REVIEW: Maggie Rogers - The Forum, Melbourne

Maggie Rogers and I may not be on a first name basis but having followed her rising star from the very beginning, I couldn’t stifle the weird sense of second-hand pride that swelled in my chest when I saw her take the stage last Sunday.

Gracing The Forum (and Australian shores) for the very first time as part of her Splendour in the Grass sideshow tour, the 23 year old American musician/producer first showed up in my life – and newsfeed – around March last year. A then-student at NYU, Rogers serendipitously found herself in a masterclass with none other than Pharrell Williams.

After hearing the story of Roger’s musical journey, William’s was reduced to tears by her electronically charged folk song, ‘Alaska’ and from that moment on, Rogers found herself on the world stage.

Having watched footage of the unassuming Rogers sitting in class, unaware of the fame that would follow that fateful day, I almost felt like I was going along to see one of my friends performing. Her humble beginnings somehow made her seem human.

Bounding on to the stage after a pop-tastic performance by Brisbane-based opener, Mallrat, Rogers immediately commanded the attention of the audience with a hauntingly beautiful rendition of ‘Color Song’, the campfire-esque first track on her debut EP, Now That The Light Is Fading.

Toeing the line between folk melodies and electronic rhythms, Roger’s unique blend of music transports the listener to a magical place somewhere between majestic snowcapped mountains and the neon lights of a dancehall disco.

In theory it sounds questionable, but Rogers strikes a perfect balance between the two. Throughout the course of the night, her more recent tracks, ‘On + Off’ and ‘Dog Years’ had fans singing along, but it wasn’t until the first joyful beats of ‘Alaska’, the song that earned Pharrell’s stamp of approval, that the audience became a sea of glowing iPhone screens.

It’s not just the powerful voice, infectious dance moves and energy that has won her a base of adoring fans. Maggie Rogers is intelligent, she’s down-to-earth and she’s in-touch with what is going on in the world and in her own backyard. America’s political climate is especially close to her heart and she wasn’t afraid to talk about it between songs, sharing with the audience her decision to stay tuned in to what is going on.

Her one and only EP may only hold five songs, but Maggie Rogers had no trouble executing a full and well-rounded show – encore included – and there’s no doubt this insanely talented performer will continue dancing her way on to stages (and into hearts) all over the world.

Written by: Hannah Pronesti

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