Maggie Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, musician and producer from Easton, Maryland. Born Margaret Debay Rogers in 1994, she works across indie pop, art pop, folk, folk pop, folk rock and indie folk.

Career

Rogers first gains wider attention after her song “Alaska” is played to Pharrell Williams during a master class at New York University. The video of that encounter goes viral, and several record labels then try to sign her. She later negotiates a deal with Capitol Records, licensing her music through her own imprint, Debay Sounds, which gives her more control over her sound and image than many artists at a similar stage in their careers.

Her songs “Alaska” and “Dog Years” appear on Triple J Hottest 100, 2016 at numbers 64 and 173 respectively. Her EP Now That the Light Is Fading is released in 2017, and her major-label debut album Heard It In a Past Life follows in 2019, debuting at number two on the US Billboard 200.

Performances and appearances

Rogers makes her television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2017, her Saturday Night Live debut in 2018 and her Today show debut in 2019.

Influences and collaborators

She cites Carrie Brownstein, Patti Smith, Kim Gordon and Björk as musical inspirations. Brandi Carlile and Sharon Van Etten act as mentors and are described by Rogers as her “musical big sisters.” She also has synesthesia and says she perceives colours in response to hearing music.