Ruby Boots
{{Short description|Australian singer-songwriter (born 1981)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Ruby Boots
| image = Ruby-Boots.jpg
| caption = Ruby Boots photographed by Cal Quinn at Modern Electric Studios on February 16, 2017
| birth_name = Rebecca Louise Chilcott
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|10|20}}
| birth_place = Perth, Australia
| alias = "Bex"
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active = 2011-present
| website = https://t.me/ruby_boots
| associated_acts = The Texas Gentlemen
Vikki Thorn
The Waifs
}}
Rebecca Louise "Bex" Chilcott, known professionally as Ruby Boots,{{cite web|title=BMI Repertoire: Songwriter/Composer Rebecca Louise Chilcott|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=writerid&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&keyid=1471933&subid=0|website=Broadcast Music, Inc.}} (born October 20, 1981) is an Australian singer-songwriter who sings country and americana music.{{cite news|last1=Familton|first1=Chris|title=Ruby Boots and the Balance of Self-Preservation|url=http://nodepression.com/interview/ruby-boots-and-balance-self-preservation|work=No Depression|date=7 June 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Dwyer|first1=Michael|title=Ruby Boots has travelled a long road to get here|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/ruby-boots-has-travelled-a-long-road-to-get-here-20150509-ggxi72.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=15 May 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Palmer|first1=Sean|title=Just a little bit country|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/just-a-little-bit-country-20120523-1z52h.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=24 May 2012}}
Early life and education
Boots was born in Perth, Western Australia, and lived in the suburbs of Balga and Girrawheen.{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Simon|title=Ruby Boots releases debut album Solitude|url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/music/tough-as-ruby-boots-ng-ya-109301|work=The West Australian|date=24 April 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Havercroft|first1=Chris|title=Album Reviews: Ruby Boots|url=http://xpressmag.com.au/ruby-boots-4/|work=X-Press Magazine|date=28 April 2015}} She is of Scottish and Italian descent.{{cite news|last1=Munday|first1=Tom|title=Interview with Bex Chilcott (Ruby Boots) – Colosoul Magazine|url=http://www.colosoul.com.au/uncategorized/interview-with-bex-chilcott-ruby-boots/|work=Colosoul Magazine|date=19 January 2015|language=en-AU}}
At the age of 13 years old, Boots moved out of her mother's house, then lived with her father and various friends before living independently at the age of 16 years old.
After spending time in Perth, Boots got work in the pearl farms located north of Perth in Broome and Exmouth. She did this for a few years.
Boots studied Basic Music Industry Skills at TAFE WA North Metropolitan, where she received a Diploma of Music Business.{{cite news|title=Ruby Boots: From Her To Eternity|url=http://xpressmag.com.au/ruby-boots-from-her-to-eternity/|work=X-Press Magazine|date=29 April 2015}}{{cite web|title=Planting the Seeds of Success|url=https://blog.central.wa.edu.au/2015/10/19/planting-the-seeds-of-success/|website=North Metropolitan TAFE|language=en|date=19 October 2015}} In 2014, she also completed The Seed Fund's Management Workshop.{{cite news|title=Tips of the Trade: Self Management|url=http://apraamcos.com.au/news/2014/september/aprap-tips-of-the-trade-self-management/|work=APRA AMCOS|date=3 September 2014}}
Career
In 2015, Boots released her first album, Solitude, on Lost Highway Records Australia, an imprint of Universal Music Australia.{{cite news|title=Exclusive: Ruby Boots Signs To Lost Highway, Streams New Single|url=http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2015/01/15/exclusive-ruby-boots-signs-to-lost-highway-streams-new-single/|work=TheMusic|date=15 January 2015}} Boots collaborated with many musicians on her debut record. She co-wrote two songs, "Middle of Nowhere" and "No Stranger" with Vikki Thorn from The Waifs, the title track, "Solitude," with Davey Lane from You Am I. Alt-country musician Jordie Lane provided vocals on the duet "Lovin' in the Fall," and Bill Chambers appears on the song, "Walk Away."{{cite news|title=Past Recipients: Ruby Boots|url=http://nashvilleresidency.com/past-recipients/|work=Nashville Residency|publisher=Australian Government, Australia Council for the Arts|date=2016}} The record was recorded in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Spain and Utah.{{cite news|last1=Rosie|title=5 Minutes With Ruby Boots|url=http://rosemounthotel.com.au/2015/05/5-minutes-with-ruby-boots/|work=Rosemount Hotel|date=7 May 2015}}
Boots began writing the songs in 2012, then recorded the record in 2013, and then mixed it in 2014. The record received overall positive reviews.{{cite news|last1=Familton|first1=Chris|title=Ruby Boots - Solitude|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/ruby-boots-solitude|work=No Depression|date=11 May 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Mengel|first1=Noel|title=Very model of a lonesome cowgirl|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/entertainment/music/album-reviews-lonesome-cowgirls-impressive-debut-effort/news-story/c784c5d9f8569aa5dc7cabee542e40ae|work=The Courier-Mail|date=24 April 2015|language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Zuel|first1=Bernard|title=Ruby Boots, Marlon Williams and Jasmine Rae reviewed|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/ruby-boots-marlon-williams-and-jasmine-rae-reviewed-20150505-1mz2wx.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 May 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Barr|first1=Peter|title=Ruby Boots|url=http://rtrfm.com.au/featured-albums/ruby-boots/|work=RTRFM / The Sound Alternative|date=2010}}{{cite news|last1=Blackley|first1=Graham|title=Ruby Boots : Solitude|url=http://www.beat.com.au/music/ruby-boots-solitude|work=Beat Magazine|date=2015}}
