tony Christie
Tony Christie
Tony Christie is an English musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his track, "Is This The Way To Amarillo", a double UK chart success.-Career:Tony Christie has sold over 10 million albums Worldwide...
in his new album Now's The Time.
Always in 2011 she has revealed to XOXO magazine that she has been working on new music and is ready to release an album sometime in the near future. She also added that her new music is coming from 'a deeper place' than her last album Overpowered.