The Ruby Suns

  • Auckland, New Zealand
    hometown
  • Rock
    genre
  • 2003
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About The Ruby Suns


The Ruby Suns combine psychedelic indie pop with world music influences, drawing inspiration from the travels of the group's only permanent member, Ryan McPhun. Although born and raised in California, McPhun's thirst for adventure eventually drew him halfway across the globe, where he ventured into Africa and Thailand before settling in New Zealand. Auckland's music scene was rich, and the multi-instrumentalist spent time in various pop groups (the Tokey Tones, the Reduction Agents, and the Brunettes) while fronting his own act, Ryan McPhun & the Ruby Suns. After releasing a self-titled debut under that moniker, the band shortened its name to the Ruby Suns and signed with Lil' Chief Records, securing distribution deals in Europe and Australia along the way.

The Ruby Suns toured the U.S. in 2006, and McPhun returned home to write and record the band's sophomore effort in his Auckland basement. Inspired by the indigenous music of Africa and Kenya, the diverse Sea Lion -- named after a sea lion colony that lies adjacent to California's Hwy 1 -- was released in 2008 on several labels, including the Seattle-based Sub Pop. Sea Lion helped expand the band's audience considerably, and the Ruby Suns supported its release with a number of tours, including a European jaunt during the spring of 2009. While overseas, the bandmates also spent ten days at a friend's home in Hungary, where they began composing new material. Those songs eventually found their way onto 2010's Fight Slowly, an electro-pop album that Ryan McPhun recorded entirely on his own. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi

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Music

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  • In Real Life
    the-ruby-suns
    Video
    In Real Life
  • Tane Mahuta
    the-ruby-suns
    Video
    Tane Mahuta
  • 18932450
    SoundStream
    SoundStream
    song name
    0:00
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    All the music you want, just 10 bucks a month. Try it free.
    • Desert of Pop
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/7/8/1/1/1/971011187.mp3
    • Jump In
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/5/3/1/1/1/971011135.mp3
    • In Real Life
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/1/0/1/1/971011013.mp3
    • Kingfisher Call Me
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/8/5/1/7/1/956417158.mp3
    • Starlight
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/1/2/1/1/971011214.mp3
    • Heart Attack
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/3/1/1/1/971011134.mp3

Photos

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  • The Ruby Suns
    Courtesy of The Ruby Suns
  • Sub Pop Records
    The Ruby Suns
    Sub Pop Records

News

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  • The Ruby Suns
    The Ruby Suns Reveal "Passive-Aggressive" New Album
    www.pitchfork.com
    've never been in a fistfight. Maybe I'm just super passive-aggressive. Pitchfork: What kind of fight would this album be the background music to? RM:...
    Read More
  • The Ruby Suns
    Watch: The Ruby Suns - 'Cinco'
    www.drownedinsound.com
    Those football-orientated of you will have noticed that the mighty All Whites of New Zealand managed the greatest result in their nation's soccer hist...
    Read More
  • The Ruby Suns
    The Ruby Suns - "Kingfisher Call Me"
    stereogum.com
    Before recording the Ruby Suns' fourth album, Christopher, the band's primary member, Ryan McPhun, split up with his longtime girlfriend and bandmate,...
    Read More
  • The Ruby Suns
    The Ruby Suns - "In Real Life" (Stereogum Premiere)
    stereogum.com
    It's been a little while since we've heard from the Ruby Suns, whose last album Fight Softly came out in 2010. But the New Zealand indie pop band have...
    Read More
  • The Ruby Suns
    Watch: The Ruby Suns Present a Virtual Reality Game Show in the Video for "In Real Life"
    pitchfork.com
    "In Real Life", a track from the Ruby Suns' Christopher, is about escapism. The video, directed by Simon Ward, features frontman Ryan McPhun inside of...
    Read More
  • The Ruby Suns
    The Ruby Suns - "In Real Life" Video
    stereogum.com
    Ruby Suns are celebrating the release of their new album, Christopher, today by releasing a new video for its single, "In Real Life." The clip condens...
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  • The Ruby Suns
    Turntable Interview: The Ruby Suns
    stereogum.com
    On the Ruby Suns' latest album Christopher, Ryan McPhun sang, "I never want to live in real life," so we wanted to do an interview in Second Life. But...
    Read More

Discography

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  • Christopher (2013)
    The Ruby Suns
    Christopher (2013)
    Sub Pop
  • Christopher (2013)
    The Ruby Suns
    Christopher (2013)
    Sub Pop
  • Fight Softly (2010)
    The Ruby Suns
    Fight Softly (2010)
    Sub Pop
  • Sea Lion (2007)
    The Ruby Suns
    Sea Lion (2007)
    Sub Pop
  • The Ruby Suns [Bonus Track] (2006)
    The Ruby Suns
    The Ruby Suns [Bonus Track] (2006)
    Foreign Dub
  • Lichen Ears
    The Ruby Suns
    Lichen Ears
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