Róisín Murphy

Biography

Róisín Marie Murphy ( roh-SHEEN; born 5 July 1973) is an Irish singer, songwriter and record producer who first became known in the 1990s as one half of the pop duo Moloko alongside the English musician Mark Brydon. After the breakup of Moloko, Murphy embarked on a solo career and released her debut solo album Ruby Blue×Ruby Blue28 May 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Leaving the City4:492Sinking Feeling3:323Night of the Dancing Flame3:264Through Time5:585Sow Into You3:576Dear Diary5:517If We’re in Love4:318Ramalama (Bang Bang)3:359Ruby Blue2:4810Off on It5:2311Prelude to Love in the Making0:5412The Closing of the Doors3:29 (2005), which she wrote and produced with the experimental musician Matthew Herbert, to critical praise. Her second solo album Overpowered×Overpowered1 October 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Overpowered5:082You Know Me Better4:183Checkin' on Me4:394Let Me Know5:105Movie Star4:026Primitive4:507Footprints3:378Dear Miami3:419Cry Baby5:5510Tell Everybody3:5111Scarlet Ribbons5:3612Body Language4:40 was released in 2007.
In 2015, after an eight-year hiatus that was sporadically interrupted by non-album singles, side projects and guest appearances on other artists' records, Murphy released her third solo album Hairless Toys×Hairless Toys8 May 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Gone Fishing5:582Evil Eyes6:433Exploitation9:244Uninvited Guest5:595Exile4:016House of Glass6:537Hairless Toys (Gotta Hurt)6:198Unputdownable5:11, which was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and Ireland's Choice Music Prize. The following year, she released her fourth album Take Her Up to Monto×Take Her Up to Monto8 July 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Mastermind6:362Pretty Gardens5:073Thoughts Wasted5:224Lip Service4:275Ten Miles High5:206Whatever2:547Romantic Comedy5:368Nervous Sleep7:419Sitting and Counting3:58. In 2018, she released four 12-inch singles in collaboration with producer Maurice Fulton. Murphy released her fifth and sixth solo albums Róisín Machine×Róisín Machine25 September 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Simulation8:292Kingdom of Ends6:103Something More6:494Shellfish Mademoiselle4:175Incapable3:456We Got Together5:107Murphy’s Law6:218Game Changer4:149Narcissus4:5510Jealousy4:13 and Hit Parade×Hit Parade8 September 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1What Not to Do5:032CooCool4:313The Universe4:064Hurtz So Bad4:375The House3:336Fader4:447Free Will6:238You Knew7:169Can’t Replicate7:2810Crazy Ants Reprise1:2911Two Ways4:2712Eureka4:47, which received critical acclaim, in 2020 and 2023, respectively.

Early life

Róisín Marie Murphy was born in Arklow, County Wicklow, in the Republic of Ireland, on 5 July 1973. When she was 12 years old, Murphy and her family moved to Manchester, England. She embraced 1960s fashion, going with her mother, who was an antiques dealer, to car boot sales and charity shops. When she was 15, her parents divorced and her mother moved back to Ireland. Murphy chose to remain in England, not staying with her father but by herself, because she thought her mother did not have the strength to continue taking care of her. She lived with her best friend for a year until she could receive Housing Benefit and move into a nearby flat.
Murphy's school years were difficult; in 2019 she said: "I never felt it was like being bullied; I always felt I intimidated people, and that was why I got in trouble". She befriended a group of "weird boys who wore black" and who listened to The Jesus and Mary Chain. Murphy was inspired to become a performer when she attended a Sonic Youth concert with a friend. She concealed her singing voice, not wanting other people to know she "sounded like Elaine Paige". Murphy later joined a post-punk band that split after a few performances. At the age of 17, Murphy enrolled in a sixth form college and later considered going to art school. At 19, she moved to Sheffield, where she began going to nightclubs and was inspired by the Vivienne Westwood designs she saw at Trash.

