Ruby Force is the stage name of Erin McLaughlin, an Americana artist who released her debut, Evolutionary War, in 2017. A native of the Redlands, California, McLaughlin wrote stories and songs as a child but only pursued music seriously following the death of her youngest brother in 2007. Relocating to Los Angeles, she started to play local venues, slowly working up a following. Adopting the name Ruby Force, she released a digital EP called The Hotel Café in 2015, which featured appearances from the Pawnshop Kings and Sean Watkins. Watkins returned for Evolutionary War, Ruby Force's 2017 full-length debut, which also featured cameos from Elijah Thomason, Frank Lenz, and Richard Swift. The album appeared in the summer of 2017. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine