Ruarri Joseph
Encyclopedia
Ruarri Joseph is a singer-songwriter
based in Newquay
, Cornwall
. He was signed to Atlantic Records
, and released his debut album
, Tales of Grime and Grit, in mid 2007 on that label
. Joseph is currently continuing his musical career on his own label, Pip Productions, after deciding to leave Atlantic in early 2008. Ruarri released his second album, Both Sides of The Coin, in February 2009. Joseph began work on his third studio album, Shoulder to the Wheel, later the same year, before releasing it independently in February 2010. The album had a wider physical and download release in November 2010, after Joseph secured a new management deal.
, Scotland
to a microbiologist
and a practising witch, and after spending some of his childhood in New Zealand
, moved to England
in his teens. After attempting to pursue a career in London
, Joseph moved to Newquay
, Cornwall
after the birth of his first child.
In Cornwall, Joseph continued his career in music, and played in a variety of bands such as Eli Bowen and The Rhythm Doctors. As a solo artist, Joseph played with an acoustic guitar
and a piano
, occasionally accompanied by a band. He finished recording an EP
in 2006, "All Substance and No Style", and after a number of live performances in London, attracted record label interest. He toured widely in the UK
, and made several appearances at music festival
s including Glastonbury
with the Rhythm Doctors in 2004.
with Atlantic Records
in 2007. Soon after, Joseph released his debut, digital only EP. Q
magazine made its lead track, "Patience", its track of the day in late April. An 8-track version of his debut album Tales of Grime and Grit was released for download on 3 June 2007. The full length album was released on 9 July, preceded by the lead single
, "Tales of Grime and Grit", on 2 July. The second single, a revamp of "Blankets", was released on 24 September. Recording of the album took place at St Merryn
Airfield studios in Cornwall
, and was produced by the London
based record producer
, Paul Reeve
.
On 24 June 2007, Joseph played at the Glastonbury Festival on Stage 1 (left field). He has also supported a variety of large acts, including Funeral for a Friend
, Paulo Nutini, and more recently David Gray
.
page that he had opted to leave Atlantic Records, citing differences in opinion for the release of his second studio album, as the main motivation behind the decision. Joseph's criticism of the attitude fostered by major record labels was vehement, stating that he had been perceived as 'an asset, basically like a car tyre, and if they wanted to, they could melt me down and turn me into condoms!'.
Joseph retreated to his garden shed with an assortment of musical instrument
s to start the recording of his second album, Both Sides of The Coin. Each instrument played in the recordings – including guitars, drums, banjo, accordion and harmonica – was played by Joseph. Limited space forced Joseph to move them into his shed one instrument at a time. By the end of the summer of 2008, Both Sides of The Coin was completed. It was released in February 2009.
, Spiritualized
, and Damien Rice
. Shoulder to the Wheel was thus allowed a wider download release in November 2010, with 'Orchard for an Apple' being chosen for the lead single. The album peaked at number 8 on the iTunes
singer-songwriter chart, and Joseph has been touring extensively post-release. A single mix of 'Orchard for an Apple', featuring new backing vocals and instrumentation, was played on BBC Radio 2
by Alex Lester
. Lester announced that the single was due for release on 3 January 2011, coinciding with Joseph's birthday
. The song has also had airplay on Steve Wright
's daytime Radio 2 show. In December 2010, the song was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist
, where it remained for three weeks.
at around the same time. Shoulder to the Wheel is dedicated to a family member, with whom Joseph was close, who died during the making of the record.
Joseph married his long term girlfriend in 2009, and together they have three children. He resides with his family in Cornwall
.
Critics generally commended Joseph's first album, Tales of Grime and Grit. Daniel Black of Contactmusic.com
, whilst having reservations about the opening songs, stated that "The rest of the album was a collection of some of the greatest songs you'll ever hear under the one album", eventually giving three and a half stars. Matt Clutton of online music magazine Gigwise.com
praised Joseph's "uniquely husky, gravely vocals" and "expertly orchestrated acoustics" in his review of the single Blankets. In terms of commercial reception, Amazon.com
has posted an average customer review score of four stars out of five stars, from 53 reviews.
