Welcome to Music of the Month Vol. 1! Anyone who knows me knows how much I love music and making playlists. Therefore when I became a Hercampus writer, I knew exactly what segment I wanted to create: Music of the Month. Each month, I will highlight an artist, album, or song and dive into their background *plus* link some related playlists that you would enjoy if you like my recommendation! Up first is a power woman. She is a producer, and singer/songwriter named Maggie Rogers.
Maggie Rogers has my musical heart. She is an inspiration to young girls everywhere. Born Margaret Debay Rogers on April 25, 1994 on the Eastern shores of Maryland, Maggie’s background includes folk music and a love for nature. Maybe I feel so connected to her because she’s a Taurus, like me, not that I know anything about astrology. Or maybe it’s her deep appreciation for the environment. Either way, Maggie has a really cool story.
New York University is known for its low acceptance rate and prestige. Maggie attended NYU from 2012 to 2016, getting her famous start from a masterclass at which she presented her own produced song to Pharell Williams. This encounter is one of the coolest things I have ever watched. Imagine Pharell, an incredibly successful and talented producer, telling you that he has no notes because of how good your song is. I would pass out. The single presented is called “Alaska,” and it has 123,038,182 streams on Spotify. In the interview, Maggie talks about her deep connection with folk music and how she wanted to connect it with modern production. Through her music, you can clearly see the genres crossing over and the end result is a beautiful and unique sound. Maggie plays guitar, banjo, piano, AND harp. The talent and dedication is through the roof! She currently has one studio album, an earlier EP from 2017, and a few singles. She also writes and produces all of her own songs! If you look in the song credits listed on Spotify, you will find that some writers and producers are also credited, but there isn’t a song Maggie hasn’t at least co-written or co-produced. You can just tell that Maggie Rogers loves what she does and pours her heart into everything she writes and produces.
What I love about Maggie is her soul connection to music. She’s the type of person who grasps inspiration and runs with it, knowing what is in her heart. Artists struggle to make decisions about songs because they overthink it and want the outcome to be perfect, however, Maggie’s free spirit makes her music seem effortless yet so intricate. I want to just sit in on one of her writing sessions and see her process. Maggie also seems like a super chill friend who would go on picnic dates with you and take polaroids but also jump in the creek on a hike. I feel like she and I would have the deepest conversations and bond on such a spiritual level. Very fitting to start off the Music of the Month series with a powerful woman! I hope you love her as much as I do when you go listen to her album, Heard it in a Past Life.
Playlists You Might Like!
- Soft Pop – if you like Maggie and the pop direction
- Light On Radio – more songs with the Maggie vibes; everchanging list
- Morning Coffee House – start your day on a calm note
Artists You Might Like!
Maggie Rogers’ Socials!
I hope you enjoyed my brief introduction on the history of this rising star! Maggie Rogers is certainly an artist to keep an eye out for (especially if you love indie music and folk sounds)