Rhuby Noriyuki: Band Manager and DIY Enthusiast!
From managing her bands day and night to hosting her own DIY events, Rhuby is a rockstar in the industry! Her passion for music shows through everything she does and you can read all about it here!
Introduce yourself to us! What do you do?
I am Rhuby Noriyuki, the manager for Novacane, Cherry Meltdown, Ruby Gray and Bluphoria, all local to Eugene. I also am the founder of Femme Fatale Productions and The High House, also known as the biggest believer in the Eugene DIY scene.
1. You’re studying music st UO! Tell us about that, where do you want to go with your passion after you graduate?
I switched into the music school my junior year because I want to get my degree in something I am passionate about. I would like to go a little further into band management after graduation then eventually own my own rock label and venue. In my dreams, I would have an apartment above all of my venues because I still would love to live in my venue like I do now.
2. When did you know being in the music industry is what you wanted to do? Was there a specific moment where you were like “oh god, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life”?
The first time I saw one of the bands I manage, Novacane, on April 3, 2018, it made me have the immediate desire to know everything about the band as humans. I had never seen musicians that talented that felt so real and were so close to me. It was at a house show, and from then on I dove head first into the music scene.
3. Is there anything you struggled with (or even still do struggle with) being in the industry
Legitimizing what I do to other people is the hardest part. When I have house shows at my house, some people think I do it just because I like to party but I genuinely want to make my career out of this. People who are in my close circle understand but sometimes being a small, Japanese woman, working in a male dominated field makes people think that I will change my ways for them. This is my life.
4. What is the best part of band management?
The best part of band management is all the things you could never expect. I paint some of the boys’ nails before big gigs, help them shop for clothes, being on call 24/7 for emotional support. I get to be the glue that holds art together.
5. Is there someone who you consider as your mentor in the industry?
My mother is my biggest mentor in every aspect of my life. She supports everything I do, not only as her child and dependent, but as a woman. She pays the rent for my house show venue, she supports me through all the bad parts of college, but is also the first person I call when I have a cool show or one of my bands does. She will be my biggest mentor no matter what industry I end up in.
6. What advice do you have for women who want to get their start in the music industry?
Be consistent. The whole world believes we can’t survive as artists. Especially behind the scenes, it’s hard to get people to take you seriously. If you are hard working, you lead with kindness, and you trust your gut, you can find a way to grow and learn.
7. Have you ever been turned down or not taken seriously because you were a female in the industry?
Absolutely. As a host, when bands have shown up for gigs they have asked if there is someone more “legit” to talk to, or physically people don’t think I’m capable of carrying things. I am small, people look over me often.
8. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Making my way up in the record label industry and hopefully my second or third venue up and running.
9. What are some of your other hobbies? What do you do in your free time (which we know can be very hard to find)?
With my little free time I like to spend time with my close friends, be outside, as weather permits! I try and stay healthy since my passions are physically taxing.
10.Was there anyone that ever doubted your passion?
We had a house show that got super out of hand. The day after, looking at my demolished house, I decided it was over. I felt taken advantage of and disrespected to a degree by my community. When I told someone in that moment I thought it was over, their response was “honestly, I think I saw that coming with the High House.” So I changed my mindset, made some necessary fixes in our system and now my house is thriving it ways I never thought possible.
11.Tell us about your founding organizations! What is Femme Fatale all about? High House?
Femme Fatale Productions is all about creating safe spaces in the DIY community for diverse communities. We are an all inclusive production collective that is going to start hosting fundraising events for accessibility for live music. We have over 40 members who help at our shows as well as weekly meetings to check in with each other. The High House is my house that I have been in for 2 years. I have been having shows there since October of 2018. There was a drought in house show venues in Eugene so we started having gigs. My roommates aren’t involved at all but they are gracious enough to let me use their space for this. I do all the booking, social media, organization and problem solving. I have a few friends who help me through the ropes with managing the door and crowd control. Femme Fatale often collaborates with my home to help with shows. We have had bands from New York, many other PNW touring bands as well as some larger rappers and indie bands.
12. Is there other ideas you have for organization pertaining to the music industry?
Right now I am in the middle of starting an 18+ community art center in Eugene to host music, use as an art gallery, and to create an all ages comedy scene. I also later hope to find photographers who want to use it as studio space as well as a rehearsal space for bands. This venue will be my only way to leave the Eugene music scene better than how I found it.
13.Who is your all-time favorite artist?
My favorite artist is Stevie Wonder.
14. What is something you can't live without?
I can’t live without my cat and Spotify premium.
15. Who is your dream artist or band work with?
Right now, The Naked Giants is a band I would love to manage but in a perfect world, I would manage the bands I have forever.
16.First concert you went to?
The first concert I went to was Drake Bell in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
17.Tea or Coffee?
Coffee.
18. Favorite movie?
Oceans 8.
19.What’s your favorite season?
Spring.
20.What’s something that you always have on you?
Guitar picks for my bands and an extension cord. You never know when you’re going to need an extension cord.
21. What is a saying you live by?
Prepare for the worst but love the most.
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