Ruarri Joseph's second album, Both Sides of the Coin, has been greeted with a positive reception. Femalefirst.co.uk called the album an "an intriguing collection of understated songs" giving it four stars, and a five-star review from Caroline McCarthy of Allgigs.co.uk described the songs as "beautiful" and "wistful".
Thus far, Shoulder to the Wheel has met with critical acclaim. Comfortcomes.com said Joseph "combines poetry, a serious edge and a soothing acoustic touch to impressive effect throughout", whilst Entertainment Focus described Ruarri as "an interesting and exciting talent" in their review for 'Orchard for an Apple'. Although few US-based music magazines have reviewed the album, one review from Directcurrentmusic.com highlighted that Joseph "rises above the mass of mediocrity" and was "worthy of greater exposure" in the United States
. Entertainment-Focus gave the album a glowing five star review, calling the record "hugely rewarding" and a "gorgeous, understated collection of songs". A slightly more mixed review came from Nima Baniamer of Contactmusic.com
. Giving the album three stars, the review stated that the LP "does have major failures", although he praised lead single 'Orchard for an Apple' and described the opening songs as "beautiful" and "haunting". British
newspapers the The Independent
, Metro, and Uncut Magazine all gave Shoulder to the Wheel three stars.
song of the same name.
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...
based in Newquay
Newquay
Newquay is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port in Cornwall, England. It is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall approximately west of Bodmin and north of Truro....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. He was signed to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, and released his debut album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Tales of Grime and Grit, in mid 2007 on that label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. Joseph is currently continuing his musical career on his own label, Pip Productions, after deciding to leave Atlantic in early 2008. Ruarri released his second album, Both Sides of The Coin, in February 2009. Joseph began work on his third studio album, Shoulder to the Wheel, later the same year, before releasing it independently in February 2010. The album had a wider physical and download release in November 2010, after Joseph secured a new management deal.
Early life and career
Joseph was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to a microbiologist
Microbiologist
A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...
and a practising witch, and after spending some of his childhood in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in his teens. After attempting to pursue a career in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Joseph moved to Newquay
Newquay
Newquay is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port in Cornwall, England. It is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall approximately west of Bodmin and north of Truro....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
after the birth of his first child.
In Cornwall, Joseph continued his career in music, and played in a variety of bands such as Eli Bowen and The Rhythm Doctors. As a solo artist, Joseph played with an acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, occasionally accompanied by a band. He finished recording an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in 2006, "All Substance and No Style", and after a number of live performances in London, attracted record label interest. He toured widely in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and made several appearances at music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
s including Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
with the Rhythm Doctors in 2004.
Atlantic Records and Tales of Grime and Grit (2007-2008)
He signed a recording contractRecording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 2007. Soon after, Joseph released his debut, digital only EP. Q
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...
magazine made its lead track, "Patience", its track of the day in late April. An 8-track version of his debut album Tales of Grime and Grit was released for download on 3 June 2007. The full length album was released on 9 July, preceded by the lead single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Tales of Grime and Grit", on 2 July. The second single, a revamp of "Blankets", was released on 24 September. Recording of the album took place at St Merryn
St Merryn
St Merryn is a civil parish and village in north Cornwall, United Kingdom approximately three and a half miles south of the fishing port of Padstow and approximately 11 miles northeast of the coastal resort of Newquay....
Airfield studios in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, and was produced by the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
based 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...
, Paul Reeve
Paul Reeve
Paul Reeve is a record producer from London, UK. Working alongside John Leckie, he co-produced five tracks on Muse's acclaimed debut album Showbiz...
.
On 24 June 2007, Joseph played at the Glastonbury Festival on Stage 1 (left field). He has also supported a variety of large acts, including Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.-Formation and Early Years:...
