Ruby Rodgers—

Ruby Rodgers has released her new single, Sixteen, which is also the title track of her forthcoming EP.

Written across five songs, the EP Sixteen pairs richly textured, immersive arrangements with lyrics that explore identity, power, adolescence and the complexities of growing up. Throughout the EP, Ruby places deeply personal experiences alongside broader social questions, allowing intimacy and observation to exist in equal measure.

The single is a song that reflects on girlhood and the expectations placed on young women. It considers the contradiction of being told you’re “just a kid” while simultaneously being viewed through an adult lens.

“The song came from thinking about what it means to grow up in a world that’s constantly trying to tell you who you are,” says Ruby. “I wanted to write about this uncomfortable obsession our society has with young women, the idea that innocence and youth are somehow the most desirable things a girl can possess. So many girls grow up feeling that tension, and I just wanted to put words to it.”

The EP broadens Ruby’s songwriting without losing the intimacy that defines her writing. “I think the thread connecting these songs is growing up and realising the world is a lot more complicated than you thought it was,” she says. “The EP is about becoming disillusioned with the world without becoming cynical. It’s choosing joy, staying connected and believing things can still change.”