Switched on Pop
Maggie Rogers: going viral is a trap
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- Viral success can be unpredictable and risky; Maggie advocates for patience in building a sustainable career.
- Music and art are powerful tools for activism and social change, providing space for community and resistance.
- Rest and diverse life experiences are essential for artistic growth and renewal.
- Different creative mediums serve unique purposes—music, writing, activism—that complement each other.
- Authentic artistry and staying true to one's values are crucial in navigating fame and social engagement.
Summary
The Journey and Breakthrough of Maggie Rogers
This section recounts Maggie Rogers' rise from a music student at NYU, where her viral moment came from playing her debut song 'Alaska' for Pharrell Williams, to her status as a Grammy-nominated artist. It details her experiences with sudden fame, the importance of a sustainable approach to her career, and her reflections on the influence of social media and virality. Maggie emphasizes the unpredictability of viral success and advocates for taking one's time to build a meaningful career rooted in authentic artistry.
Music, Activism, and the Power of Song
Maggie Rogers discusses her involvement in activism through music, including performances at protests and her beliefs about the role of art in social movements. She highlights how making music—especially singing—serves as a source of comfort and resistance. The conversation covers the qualities of effective protest songs, the importance of subtlety versus direct messages, and how music can unite communities in moments of social and political upheaval.
Rest, Creativity, and Personal Growth
This section explores Maggie’s approach to taking breaks and the importance of rest for artistic renewal and personal development. She talks about engaging in diverse activities like reading, traveling, and learning new skills during her downtime, which ultimately fuel her creativity. She underscores the idea that artistry is a dynamic, evolving process, and taking intentional pauses allows her to return to music with renewed passion and perspective.
Multimedia Creativity and Advocacy in the Modern Age
Maggie shares her use of multiple mediums—music, essays, activism, and her foundation—to communicate her message and foster community. She explains how different creative outlets serve distinct roles in her life, offering both personal expression and broader social impact. She also reflects on the importance of community, collective joy, and the healing power of the arts in times of societal stress.
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Show notes
Ten years ago, Maggie Rogers was a senior at NYU, scrambling to finish a song for a music production class she was close to failing. The guest critic that week happened to be Pharrell Williams. She played him "Alaska," a track she'd written in about fifteen minutes. It is a bit of folk songwriting crossed with the electronic music she'd fallen for studying abroad. Pharrell told her he'd never heard anything that sounded like it. Someone was filming. The clip went viral, and it launched Maggie into pop stardom.
Ten years later, she's released three studio albums, earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, and gone back to school to pick up a master's from Harvard Divinity School, where she studied the spirituality of public gatherings. And in the last few months she's been as visible offstage as on — advocating for free speech in DC, performing for 200,000 people at a protest in Minneapolis alongside Joan Baez, and delivering a haunting performance during the final run of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which CBS is ending in May.
This week host Charlie Harding got to sit down with Maggie live at Chelsea Studios, in front of a room of current NYU students. It’s the same school, ten years later, now with Charlie in the professor's chair and Maggie as the visiting artist.
SONGS DISCUSSED
Maggie Rogers "Alaska"
Maggie Rogers "Better"
Maggie Rogers "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)"
Maggie Rogers "Different Kind of World"
Marvin Gaye "What's Going On"
Bob Dylan "The Times They Are a-Changin'"
USA for Africa "We Are the World"
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