Róisín Murphy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Róisín Murphy
Róisín Murphy in concert for ARTE Concert at Ground Control in Paris in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Róisín Marie Murphy
Born	(1973-07-05) 5 July 1973 (age 51) Arklow, County Wicklow, Ireland
Genres	Electropop dance-pop art pop trip hop experimental pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Echo EMI PIAS Ninja Tune

Róisín Marie Murphy (/roʊˈʃiːn/ ROH -sheen; born 5 July 1973) is an Irish singer, songwriter, and record producer. She first became well-known in the 1990s as one half of the pop duo Moloko, alongside English musician Mark Brydon. After Moloko, Murphy started her solo career. Her first solo album, Ruby Blue (2005), was created with experimental musician Matthew Herbert and received good reviews. Her second album, Overpowered, came out in 2007.

After a break, Murphy released her third solo album, Hairless Toys, in 2015. This album was nominated for important music awards like the Mercury Music Prize. The next year, she released her fourth album, Take Her Up to Monto. In 2020 and 2023, Murphy released her fifth and sixth solo albums, Róisín Machine and Hit Parade, both of which were highly praised.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Róisín Marie Murphy was born in Arklow, Republic of Ireland, on 5 July 1973. When she was 12, her family moved to Manchester, England. She loved 1960s fashion and often went to car boot sales and charity shops with her mother, who was an antiques dealer.

At 15, her parents divorced and moved back to Ireland. Murphy decided to stay in England by herself. She lived with a friend for a year before getting housing help and moving into her own flat. School was tough for Murphy. She once said she felt she "intimidated people," which caused problems. She became friends with a group of "weird boys who wore black" who listened to bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Murphy was inspired to become a performer after seeing a Sonic Youth concert. She kept her singing voice a secret for a while. Later, she joined a post-punk band that broke up after only a few shows. At 17, Murphy went to college and thought about going to art school. At 19, she moved to Sheffield, where she enjoyed nightclubs and was inspired by the fashion she saw there.

Music Career Highlights

Forming Moloko (1994–2003)

In 1994, Róisín Murphy met Mark Brydon at a party. She famously started their conversation by asking, "Do you like my tight sweater? See how it fits my body." Brydon invited Murphy to his studio, Fon Studios, where he liked her unique singing style. They started dating and formed the band Moloko.

Moloko signed with Echo Records and released their first album, Do You Like My Tight Sweater?, in 1995. This album mixed trip hop and funk with electronic dance music. Their next album, I Am Not a Doctor, also explored similar sounds. A remix of their song "Sing It Back" by Boris Dlugosch became a big international hit.

Moloko's third album, Things to Make and Do, came out in 2000. It used more live instruments. This album reached number three on the UK Albums Chart. Their song "The Time Is Now" became their most successful British single, reaching number two. Murphy and Brydon later broke up, but they had to make more albums due to their contract. After their 2003 album Statues, Brydon stepped back from promoting it, so Murphy handled most of the work.

Moloko never officially announced a breakup. In 2005, Murphy said they ended on good terms after a successful tour. She mentioned they hadn't spoken since but didn't rule out reuniting in the future.

Starting Solo: Ruby Blue (2004–2005)

Even while in Moloko, Murphy began working on solo projects. She contributed to other artists' songs, like "Never Enough" with Boris Dlugosch.

In 2004, Murphy started recording her first solo music with producer Matthew Herbert. Herbert had previously remixed songs for Moloko. Murphy felt working with him was "very natural." They recorded several songs, and her label, Echo Records, supported their work. When Murphy showed the label the album, they found it unusual and didn't hear any obvious hit singles. They suggested changes to make it more radio-friendly, but Murphy refused, wanting it to be "as pure as possible." The label eventually supported her vision.

Murphy released her first solo album, Ruby Blue, in June 2005. Before the album, some songs were released on special vinyl records with art by Simon Henwood. He also directed music videos for the singles "If We're in Love" and "Sow into You". The album used sounds from everyday objects and actions, like cosmetics and dancing. It blended Moloko's electronic music with jazz and pop. Even though the album didn't sell a lot, it received mostly positive reviews.

New Sounds: Overpowered (2006–2008)

Murphy performing in Sofia in 2008

In May 2006, Murphy signed with EMI Records. Her first single with them, "Overpowered", came out on 2 July 2007. This song was written by Murphy and Paul Dolby, and it had many remixes. A second single, "Let Me Know", was released in September, followed by the album, also called Overpowered.

In September 2007, Murphy was nominated for an MTV Europe Music Award. She performed "Let Me Know" on a TV show in October 2007. Later that month, Murphy had an eye injury while on tour in Russia, which made her cancel some shows.