1994–2003: Moloko

In 1994, Róisín Murphy met Mark Brydon at a party, using the chat-up line: "Do you like my tight sweater? See how it fits my body." Brydon took Murphy to his business Fon Studios, where he auditioned her voice on tape and liked her theatrical delivery. They began dating and formed Moloko, who were signed to Echo Records and released their debut album Do You Like My Tight Sweater? the following year. Heather Phares of AllMusic described the album as combining elements of trip hop and funk with electronic dance music, using a more-humorous approach than some of their contemporaries. The band's follow-up album I Am Not a Doctor covered similar musical ground, and a Boris Dlugosch remix of "Sing It Back" found international success, and was included on more than 110 compilation albums. Instead of paying Dlugosch, Murphy helped write "Never Enough×Never Enough4 June 2001 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Never Enough (original radio edit)3:542Never Enough (Chocolate Puma radio edit)3:463Never Enough (original club mix)7:194Never Enough (Chocolate Puma remix)7:405Never Enough (Bini & Martini club mix)7:546Never Enough (Fusion Groove Orchestra vocal mix)9:49", which reached number sixteen on the UK Singles Chart in June 2001.
Moloko's third album Things to Make and Do was released in October 2000; they used more live instrumentation and arrangements by keyboardist Eddie Stevens. The album reached number three on the UK Albums Chart, and "The Time Is Now" became the band's 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 withdrew from much of the album's promotion so Murphy handled most of it.

No official statement about Moloko's future was issued but Murphy told Q magazine in May 2005: We left it on good terms after a very successful tour. We shook hands, said "see you later", and haven't spoken since. I don't know what Mark thinks of this record or what he's doing. I don't know if we will or we won't reunite. Myself, I don't not want to.

2004–2005: Ruby Blue

While still in Moloko, Murphy began doing solo work, which included contributions to the works of other artists, including Handsome Boy Modeling School and the "Never Enough×Never Enough4 June 2001 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Never Enough (original radio edit)3:542Never Enough (Chocolate Puma radio edit)3:463Never Enough (original club mix)7:194Never Enough (Chocolate Puma remix)7:405Never Enough (Bini & Martini club mix)7:546Never Enough (Fusion Groove Orchestra vocal mix)9:49" collaboration with Boris Dlugosch.
In 2004, Murphy recorded her first official solo material with producer Matthew Herbert, who had previously remixed tracks for Moloko. Murphy wanted to work with Herbert again, commenting: "it felt very natural ... because Matthew makes things seem quicker and easier". Murphy and Herbert recorded a few songs and continued working together with support from her label Echo Records. When Murphy presented the label with the album, they found it odd and did not hear any songs that would make successful singles. The A&R division suggested Murphy make some changes to make it more radio-friendly. Murphy refused, stating she "wanted it to be as pure as possible". The label later supported her.
Murphy released her debut solo album Ruby Blue×Ruby Blue28 May 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Leaving the City4:492Sinking Feeling3:323Night of the Dancing Flame3:264Through Time5:585Sow Into You3:576Dear Diary5:517If We’re in Love4:318Ramalama (Bang Bang)3:359Ruby Blue2:4810Off on It5:2311Prelude to Love in the Making0:5412The Closing of the Doors3:29 in June 2005. Before the album's release, the tracks Sequins#1, Sequins#2 and Sequins#3 were made available on three limited-edition, vinyl-only releases featuring artwork by Simon Henwood, who also directed two video clips for the album's singles "If We're in Love" and "Sow into You×Sow Into You21 October 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Sow Into You (radio edit)3:332Sow Into You (Bugz in the Attic remix)6:023Sow Into You (Bugz in the Attic dubstrumental)5:164Love in the Making5:05". The album samples sounds made by everyday objects and actions, including cosmetics, brass mice, dancing and ornaments. It mixes the electronic music of Moloko 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".

2006–2008: Overpowered

In May 2006, Murphy signed with EMI Records. "Overpowered×Overpowered1 October 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Overpowered5:082You Know Me Better4:183Checkin' on Me4:394Let Me Know5:105Movie Star4:026Primitive4:507Footprints3:378Dear Miami3:419Cry Baby5:5510Tell Everybody3:5111Scarlet Ribbons5:3612Body Language4:40", her first single for the label, was released on 2 July 2007. The single was written by Murphy and Paul Dolby (Seiji) of Bugz in the Attic, and mixed by Tom Elmhirst, and was accompanied by a series of remixes from Seamus Haji, Kris Menace, Hervé and Loose Cannons. A second single "Let Me Know×Let Me KnowAugust 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Let Me Know5:102Let Me Know (Andy Cato Vedra mix)8:163Let Me Know (Joey Negro’s Original Vibe mix)7:014Let Me Know (Joey Negro’s Destination Boogie club)7:125Let Me Know (Joey Negro’s Destination Boogie dub)7:45", 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.

2009–2014: Hiatus

In mid 2008, Murphy started working with Sejii on a third studio solo album. In the same year, she recorded a cover of Bryan Ferry's song "Slave to Love" that featured in a campaign for Gucci and was released on the promotional single "Movie Star". In 2009, Murphy previewed material at the SeOne club in London, performing "Momma's Place" and "Hold up Your Hands", and in November, she premiered the single "Orally Fixated×Orally Fixated12 November 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Orally Fixated4:36" on her Myspace page. The song was released later in the month and The Guardian offered a free download of the song for 48 hours.
From 2010 until early 2013, Murphy contributed vocals to Crookers's album Tons of Friends; David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's project Here Lies Love; Mason's '"Boadicea×BoadiceaFebruary 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Boadicea3:222Boadicea (Danny Howells & Mat Playford mix)6:103Boadicea (Evil Nine mix)7:384Boadicea (Human Life mix)6:105Boadicea (Human Life dub)6:106Boadicea (Refurb)2:187Boadicea (Sharam Jay remix)4:378Boadicea (Sharam Jay dub)4:379Boadicea (Oliver $ remix)5:0410Boadicea (Mason's Battle Scarred mix)5:2311Boadicea (Tony Senghore mix)7:5212Boadicea (Tony Senghore dub)7:5013Boadicea (instrumental)3:33"; Tony Christie's "7 Hills"; The Feeling's "Dance for the Lights"; an anonymous producer's song "Simulation×Simulation17 August 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Simulation11:352Simulation (Mano Le Tough remix)7:183Simulation (dub mix)6:59"; "Golden Era×Golden Era15 May 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Golden Era (David Morales disco mix)6:512Golden Era (David Morales album mix)5:443Golden Era (Dripmasters dub)6:294Golden Era (Director’s Cut episodic mix)7:425Golden Era (Franco de Mulero & Hector Romero Golden Days mix)6:506Golden Era (DJ Memê remix)7:287Golden Era (Federico Scavo remix)8:25" by David Morales; "Flash of Light×Flash of Light13 September 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Flash of Light6:432Flash of Light (Solomun mix)8:093Flash of Light (Tale of Us & Mind Against mix)7:064Flash of Light (Blond:Ish remix)7:09" and "Invisions×Invisions15 December 2014 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Invisions4:312Invisions (club version)5:543Invisions (Jamie Jones Submerged mix)6:054Invisions (Luke Solomon Body dub)7:465Invisions (Luke Solomon Body vocal mix)7:43" with Luca C & Brigante; "Look Around You×Look Around You26 April 2013 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Look Around You (Original Mix)6:502Look Around You (Maxxi Soundsystem Remix)6:543Look Around You (Chopstick & Johnjon Remix)7:204Look Around You (Raik Remix)7:155Look Around You (Instrumental)6:50" by Boris Dlugosch; "Alternate State" by Hot Natured; Freeform Five's "Leviathan×Leviathan10 February 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Leviathan8:112Leviathan (Freeform Reform)7:323Leviathan (Compuphonic remix)6:334Leviathan (Cage & Aviary remix)7:175Leviathan (Tom Trago remix)9:316Leviathan (Tom Trago dub mix)9:32"; and "In My Garden" with Invisible Cities.
The only release under her own name in this period was the single "Simulation", which was released in August 2012 on the label Permanent Vacation.

2014–2017: Mi Senti, Hairless Toys, Take Her Up to Monto

In May 2014, Murphy released a six-track Italian language extended play (EP) titled Mi Senti×Mi senti28 May 2014 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Ancora ancora ancora5:372Pensiero stupendo4:113Ancora tu5:084In sintesi5:055Non credere4:376La gatta3:29, which includes a new composition and earlier Italian pop hits. Her third studio album Hairless Toys×Hairless Toys8 May 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Gone Fishing5:582Evil Eyes6:433Exploitation9:244Uninvited Guest5:595Exile4:016House of Glass6:537Hairless Toys (Gotta Hurt)6:198Unputdownable5:11 followed a year later and received positive reviews.

