DeepSummary
In this Fresh Air interview, singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers discusses her new album 'Don't Forget Me' and the artistic journey that led to its creation. She talks about writing songs from a fictional persona rather than directly drawing from her own life experiences, and how that allowed her to explore universal emotions and stories. Rogers also reflects on the viral moment that launched her to fame when Pharrell Williams praised her song 'Alaska' during a class at NYU.
Rogers speaks about her decision to attend Harvard Divinity School in 2021 while taking a break from music due to burnout. She wanted to explore questions around the ethics of being a public figure and find a sustainable way to continue her career. The interview delves into Rogers' songwriting process, her relationship with nostalgia, and how she aims to create an intimate connection with her fans through live performances.
The conversation touches on Rogers' growth as an artist and person, transitioning from her 20s to 30s. She discusses finding joy in her work again after a period of struggle, and how her perspective on older songs has shifted through performing them live over the years. Overall, the interview offers insights into Rogers' artistic evolution and her thought-provoking approach to music and performance.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Maggie Rogers' new album 'Don't Forget Me' explores storytelling through a fictional persona, allowing her to tap into universal emotions and experiences.
- Rogers took a break from music in 2021 to attend Harvard Divinity School, where she explored ethics, spirituality, and finding sustainable practices for her career.
- She values fostering intimate connections with fans through live performances and interactive elements like meet-and-greets.
- Nostalgia and a desire to capture life's fleeting moments are central themes in Rogers' songwriting and artistic approach.
- Rogers experienced burnout and struggled with the pressures of fame early in her career, as depicted in songs like 'Light On'.
- Her perspective on older songs has evolved through performing them live, with the music taking on new meanings and connections.
- Rogers aims to explore the ethics of power dynamics and her role as a public figure through her art and live performances.
- The interview offers insights into Rogers' personal and artistic growth, transitioning from her 20s to her 30s with a newfound sense of self-worth and purpose.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I started writing songs the summer I was 14. And so many important creative moments in my life have come out of a sense of boredom.“ by Maggie Rogers
- “I don't feel like I know any more than anybody else. And that's why songwriting is so powerful to me, because, like, if you hit, if you can make yourself, like, as vulnerable as humanly possible, you hit universal truth.“ by Maggie Rogers
- “I'm a nostalgic person if my record is called don't forget me, but there is something about just, there's so much beauty in life and so much detail and so much memory, and I do worry about forgetting it all or being able to, like, get my arms so full of detail that I don't drop anything.“ by Maggie Rogers
- “It was written in this time where that first ride after the thrill video was really scary. There's lyrics in this song that says, like, crying in the bathroom while everyone around you is saying, you must be so happy now.“ by Maggie Rogers
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Episode Information
Fresh Air
NPR
5/22/24
This episode is a special extended version of the interview that aired on NPR.
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