Blab Music
Ruby Rodgers Announces New EP "Sixteen", Set for November Release
Australian singer‑songwriter Ruby Rodgers has announced her second EP, "Sixteen", which will be released on 6 November 2026. The five‑track project is introduced with the title track, released as the first single on 16 July 2026. The announcement follows a year in which Rodgers earned the 2025 Environmental Music Prize People’s Choice Award for her single "Hits The Heart" and was named Lead Youth Patron of the Next Up Music Awards.
Rodgers, the daughter of Mahalia Barnes and Ben Rodgers and the granddaughter of Jimmy Barnes, first entered the public eye with the 2024 single "Hits The Heart". The song, written after her participation in Damon Gameau’s climate documentary Future Council, won the public vote in 61 countries for the Environmental Music Prize. In May 2025 she released her debut EP Crisis, which explored family relationships and the emotional impact of climate anxiety. The EP was produced by her father and featured string arrangements by Jade Macrae.
"Sixteen" expands on the themes that have become central to Rodgers’ songwriting. Across the five tracks—"Sixteen", "Father’s Daughter", "For You", "Suicide Doves" and "I’ll Be In The Sun"—the EP examines identity, family, power, human rights and the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Production is handled by Benjamin Rodgers, and the project includes collaborations with Alex Hope, Aubrie Mitchell, Rhys Lewis, Nick Kingswell, Jem Cassar‑Daley, Jessica Mauboy, Shane Nicholson and Benjamin Rodgers.
The title track focuses on the conflicting expectations placed on young women. Rodgers said 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.” She added that she wanted to write about society’s obsession with youth and innocence, and how many girls feel the tension between those ideals and their own growth.
In a broader statement about the EP, Rodgers explained that the work is about “becoming disillusioned with the world without becoming cynical.” She said the record is a reflection on growing older while confronting increasingly complex social realities, and that it encourages listeners to choose joy, stay connected and believe that change is possible.
Rodgers’ appointment as Lead Youth Patron of the Next Up Music Awards places her at the centre of a new national platform that aims to support school‑aged creators. The awards, scheduled for 28 January 2027 at Carriageworks in Sydney, will feature a Youth Council that Rodgers will help shape.
The release of Sixteen comes at a time when Rodgers is building on the foundation laid by her earlier work. Her collaborations with a mix of Australian and international artists, her engagement with climate‑related activism, and her role in youth‑focused initiatives all contribute to her growing influence in the industry.
As of now, the EP is slated for a 6 November 2026 release. No further touring or festival dates have been announced, and no streaming or chart performance data are available at this time. Rodgers’ next public activity will likely coincide with the EP launch, but details remain to be confirmed.
Rodgers, the daughter of Mahalia Barnes and Ben Rodgers and the granddaughter of Jimmy Barnes, first entered the public eye with the 2024 single "Hits The Heart". The song, written after her participation in Damon Gameau’s climate documentary Future Council, won the public vote in 61 countries for the Environmental Music Prize. In May 2025 she released her debut EP Crisis, which explored family relationships and the emotional impact of climate anxiety. The EP was produced by her father and featured string arrangements by Jade Macrae.
"Sixteen" expands on the themes that have become central to Rodgers’ songwriting. Across the five tracks—"Sixteen", "Father’s Daughter", "For You", "Suicide Doves" and "I’ll Be In The Sun"—the EP examines identity, family, power, human rights and the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Production is handled by Benjamin Rodgers, and the project includes collaborations with Alex Hope, Aubrie Mitchell, Rhys Lewis, Nick Kingswell, Jem Cassar‑Daley, Jessica Mauboy, Shane Nicholson and Benjamin Rodgers.
The title track focuses on the conflicting expectations placed on young women. Rodgers said 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.” She added that she wanted to write about society’s obsession with youth and innocence, and how many girls feel the tension between those ideals and their own growth.
In a broader statement about the EP, Rodgers explained that the work is about “becoming disillusioned with the world without becoming cynical.” She said the record is a reflection on growing older while confronting increasingly complex social realities, and that it encourages listeners to choose joy, stay connected and believe that change is possible.
Rodgers’ appointment as Lead Youth Patron of the Next Up Music Awards places her at the centre of a new national platform that aims to support school‑aged creators. The awards, scheduled for 28 January 2027 at Carriageworks in Sydney, will feature a Youth Council that Rodgers will help shape.
The release of Sixteen comes at a time when Rodgers is building on the foundation laid by her earlier work. Her collaborations with a mix of Australian and international artists, her engagement with climate‑related activism, and her role in youth‑focused initiatives all contribute to her growing influence in the industry.
As of now, the EP is slated for a 6 November 2026 release. No further touring or festival dates have been announced, and no streaming or chart performance data are available at this time. Rodgers’ next public activity will likely coincide with the EP launch, but details remain to be confirmed.