, Paulo Nutini, and more recently David Gray
David Gray (musician)
David Gray is an English singer-songwriter. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later...
.
Post-Atlantic career and Both Sides of The Coin (2008-2009)
In mid February 2008, Joseph announced on his MyspaceMyspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page that he had opted to leave Atlantic Records, citing differences in opinion for the release of his second studio album, as the main motivation behind the decision. Joseph's criticism of the attitude fostered by major record labels was vehement, stating that he had been perceived as 'an asset, basically like a car tyre, and if they wanted to, they could melt me down and turn me into condoms!'.
Joseph retreated to his garden shed with an assortment of musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s to start the recording of his second album, Both Sides of The Coin. Each instrument played in the recordings – including guitars, drums, banjo, accordion and harmonica – was played by Joseph. Limited space forced Joseph to move them into his shed one instrument at a time. By the end of the summer of 2008, Both Sides of The Coin was completed. It was released in February 2009.
Pip Productions and Shoulder to the Wheel (2009-Present)
Joseph started work on his third studio album in late 2009, and released early demos of potential tracks through his Myspace page. Shoulder to the Wheel was released in February 2010 through his own independent record label, Pip Productions. In October of the same year, Joseph secured a management deal with ACP Recordings, who also handle David GrayDavid Gray
David Gray may refer to:*David Gray , Scottish poet*David Gray , English singer-songwriter*David Gray , Scottish footballer*David Gray , Scottish footballer...
, Spiritualized
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
, and Damien Rice
Damien Rice
Damien Rice is an Irish singer-songwriter, musician and record producer who plays guitar, piano, clarinet and percussion....
. Shoulder to the Wheel was thus allowed a wider download release in November 2010, with 'Orchard for an Apple' being chosen for the lead single. The album peaked at number 8 on the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
singer-songwriter chart, and Joseph has been touring extensively post-release. A single mix of 'Orchard for an Apple', featuring new backing vocals and instrumentation, was played on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
by Alex Lester
Alex Lester
Alex Lester is a British broadcaster. He presents the weekday overnight/early-morning programme on BBC Radio 2...
. Lester announced that the single was due for release on 3 January 2011, coinciding with Joseph's birthday
Birthday
A birthday is a day or anniversary where a person celebrates his or her date of birth. Birthdays are celebrated in numerous cultures, often with a gift, party or rite of passage. Although the major religions celebrate the birth of their founders , Christmas – which is celebrated widely by...
. The song has also had airplay on Steve Wright
Steve Wright
Stephen Richard "Steve" Wright is an English radio presenter. He presents the afternoon show on BBC Radio 2. He rose to prominence in the early 1980s while working with Peter Dickson on BBC Radio 1.-Early career:...
's daytime Radio 2 show. In December 2010, the song was added to the BBC Radio 2 Playlist
Playlist
In its most general form, a playlist is simply a list of songs. They can be played in sequential or shuffled order. The term has several specialized meanings in the realms of radio broadcasting and personal computers.-In radio:...
, where it remained for three weeks.
Personal life
The year preceding the release of Shoulder to the Wheel was a particularly turbulent time in the musician's personal life. His eldest son underwent emergency brain surgery in mid-2009, and his wife gave birth to their third childChild
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
at around the same time. Shoulder to the Wheel is dedicated to a family member, with whom Joseph was close, who died during the making of the record.
Joseph married his long term girlfriend in 2009, and together they have three children. He resides with his family in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
.
Critical reception
The response to Ruarri's albums critically has been positive, and they have met with modest commercial success.Critics generally commended Joseph's first album, Tales of Grime and Grit. Daniel Black of Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com is a Leeds UK based entertainment magazine/webzine. The site was launched in April 2000 by a small team and has now expanded to 12 fulltime staff and many freelance contributors from across the globe...
