Empire Child’s Ruth Rothwell Shares 10 Records that Defined the ’90s UK Music Scene

Having seen so many different facets of the music industry, Ruth Rothwell is stepping out from behind the scenes with her new project, Empire Child. This is a new songwriting outlet for the industry veteran, having recently released her debut single “Trace the Race.” She followed that up last month with her second single, “Negativity Be Gone.” These songs have been released in the lead-up to the debut record she has been working on with producer Mariano Diaz. “Trace the Race” reflects on Rothwell’s identity and ancestry, inspired by her heritage. Her mother is Indo-Jamaican, while her father fled the apartheid of Cape Town, South Africa. Our families were all immigrants at one time, and this song emphasizes that point.

The debut Empire Child record will expand on these themes. Rothwell has used this album as a platform to tell her story. She grew up in London, with the songs inspired by her life, her heritage and her identity. Musically, the record is inspired by jazz, soul, reggae, and the intimacy of singer-songwriter music.

This phase of Rothwell’s career is fascinating, given her history. She was previously a senior A&R manager at MCA/Universal and a key figure in the massive UK dance music scene of the 1990s. She started out as a club promoter before transitioning to BCM Records. And she became the label manager and helped turn it into the most successful UK dance label of the era. Rothwell also helped launch Digital Underground and managed and developed artists like Dina Carroll, Basement Jaxx, Air, and many others.

Empire Child “Negativity Be Gone” single artwork

As such a fixture of the 1990s UK dance music scene, Rothwell joins us today to share her Top 10 songs that helped define that era of music.

1. Air – “Sexy Boy”

“I signed and worked with Air. At the time, they still had their day jobs before their debut album was released. When this song came out, it really made people pay attention. Radio loved it. Their sound was and is still unique.”

2. Stardust – “Music Sounds Better with You”

“I signed this track working with writers Alan Braxe and Benjamin Diamond. When I first heard it, I was blown away! It is still one of the best dance tracks of the ’90s, if not the best.”

3. Kylie Minogue – “Can’t Get You Outta My Head”

“This was co-written by Rob Davis with Cathy Dennis. Rob, whom I worked with very closely, went on to produce the track in our in-house studio. It was never planned to be a single. But the audience reaction to this incredible song changed that opinion. Fabulous song.”

4. Tocas – “Miracle I Need a Miracle”

“I put this together with a U.S. producer, Victor Imbres and Rob Davis, both signed by me. And I decided to create a project. I found the singer Suzy from a demo that came in the post. It really was a bit of great magical thinking alongside original ingredients that took this to No. 1 in the UK.”

5. Eiffel 65 – “Blue(Da Ba Dee)”

“I was contacted by Massimo (Gabutti) at the Italian label Bliss Corporation to help with this project. At first I couldn’t see it, but after no time it was stuck in my mind. Not long after release, it was everywhere!”

6. Alex Party – “Don’t Give Me Your Life”

“The brothers Visnadi were two incredible producers from Italy. I went to Venice to their studio and listened to a lot of tracks. I took a couple back to London. Then I chose a track, and I put a singer I knew to work on the song. Shanie, the singer/songwriter, did an amazing job. The result is one of the best-known songs of the ’90s.”

7. Chicane – “Offshore”

“The track is a trance music classic. The part that is fascinating is that the artist’s manager was his mum, and she was one tough cookie!”

8. Spiller – “Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)”

“Because I worked with many Italian producers, I was approached by Spiller’s manager. They wanted a song for the track. So Rob Davis got to work, but unbeknownst to me, Sophie Ellis-Bextor was also writing a song at the same time. The result is the best of both worlds, a classic!”

9. Wild Child – “Renegade Master”

“This dancefloor classic by Roger McKenzie, which I signed, was out of the box. So original, such a genre-bending sound. Still played on rotation today.”

10. Basement Jaxx – “Red Alert”

“I signed and worked with the Basement Jaxx. During the making of ‘Red Alert,’ they were looking for a singer. My colleague Thad Barron was looking after ‘Blue.’ She went on to become part of their most successful single. Still played and loved today.”