In 2016, Boots played at the Americana Music Association's AmericanaFest, where she signed a distribution deal with Bloodshot Records.{{cite news|last1=Zanger|first1=Josh|title=Ruby Boots Joins the Bloodshot Roster|url=https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/news/ruby-boots-joins-bloodshot-roster|work=Bloodshot Records|date=9 August 2017|format=Press release}} She returned to AmericanaFest 2017 as part of the Bloodshot Records annual showcase.{{cite news|last1=Gage|first1=Jeff|title=AmericanaFest 2017: 20 Best Things We Saw|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/lists/americanafest-2017-20-best-things-we-saw-w503583/ruby-boots-w503911|work=Rolling Stone|date=18 September 2017}}
In 2018, Boots released her second full length record called Don't Talk About It on Bloodshot Records.{{cite news|last1=Hill|first1=Corbie|title=These Boots Were Made for Kicking Ass|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/these-boots-were-made-kicking-ass|work=No Depression|date=8 February 2018|language=en}} She wrote one song, which is sung a cappella, called "I Am a Woman" with Nashville-based musician Nikki Lane.{{cite news|last1=Heath|first1=Matthew|title=Music fans ravin' about Silver Raven|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/arts/review-music-fans-ravin-about-silver-raven/news-story/f45c81c30260f24f570b3867af3f98b2|work=The Advertiser (Adelaide)|date=26 April 2017|language=en}}{{cite magazine|last1=Gage|first1=Jeff|title=Plainspoken Singer Ruby Boots on New Album, Leaving Australia for Nashville|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/ruby-boots-on-new-lp-leaving-australia-for-nashville-w516476|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=8 February 2018}} The record was produced by Beau Bedford and The Texas Gentlemen were the session band and was recorded in Dallas at Modern Electric Sound Recorders.{{cite news|last1=McKenna|first1=Brittney|title=Features: Ruby Boots|url=http://theeastnashvillian.com/article/ruby-boots|work=The East Nashvillian|date=September 2017|language=en}}
In North America and Western Europe, Bloodshot Records is the U.S.-based distributor.{{cite news|last1=Zanger|first1=Josh|title=Ruby Boots Joins the Bloodshot Roster|url=https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/news/ruby-boots-joins-bloodshot-roster|work=Bloodshot Records|date=9 August 2017}} Island Records / Universal is the distributor across Australia, New Zealand, and through subsidiaries Eastern Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Personal life
Boots has said that her pen name, Ruby Boots, comes from the idea of being fiery and passionate (Ruby) and from the ideas of a wayfaring troubadour, a musician that travels around a lot, with boots implying moving around (Boots).
Boots had vocal nodules, which she worked to remove using non-surgical methods. It required a three-year break from singing, during which time she took classes and ran local open mics.{{cite news|last1=Musiciio|title=Ruby Boots' Savvy Seven|url=https://musicindustryinsideout.com.au/ruby-boots-savvy-seven/|work=Music Industry Inside Out|date=19 February 2016}}
In 2016, Boots relocated to the United States, and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details ! Title ! Album details |
| scope="row"| Solitude
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Don't Talk About It
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of EPs, with selected details ! Title ! Album details |
| scope="row"| Ruby Boots
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| At Last
|
|
=Singles=
Awards and nominations
=National Live Music Awards=
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2016{{cite web|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/nominees-2016/|title=Nominees 2016|website=NLMA|date=2016|accessdate=5 September 2020}}
| Ruby Boots
| Live Roots Act of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/2017/10/09/national-live-music-awards-reveals-2017-nominees-and-venues/|title=NLMA reveal 2017 Nominees|website=NLMA|date=9 October 2017|accessdate=5 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nlmas.com.au/winners/|title=Winners 2017|website=NLMA|date=December 2016|accessdate=5 September 2020}}
| Ruby Boots
| Live Roots Act of the Year
| {{nom}}
{{end}}
=WAM Song of the Year=
The WAM Song of the Year was formed by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia.{{cite web|url=http://intersector.wa.gov.au/article_view.php?article_id=350&article_main=24|title=2006 WAM Song of the Year Awards |work=InterSector |publisher=Western Australian State Government |year=2006|accessdate=7 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725092704/http://www.intersector.wa.gov.au/article_view.php?article_id=350&article_main=24|archive-date=25 July 2008|url-status=dead}}
{{Awards table}} (wins only)
|-
| 2014
| "Wrap Me in a Fever"
| Country Song of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
{{end}}
=West Australian Music Industry Awards=
The Western Australian Music Industry Awards (commonly known as WAMis) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM).
{{awards table}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2011
| rowspan="2"| Ruby Boots
| Best Blues & Roots Act
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Country Music Act
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2012
| rowspan="3"| Ruby Boots
| Acoustic Roots Act of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| Folk Act of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| Country Music Act of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2013{{cite web|url=https://wam.org.au/591/|title=WAM Award Winners 2013|website=WAM|date=2013|accessdate=10 September 2020}}
| rowspan="2"| Ruby Boots
| Country Music Act of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| Solo Artist of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| Ruby Boots
| Country Music Act of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
|-
| Ruby Boots
| Country Music Act of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| Ruby Boots
| Country Music Act of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
{{end}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Ruby Boots|nowrap=yes}}
- https://t.me/ruby_boots
- [https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/ruby-boots Ruby Boots] at Bloodshot Records
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boots, Ruby}}
Category:Musicians from Perth, Western Australia