Busy Years: Hiatus and Collaborations (2009–2014)

In mid-2008, Murphy began working on her third solo album. That same year, she recorded a cover of Bryan Ferry's "Slave to Love" for a Gucci campaign. In 2009, Murphy previewed new songs like "Momma's Place". In November, she released the single "Orally Fixated" on her Myspace page, and The Guardian offered it as a free download.

From 2010 to early 2013, Murphy sang on many other artists' projects. These included songs for Crookers, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's project Here Lies Love, and tracks with Mason, Tony Christie, and The Feeling. The only song released under her own name during this time was "Simulation" in August 2012.

New Albums: Mi Senti, Hairless Toys, Take Her Up to Monto (2014–2017)

Murphy performing in Helsinki in 2015

In May 2014, Murphy released Mi Senti, a six-song EP in Italian language. It included a new song and covers of older Italian pop hits. Her third studio album, Hairless Toys, came out a year later and received good reviews.

Murphy described Hairless Toys as a "refined record" with many layers of electronic and live music. She said it was "emotionally bare and laced with irony" and "like nothing you've ever heard before."

Her July 2016 album, Take Her Up to Monto, was recorded during the same time as Hairless Toys. It featured contributions from her long-time helper and producer, Eddie Stevens. The album's title comes from an Irish folk song called "Monto (Take Her Up to Monto)", which her father sang to her as a child. After the album's release, Murphy performed at many festivals in Europe and shows in North America.

Recent Work: Róisín Machine and Hit Parade (2018–Present)

Murphy performing at the BBC6 Roundhouse Festival in 2020

In 2018, The Vinyl Factory released a series of four 12-inch records produced by house-music pioneer Maurice Fulton. Each record had eight original songs, and Murphy directed music videos for some of them.

The single "Murphy's Law" was released on 4 March 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy performed home concerts online, which were released as short films.

Murphy's fifth solo album, Róisín Machine, came out on 2 October 2020. It included earlier singles like "Simulation" and "Jealousy," along with newer songs such as "Incapable" and "Murphy's Law."

In 2022, Murphy played the character Mercury in the Netflix series The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself. She also helped raise money for LGBTQ+ organizations by participating in a charity T-shirt collection.

In March 2023, Murphy announced she had signed with Ninja Tune and released the single "CooCool," produced by DJ Koze. On 17 May 2023, she released "The Universe" and announced her sixth solo album, Hit Parade. This album was released on 8 September 2023 and received great reviews. In 2024, a companion album, Hit Parade Remixed, was released, and Murphy continued to tour.

Music Style and Influences

Róisín Murphy is known for her unique and creative fashion style. She has been called "this adolescent century's true art-pop queen" because of her imaginative outfits. Her music is described as "adventurous" and blends different styles like disco, jazz, and electronic dance music. She is also known as "Ireland's queen of the avant-garde."

Critics say Murphy's music combines pop, house, and disco with an artistic and experimental feel. Her visual style is also constantly changing and exciting. Her music has been compared to artists like Roxy Music and Grace Jones, who also focused on creating a special look and persona.

Moloko's early music was influenced by electronic and trip hop sounds, later becoming more organic. After Moloko, Murphy developed her own style, mixing shiny pop with playful experiments. Her solo work includes collaborations with jazz and electronic producers, drawing from house music and avant-garde electronica.

Murphy has a deep, rich singing voice, described as distinctive, smoky, and jazzy. She uses a wide range of voices and textures in her singing. Early performers who inspired her include Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth and Kim Deal from Pixies. Iggy Pop also inspired her with his energy. Murphy has stated her biggest influences are Siouxsie Sioux, Grace Jones, and Björk. She was also inspired by Italian singers like Mina and Patty Pravo for how they commanded the stage. Murphy describes her performances as being "a bit like The Rocky Horror Picture Show", with audiences often dressing up to match her spectacular fashions.

Personal Life

Róisín Murphy lives in Ibiza, Spain. Before that, she divided her time between London and Ireland. She has a daughter with British artist Simon Henwood. As of 2015, Murphy is in a relationship with Italian producer Sebastiano Properzi, and they have a son together. Murphy has dyslexia.

Discography

Solo Albums

• Ruby Blue (2005)
• Overpowered (2007)
• Hairless Toys (2015)
• Take Her Up to Monto (2016)
• Róisín Machine (2020)
• Hit Parade (2023)

With Moloko

• Do You Like My Tight Sweater? (1995)
• I Am Not A Doctor (1998)
• Things to Make and Do (2000)
• Statues (2003)

Tours

• Ruby Blue (2005–2006)
• Overpowered (2007–2008)
• Dj-Set (2009–2014)
• Hairless Toys (2015–2016)
• Take Her Up to Monto (2016–2017)
• Róisín Machine (2021–2022)
• Hit Parade Tour (2023–2024)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Róisín Murphy para niños