A Quiet but Powerful Start to the Year: Rosie Carney’s “Sixteen”: Single Review

Words: Izzy Hegarty

There’s something oddly comforting about looking back on being sixteen, even if it was mostly chaos at the time. On her new single “Sixteen,” Rosie Carney leans into that complexity, revisiting youth with honesty and clarity rather than romanticising it. Instead of treating adolescence as a carefree blur, she frames it as a series of moments that quietly shape who we become.

“Sixteen” is the fourth and penultimate single from Carney’s upcoming fourth album, Doomsday… Don’t Leave Me Here, out February 27, 2026 via Ultra Records. With each release so far, she’s steadily revealed the emotional depth of the record, and this track feels like one of its most personal and grounding entries yet.

Lyrically, Carney reflects on being sixteen as a time of uncertainty -  where the wrong choices can feel easier than the right ones, and self-worth is still something you’re figuring out. There’s no gloss or nostalgia here, just a clear-eyed look at growing pains and emotional missteps.

At its core, the song centres on a quiet realisation: the people who really show up for you are often closer than you think. Carney has described “Sixteen” as being about choosing the right decision over the easiest one - leaning on her sisters instead of investing energy in relationships that were never going to give much back. It’s deeply personal, but instantly relatable.

Sonically, “Sixteen” continues Carney’s shift away from the stripped-back folk sound she first emerged with. Her songwriting remains intimate, but the production feels more expansive, drawing from alt-pop and subtle electronic elements. The track unfolds patiently, letting atmosphere and emotion sit side by side.

Alongside previous singles “The Evidence,” “Fragile Fantasy,” and “Here,” “Sixteen” offers a slightly calmer perspective. Where earlier tracks hinted at existential unease, this one feels reflective and quietly resolved -  a moment of looking back in order to move forward.

As the release of Doomsday… Don’t Leave Me Here approaches, “Sixteen” reinforces the sense that Rosie Carney is entering her most emotionally confident era yet. It’s a song that doesn’t shout for attention, but earns it through honesty -  and sometimes, that’s what hits hardest.