Electronic press kit
PHOTOS
BIO
Boston-based band Ruby Grove (2022- current) is an indie alternative musical project rooted in trip-hop and neo-soul grooves, informed by lofi hip-hop, electronica, rock, and world music. Ruby Grove’s core driving force is to soothe anxious hearts and minds during the post-pandemic era, create an alternatively funky, soulful, and mystical atmosphere, and aim for the “formation of new genres through multi-genre synthesis madness”, which is reflected in the band’s diverse sonic palette and focuses.
Lead singer and keyboardist Melissa Nilles brings an eclectic and extensive musical background to Ruby Grove from years of fronting and touring with indie bands in New York, California, Japan, and Massachusetts (including Boston’s notable art/alternative rock project Miele), as well as performing vocally and dancing with middle eastern troupes including the UCSB Middle East Ensemble and House of Andromeda. Nilles’s vocal style has been described by the Boston Survival Guide as “travelling effortlessly through many moods- frantic and biting, forceful and determined, melancholy and dreamy, exotic and magical”. Nilles recruited bassist, session guitarist, and backup vocalist Cedric Lamour from mutual previous project Miele, who brings a masterful, lively, and unifying rhythm bass to the band. Ruby Grove also includes live drummer Sage Gibbons, previously of Funky Toona.
MUSIC SAMPLE
PERFORMANCe VIDEO SaMPLES
Ruby Grove playing their song “Lazy River” live in August 2023 on tour in NYC. (Technical note: This video does not have high quality mix audio, it is just filmed from a high quality camera).
Press
““It’s hard not to appreciate the many changing voices of Nilles as she acrobatically delivers searing vocals... “”
““Boston has a varied musical sound, but nothing else in the city sounds anything like Ruby Grove... almost impossibly infectious. “Maybe It’s Time” has this laid back lo-fi trip hop groove intermingled with hip hop, R&B, and indie rock. It’s a distinct and new sound that feels warmly familiar, but defies any true categorization... Ruby Grove are the 2023 version of repurposing old sounds into something brand new and fresh. I’m willing to bet you’re going to be hearing about them around here a lot.””
““Nilles’ vocals travel effortlessly through their many moods... forceful and determined, melancholy and dreamy, exotic and magical. It is one wild ride through the ebbs and flows of human experience.””
““Ruby Grove catches that slinky, smooth, clubby fire in their latest single “Maybe It’s Time.” Steady percussion with a faint industrial flavor, a commanding bass line, and vocals that are a little bit 1920’s jazz dancehall and a little bit séance. It’s music for vamping in the mirror while getting dressed for a very late night out…””
““Nilles’ lyrics... are fast and slow at the same time, dark but hopeful, resonant but something of a riddle.””
““Ruby Grove’s new single is an imaginative mix of pop and psych indie, fused with blues undertones and savvy musicianship... a super catchy “la la dee da” jingle delivered with a bluesy flare and a feel reminiscent of Portugal. The Man’s “Woodstock” album. “Maybe It’s Time” is a fresh record that positively oozes with deep relaxation and summertime vibes—a self-dubbed anti-anxiety anthem.””
SELECTION OF Prior venues We’ve PLAYED with Ruby Grove
(and OUR previous Related project Miele)
Brooklyn Music Kitchen (NYC)
Pianos (NYC)
Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club (NYC)
The Bowery Electric (NYC)
33 Golden St (CT)
MAYDAY (RI)
Auburn Pitts (NH)
Gulu Gulu Cafe (Salem)
Mercy Tavern (Salem)
Somerville Arts Council Festivals- Monster Mash
The Lilypad
The Jungle Community Music Club
TOAD
Atwood’s
The Middle East (Upstairs and Downstairs)
The Burren
Pink Noise Studios
Sally O’Brien’s
The Plough and Stars
Charlie’s Kitchen
The Cantab Lounge (Club Bohemia)
Once Lounge
The Hard Rock Cafe- Boston
Make Music Harvard Square/Fete de la Musique (Harvard Square, Cambridge)
Out of the Blue Too Art Gallery- EMF Fest
Aeronaut Brewing Company
Flying Embers Kombucha Brewery
McGann's
Midway Cafe
Park Sounds Festival
John Harvard's Brewery
The Musical Mystery Bike Tour
PA's Lounge/Union Tavern
TT The Bear's Place
Hennessey's Hooley Lounge
O'Briens
Copperfield's
Somerville Porchfest
Roslindale Porchfest
JP Porchfest
SoFar Sounds in Boston and NYC
(and many, many house/rooftop shows in Boston, Allston, Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, and Brooklyn)
TV/RADIO/podcast APPEARANCES with Ruby Grove and Miele
WATD 95.9 airplay throughout 2023-2024
WMWM with Aaron Bornstein- August 2018
WMFO with Aaron Bornstein- April 2018
Regular airplay on WEMF radio- ongoing since September 2015
Live on The Underbelly on WEMF Radio- September 2017
Nadeau Media's "Crowdfunding Cast" Podcast- September 2017
Don't Forget To Rock- TV Program on Somerville Community Arts Television- September 2017
Deeavataproject's "It's My Turn to Talk" Podcast- June 2017
Live Stream @ Hard Rock Cafe on WEMF Radio- June 2017
Live on the Underbelly on WEMF Radio- June 2017
Live Stream @ PA's Lounge on WEMF Radio- May 2017
Interview and performance on WEMF Radio- August 2016
SCATV and Aeronaut Brewery Present- Duck Village Stage Sessions (TV Program)- August 2016
Bay State Rock- WAAF airplay- August 2015
Live with Nash on WEMF Radio- July 2015
FOR BOOKING, CONTACT:
Melissa Nilles
rubygroveband@gmail.com
650.305.9082