JUBAHLEE’s debut EP RUBY is a statement. A sonic embodiment of red's most potent qualities – aggression, romance, seduction, and power.
The Western Sydney rapper and performer exudes an opulence that's both effortless and electric, embodying the essence of ruby itself: a rare gem formed under pressure, dazzling despite the heat. RUBY is JUBAHLEE’s world, and we're all just lucky to be in it.
‘‘...Rubies are rare, but also, ruby has been through so much.’’
Chatting with Ethan Lyons and Tim Worton on Race Matters, it’s clear that JUBAHLEE doesn’t just enter a room – she commands it. A child of both the ballroom and rap scenes, her presence is undeniable. She moves with the finesse of a femme queen, a lesson learned from the icons she’s come up under in the House of Silky and House of Oricci. Like all true stars, JUBAHLEE remains calm under fire. RUBY wasn’t meticulously crafted over months - it was curated in a matter of days, built on talent, faith and the fire of the people around her, including Overall Father Xander Silky.
“Ballroom will really just chuck you in the pit and see how you go. Most of the time, us queer and trans people are already chucked in the pit in real life…we end up finding a liberation when we're chucked in the pit around our own people. It's your red carpet moment. When you walk on that stage, everyone is cheering for you, whether you're bad, whether you're good. It's literally like such a liberating movement in itself, but also liberating feeling and spirit.”
This spirit flows through JUBAHLEE. From the underground clubs of Sydney to the grand stage of Sissy Ball, her performances feel less like a set and more like an invitation to her struggle, her faith and her love. Dancers flanking her, beats hitting, her voice slicing through the bass with the confidence of someone who knows they belong. Tracks like ‘I Am The’ bring this energy to life with razor sharp lyricism, thumping bass and high energy synths, mirroring her confidence. RUBY feels like an entrance – walking into the club, stepping on the runway or just having a late night DnM with a close friend.
“People are here to see me, but I don't see them…in a way where it's, like, you're showcasing everything you put your work into, and it's that type of feeling where you know this is your moment.”
Beyond the technicolour of RUBY , JUBAHLEE is a story of legacy – one that honours Black and brown femme queens shaping culture. If something is cool, she reminds us, it went through queer hands first. From rap slang to fashion to the way we move, the influence of ballroom and queer artistry is undeniable, and JUBAHLEE’s making sure it gets its due respect. Her track ‘Club Jubah’ is a prime example, opening with a sampled conversation about liberation before exploding into a bass heavy beat. It’s not just a club track – it's a call to arms, a reminder that queer joy and resilience go hand in hand.
JUBAHLEE’s music stands apart in the Sydney scene because she bends the rules of rap itself, fusing ballroom bravado with hyper-personal lyrics. On ‘I Am The’, she spits, “Bitch, I am the moment, step aside,” not only as a boast but as a mission statement. A balance of menace and charm, playfulness and dominance; it's a sonic manifestation of what JUBAHLEE is in real life.
In her world, everything is a lesson; a setup for the next big thing. Chopped at one ball? She storms the next. Underestimated? She drops a fire EP in a week – now she's our Independent Artist of the Week.
That's just how Ruby girls do it.
Words by Ethan Lyons