Single Premiere: Red Eye Ruby, “Rejection Is Divine Protection”
The Minnesota retro roots-rock act drops a soulful new single next week. Hear it first here!
Red Eye Ruby. Photo credit: Bud Ingram-Lile.
Red Eye Ruby is the fascinating, constantly evolving brainchild of Liz Collin (aka Ruby Blu). They’re now gearing up to release a new album in 2026, The Gospel According to the Rock ’n’ Roll Priestess. The first single, “Rejection Is Divine Protection,” comes out next Tuesday, December 9, but you don’t have to wait that long. We’re honored to exclusively premiere it here today!
Red Eye Ruby’s “Rejection Is Divine Protection” single artwork.
Over the years, Red Eye Ruby has explored indie and roots rock, jazz, and other elements more difficult to describe with typical genre labels. (“Haunted carnival” may get at it a bit …) Their last release, 2022’s The Ruby EP, found the act exploring a 60s/70s vibe, melding pop and rock with elements of funk and soul.
“Rejection Is Divine Protection” gives us a taste of what to expect on the new record, and it’s an exciting (though not surprising) indication that Red Eye Ruby is continuing to evolve their sound. A burst of horns and a rattle of tambourine instantly signal that they’re pushing even farther in a soulful direction, an impression borne out by the funky beat and rhythmic, almost percussive backup vocals. Ruby Blu’s own lead vocals have somehow gotten both smoother and throatier since the last record, and they’re perfectly showcased by this retro soundscape.
Red Eye Ruby is at their best in songs about pain and struggle because they almost always add a defiant or empowering edge. “Rejection Is Divine Protection” puts a creative spin on how to survive past painful experiences, suggesting they can be used as a spiritual course correction.
“I wrote this during a chapter of my life where everything felt like it was falling apart—friendships, opportunities, chances at love,” Collin says. “But I kept noticing that every ‘no’ was like a secret redirect—like Spirit picking me up and putting me on a new, better path. This song is all about trusting spirit guides.
“It’s also about learning to transmute pain into wisdom,” she adds. “When we’re feeling hurt or rejected, we always have a choice: we can stew in bitterness and rage at the world … or we can face the pain, learn from it, and grow. So next time you’re down real bad, ask yourself: whatcha gonna do with it?”
Listen to “Rejection Is Divine Protection” now!
Red Eye Ruby will celebrate the release of this soulful new single on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the 331 Club in Minneapolis, where they’ll be playing every Tuesday in December. Their show starts at 9:30pm, and there’s no cover charge!
“Rejection Is Divine Protection” Single Credits
Written by Liz Collin and Matt Patrick
Produced & recorded by Matt Patrick at the Library Studio (Minneapolis, MN)
Vocals: Liz Collin
Guitars: Mike Drager
Bass guitar: Matt Patrick
Drums: Jon Ross
Trumpet: Stephen Kung
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carol Roth. Photo credit: Dan Lee.
Adventures in Americana co-founder Carol Roth is a novelist who publishes both under her name and the pseudonym T.A. Berkeley in a range of genres, from horror to thriller to YA. She loves to play guitar, sing and occasionally write songs. Her wide-ranging passions also include vegan cooking, personal finance, watching queer romance TV/movies and learning to speak Thai. By day she’s a marketing writer/brand strategist.
