Stories From the Studio: Ruby James
STA caught up with Southern Tablelands singer-songwriter Ruby James, who recently recorded her highly anticipated debut album “Polystyrene Smile” at Old Binda Road Recording Studio near Goulburn. Recognised by Southern Tablelands Arts as one of the region’s exciting local talents, Ruby’s latest release brings together a collection of deeply personal songs, with recording sessions featuring regional and visiting musicians including Ben Malone, Mike Hammond and Mike Baker.
Ruby James writes songs about life as she’s lived it.
An Australian singer-songwriter originally from Tasmania, Ruby has spent more than fifteen years performing and developing a sound that blends indie-rock honesty with thoughtful songwriting. Her music draws from real experiences, exploring family, relationships, loss, growth and the messy process of figuring out who we are.
After years performing across Melbourne, Canberra and the Southern Tablelands, Ruby now calls Goulburn home, where she continues to write, record and perform regularly. Whether playing solo with an acoustic guitar or alongside piano and bass, she brings warmth, authenticity and a storyteller’s eye to every performance.
Her debut album, “Polystyrene Smile”, is her most personal work yet. Built from the experiences that have shaped her life so far, the record follows a journey through change, self-discovery and ultimately hope. With new music rolling out throughout 2026, Ruby James is inviting listeners to grow alongside her, one song at a time.
Ruby describing her ideas and inspirations behind the single – Julie.
Julie was a friend of mine when I was in my second year of uni, even though this song is named after her, I wrote this really about my whole friendship group that I lived with and spent time with around that time (they just all have a lot of names). Julie was the first of my friends to go home to Oslo, and I just had this real sadness that I’d never get those good times we’d shared that summer again. I got the initial idea for this song when she left and the year was coming into Winter (although Winter is used as a metaphor for the social isolation that I felt was ahead at that time). In truth, I finished this song a little later and when I listen to it now, I don’t just think about the people I said goodbye to at that time – but all of the different people that I’ve been glad to know at different phases of my life, but don’t really see anymore.
Although the song is named after Julie, it gradually became less about one person and more about missing an entire chapter of life that had come to an end. I’m sure we all have friends and periods of our life that we are deeply nostalgic about and that is really the heart of this song… ‘I miss the friends, the dreams, the life, do you?’
Follow, contact & listen to Ruby here—>>> Website – Instagram – Bandcamp
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