There was a desire to make an unquestionably refined record. It's multi layered, electronic and live instrumentation, musically it goes to places most pop music never does. It's emotionally bare and laced with irony. I definitely didn't set out to make something unique per-se but ... it really is like nothing you've ever heard before. So it's impossible to describe except to say ... it's heartfelt.
Her July 2016 album Take Her Up to Monto×Take Her Up to Monto8 July 2016 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Mastermind6:362Pretty Gardens5:073Thoughts Wasted5:224Lip Service4:275Ten Miles High5:206Whatever2:547Romantic Comedy5:368Nervous Sleep7:419Sitting and Counting3:58 was recorded during the same sessions as Hairless Toys, and includes contributions from Murphy's long-time collaborator and producer Eddie Stevens. The album's title is derived from an eponymous Irish folk song "Monto (Take Her Up to Monto)", which The Dubliners popularised in the 1960s and Murphy's father sang to her as a child. The release was followed by a number of European festival dates and North American shows.

2018–present: Róisín Machine and Hit Parade

In 2018, The Vinyl Factory released a series of four 12-inch (30 cm) discs that Baltimore house-music pioneer Maurice Fulton produced. Each disc includes two original songs, each of around six minutes, and Murphy directed music videos for the four A-side releases.
The single "Murphy's Law×Murphy's Law4 March 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Murphy's Law8:002Murphy's Law (Edit)3:50" was released on 4 March 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy gave home performances for a livestream concert that were released as six short films.
Murphy's fifth solo album Róisín Machine×Róisín Machine25 September 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Simulation8:292Kingdom of Ends6:103Something More6:494Shellfish Mademoiselle4:175Incapable3:456We Got Together5:107Murphy’s Law6:218Game Changer4:149Narcissus4:5510Jealousy4:13 was released 2 October 2020. The album has ten tracks, including the singles "Simulation×Simulation17 August 2012 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Simulation11:352Simulation (Mano Le Tough remix)7:183Simulation (dub mix)6:59" and "Jealousy×Jealousy30 March 2015 · Single · RemixSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Jealousy (house mix)8:482Jealousy (disco mix)11:39" that were released several years prior, and the more-recently produced songs "Incapable×Incapable5 June 2019 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Incapable8:252Incapable (edit)3:30", "Narcissus×Narcissus8 November 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Narcissus7:402Narcissus (Edit)3:33", "Murphy's Law", and "Something More×Something More31 July 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Something More (Edit)4:002Something More (Extended Mix)7:56".
Murphy portrayed the blood witch Mercury in the 2022 Netflix series The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself. She also took part in Homobloc's charity T-shirt collection initiative which raised funds for LGBTQ+ focused organisations.
In March 2023, Murphy announced her signing to Ninja Tune with the single "CooCool×CooCool8 March 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1CooCool4:31", which DJ Koze produced. Murphy collaborated with artist Beth Frey and photographer Connor Egan on the single's cover art. On 17 May 2023, Murphy released the single "The Universe×The Universe17 May 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks1The Universe4:052The Universe (Edit)2:333CooCool4:31" and announced her sixth solo album Hit Parade×Hit Parade8 September 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1What Not to Do5:032CooCool4:313The Universe4:064Hurtz So Bad4:375The House3:336Fader4:447Free Will6:238You Knew7:169Can’t Replicate7:2810Crazy Ants Reprise1:2911Two Ways4:2712Eureka4:47, which was released on 8 September 2023 to critical acclaim. This was followed in 2024 by the companion Hit Parade Remixed while Murphy continued to tour in support of the release.

