Maggie Rogers ascent to fame is very well documented. Performing and releasing predominantly folk music for much of her formative years as a musician, Rogers found herself showcasing pop song ‘Alaska’ whilst she was a songwriting major at NYU to masterclass teacher and notorious big hat fan Pharrell. Soon after record label deals were signed and her shot at the big time was confirmed.
Variations of this intro will haunt almost every review and feature Rogers is in for many years to come, but this story is so intrinsic to her debut major label album that it should be written in the liner notes of her record. The LP opens with single 'Give A Little'; a divergence from the more restrained early singles and certainly the best pop crossover hit Rogers has released, it deals with her newfound audience, expressing the desire for vulnerability from both her and the crowd. This relationship with her audience continues to be a major focus throughout Heard It In A Past Life, culminating on the song 'Light On', where she gives a window into her initial struggle with her ever-growing popularity, "Oh, I couldn't stop it, tried to slow it all down/cryin’ in the bathroom, had to figure it out".
Rogers continues to expand her styles and instrumentation throughout this debut. Whilst her folk leanings are more obviously heard in early singles such as ‘Alaska’, newer songs such as 'Burning' bring a funkier and dance friendly lens to her music. The most notable new instrument is the slappin' bass plastered across 'The Knife', it's hard groove driving the song along, making it one of the most instantaneous tracks of the album. This electro/pop/R’n’B landscape also allows Rogers’ voice to really expand, creating a more diverse and interesting listen and allows us as an audience to authentically believe in the changes of genre.
Throughout the whole listen though, what continues to stick out about Maggie Rogers is her incisive lyrics, it's this strong songwriting that brings all these new sounds and styles together and is what will continue to set her apart from her contemporaries.