, whilst having reservations about the opening songs, stated that "The rest of the album was a collection of some of the greatest songs you'll ever hear under the one album", eventually giving three and a half stars. Matt Clutton of online music magazine Gigwise.com
Gigwise.com
Gigwise.com is an online music magazine that features music news, photos, album reviews, music festivals, concert tickets, and a community forum. Founded in 2001, the magazine is based in the United Kingdom....
praised Joseph's "uniquely husky, gravely vocals" and "expertly orchestrated acoustics" in his review of the single Blankets. In terms of commercial reception, Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
has posted an average customer review score of four stars out of five stars, from 53 reviews.
Ruarri Joseph's second album, Both Sides of the Coin, has been greeted with a positive reception. Femalefirst.co.uk called the album an "an intriguing collection of understated songs" giving it four stars, and a five-star review from Caroline McCarthy of Allgigs.co.uk described the songs as "beautiful" and "wistful".
Thus far, Shoulder to the Wheel has met with critical acclaim. Comfortcomes.com said Joseph "combines poetry, a serious edge and a soothing acoustic touch to impressive effect throughout", whilst Entertainment Focus described Ruarri as "an interesting and exciting talent" in their review for 'Orchard for an Apple'. Although few US-based music magazines have reviewed the album, one review from Directcurrentmusic.com highlighted that Joseph "rises above the mass of mediocrity" and was "worthy of greater exposure" in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Entertainment-Focus gave the album a glowing five star review, calling the record "hugely rewarding" and a "gorgeous, understated collection of songs". A slightly more mixed review came from Nima Baniamer of Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com is a Leeds UK based entertainment magazine/webzine. The site was launched in April 2000 by a small team and has now expanded to 12 fulltime staff and many freelance contributors from across the globe...
. Giving the album three stars, the review stated that the LP "does have major failures", although he praised lead single 'Orchard for an Apple' and described the opening songs as "beautiful" and "haunting". British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
newspapers the The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, Metro, and Uncut Magazine all gave Shoulder to the Wheel three stars.
Tales of Grime and Grit
All songs written by Ruarri Joseph.- "Patience" - 3.26
- "Won't Work" - 3.26
- "Blankets" - 3.02
- "Early Morning Remedy" - 3.08
- "Baby Finn" - 3.26
- "Tales of Grime and Grit" - 3.43
- "Cuddles Are the Best Thing" - 2.54
- "Infant Eyes" - 2.47
- "Faces, Movements and Cheats" - 3.04
- "More Rock and Roll" - 4.01
- "Relying On Lying" - 4.06
- "Summercourt Fair 1995" - 1.49
Both Sides of The Coin
All songs written by Ruarri Joseph.- "Suzie Don't Be Sad" - 3:10
- "One For The Aether" - 4:27
- "Red Mist" - 3:38
- "More Than Most" - 4:47
- "Adam's Wing" - 4:59
- "Tomorrow Today" - 3:11
- "Hope For Grey Trousers" - 3:33
- "A Turn In The Weather" - 3:23
- "As Long As You Do Too" - 4:06
- "There We'll Be" - 3:08
Shoulder to the Wheel
All songs written by Ruarri Joseph except 'Rich Folk's Hoax', a cover of the Sixto Diaz RodriguezSixto Diaz Rodriguez
Sixto Diaz Rodriguez is an American folk musician, born in Detroit, Michigan on . He was named 'Sixto' because he was the sixth child in his family. Rodriguez's parents were middle-class immigrants from Mexico, who left in the 1920s...
song of the same name.
- "Nervous Grin" - 2:38
- "An Orchard For An Apple" - 3:47
- "Severed Dreams" - 4:04
- "Rich Folks Hoax" - 3:12
- "As Always" - 2:57
- "For The Love of Grace" - 3:39
- "A Fool of Us All" - 6:04
- "Keep On Strolling" - 3:58
- "Cavemen, Yellow, An Ordinary Life" - 1:14
- "Raining Stone" - 3:36
- "Glance Across The Street" - 3:49
- "The Faithless Few" - 2:54