Style

Róisín Murphy has drawn considerable attention and praise for her eccentric, imaginative fashion style. Electronic Beats described Murphy as "this adolescent century's true art-pop queen"; and said "her sensuous and ominous output is scattered across various genres and moods" and "her reputation for sporting avant-garde couture into a place among fashion's elite".
AllMusic described Murphy as "a purveyor of adventurous, omnivorous pop that blended influences as far-flung as disco and hot jazz". The Australian publication OutInPerth called her "Ireland's queen of the avant-garde". According to Drowned in Sound's Giuseppe Zevolli, Murphy has "merged pop, house, and disco with an avant-garde sensibility and a stunning, shape-shifting visual output that never ceases to provoke". Critic Mark Fisher, writing in the UK music magazine Fact, located her music in a glam rock lineage that includes Roxy Music, Grace Jones, and the New Romantics, noting Murphy's attention to the cultivation of artifice and persona. Fisher wrote: "Róisín Murphy is pop's exiled princess of glam [rock]. She represents a confection—of disco and art, of sensuousness and intelligence, of sumptuous superficiality and existential anxiety—that once seemed inevitable, but which has now become all but impossible."
The sound of Moloko's early work drew on electronic and trip hop influences before moving to a more organic sound. According to Elizabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times: "it was only after [Moloko's] breakup that Murphy truly refined her trademark fusion of glossy sheen and playful experimentation". Murphy's diverse solo work includes collaborations with experimental jazz composer Matthew Herbert and electronic producer Eddie Stevens, drawing on house music, ballroom culture and avant-garde electronica. Murphy has a contralto vocal range, which has been described as distinctive, smoky and jazzy. Heather Phares said Murphy's voice "combin[es] a wild variety of voices and textures, from impassively chilly to gorgeously lilting to gleefully offbeat". The first performers that left an impression on Murphy were Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth and Kim Deal from Pixies. Iggy Pop also inspired her with his "energy—and he's a giver". Murphy stated her biggest influences were Siouxsie Sioux, Grace Jones and Björk. She was also inspired by Italian female singers such as Mina and Patty Pravo for the way they owned the stage when they moved. Murphy described her performances as "a bit like The Rocky Horror Picture Show"; according to Jad Salfiti of Financial Times, her audiences "dress up to mirror Murphy's own spectacular fashions". Salfiti also said of Murphy: "[her] clothes amplify her personality: exhibitionist, playful, eclectic, larger than life". Fellow artist Jessie Ware has stated: “There is a strength and a command that Róisín generates as a solo artist, particularly as a woman within the dance world. (...) She has been able to create international bangers yet still remains totally original and never follows a trend. She is a pioneer and always has been.”

Personal life

Murphy lives in Ibiza, Spain, having previously split her time between London and Ireland. She previously dated British artist Simon Henwood; they have a daughter together. As of September 2015, Murphy was in a relationship with Italian producer Sebastiano Properzi, with whom she has a son. Murphy is dyslexic.

Views on trans children

In August 2023, Murphy sparked controversy when a X/Twitter user shared a screenshot from Facebook showing Murphy commenting on a post about Irish comedian and anti-transgender activist Graham Linehan, in which she criticised the use of puberty blockers for transgender youth, saying that "Puberty blockers are fucked, absolutely desolate, big pharma laughing all the way to the bank". Her statements were met with backlash on social media, including responses from LGBT+ allies and activists accusing her of transphobia and misinformation. Commentators noted the disappointment of fans, particularly due to her perceived role as a gay icon. In the weeks following the comments, Murphy's material was removed from a scheduled BBC Radio 6 Music line-up, which had been due to broadcast five hours of her songs, interviews, and concert highlights. The BBC later stated that the schedule change was not a reaction to Murphy's comments.
Murphy later issued an apology on social media, stating she was "deeply sorry" for any hurt caused by her words. However, she did not take back her comments on puberty blockers, only writing her "concern was out of love for all of us".
In October 2025, Murphy posted to X/Twitter a graph alleging to show a recent decline in the share of 18- to 22-year-olds who identified as transgender or non-binary. She appended the comment, "It was never real." This drew criticism over her apparent denial of the existence of transgender people. Following the comments, Murphy was removed as a headliner at the 2025 Back In Town Festival in Istanbul.
In June 2026, in response to online backlash, Murphy announced that trans activists were no longer "welcome" at her live events. In August 2026 she criticised Madonna for "supporting the TQ+ bandwagon" and "not calling out its inherent homophobia".

Views on cancel culture

Murphy has said that she is a victim of cancel culture and has spoken about the "chilling effect" that political correctness and censorship has had on artistic expression.
Following the backlash from her views on trans children, Murphy said that music journalists who had previously told her that Hit Parade was already "album of the year" were now warning her she would receive unfavourable scores if she did not issue an apology. Murphy noted that this "wasn’t just upsetting for me but also very frightening to see how the whole of the music media, in tandem, were able and willing to punish a work of art for the sake of activism". However, she praised The Guardian for continuing to give the album a five-star score. Murphy also said that the record company did not adequately promote Hit Parade due to the ongoing controversy.
On 28 April 2026, Murphy delivered the keynote speech in a House of Lords event for the launch of a report by campaign group Freedom in the Arts. In her speech, Murphy described the backlash to her 2023 comments on puberty blockers for trans youth as "professional exile", alleging that promoters, collaborators and media distanced themselves following the controversy. Murphy suggested that artists are being pressured into self-censorship and that public arts funding favours "ideological conformity". She also described younger critics online as "social media enforcers".