Maggie Rogers

Indie-folk/pop songwriter Maggie Rogers was originally known for "Alaska," a viral hit during 2016. A self-described "banjo player from the Eastern Shore of Maryland," she grew up studying classical harp, then moved to piano and banjo She studied briefly at the Berklee College of Music, where she won a songwriting contest, then enrolled at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University. Among her classes was one taught by Questlove, who opened her ear to pop and dance music. She worked these elements-along with her love for Bjork and Sleater-Kinney- into her music on her first two download EPs, 2012's The Echo and 2014's Blood Ballet. Her breakthrough moment came when she attended a master class taught by Pharrell Williams and played him "Alaska," which she later admitted was the only song she had at the time. Williams loved the song and was caught on video nearly crying over it, comparing it to the Wu-Tang Clan and Stevie Wonder, and claiming "I have zero notes for that It's singular, and that is such a special quality." Williams' reaction hit the internet and gave instant attention to Rogers, who was soon courted by record labels-one of which even sent her a first edition of a favorite book, Virginia Wolf's To the Lighthouse. She wound up signing to Capitol who released the 2017 EP Now That the Light is Fading, which included "Alaska" along with the follow-up single, "Dog Years." In November 2018 she appeared on "Saturday Night Live" (NBC 1975-) and made another breakthrough, dancing on camera while singing two pop-oriented songs, "Fallingwater" and "Light On." The latter then hit the Top Ten of Billboard's Digital Song Sales and Adult Alternative charts, becoming her biggest hit to date. Her debut album, Heard It In a Past Life, was set for early 2019 release.