It’s good to be back, writing for Weekly Music Commentary. Good to write about another young, promising artist on the verge of breaking out big. This week I get a chance to look into the young career of Destiny Rogers. Never heard of her? Possibly! Unless you are very young and listen to new pop music, and like skateboarding. Otherwise, you might be in the dark until you finish reading this post. As usual, I hope to help you, the reader, understand the young artist whom you would never know outside of a post in Weekly Music Commentary.
What’s needed is perspective. A view of the music and musician from a different place. I want to provide that place for many of us older ones to hear the music of today. I count myself among those older ones. Last week, I lived to see my fifty-seventh birthday. Normally, persons my age do not listen to the music of those in their early twenties. However, I am a music blogger and choose to offer a publication that might help people of my age understand today’s music. Yes, you may call it a different perspective.
When speaking of Destiny Rogers, we see and hear a very young artist who has gained enough critical notice that both fans and music executives have become aware of her. She has accomplished more than many might have expected from her. Therefore, I hope this post sheds light upon her career, and how far Destiny may go in the future.
Destiny Rogers was born and grew up in the small town of Lodi, California on September 13, 1999.
Young Rogers explained in interview how she got started in music. “I got into music when I was ten years old, that’s when I started playing guitar and singing. I started playing guitar by watching Justin Bieber’s music videos. I just copied his fingers, and I copied the way he strummed, and I taught myself how to play guitar—singing just happened shortly after that. As I’m watching Justin’s videos, I got mad inspired. I knew this was my passion, for sure.”
Destiny Rogers’ parents played an integral part in her getting a start in music. “My dad, he’s a musician as well. He’s a worship leader. He plays piano and drums. I had music in the house, growing up. I was always around music—my mom is Mexican, so she would always play Spanish music. So, church and Mexican music.”
The professional music career really went into top gear in 2017. That’s when a family friend showed one of Destiny Rogers YouTube covers to the production duo The Stereotypes. They made the next move and everything got going. Rogers explained how it all came together. “I got to meet The Stereotypes when I was 17. We just worked together because they thought I was talented. It was my first time working with producers and songwriters; we started making records in sessions. I was living in Lodi, so I was driving from Lodi to LA—that’s about a five-hour drive. I would stay out here, work with them once a month, every month, and we started making a lot of records. Finally, we started developing a friendship. I ended up signing with them in February 2018, and then I signed with RCA in November 2018.”
On February 28, 2019, Rogers released her debut single “Tomboy,” following recording in mid-2018. Lyrically, the song is about “defying expectations”; Rogers accepts herself as a tomboy, as she doesn’t wear makeup, has baggy clothes, and is into skateboarding. “Skating is that outlet for me when I’m stressed or upset. I can go skate, and it takes all my worries away. I turn to skating if I’m having a brain fart. When I’m by myself, I get stressed out if something isn’t working the way I want it to. So, I gotta go skate. I go skate in my front yard, and I have an elementary school around the corner. I’d skate in the parking lot. Just get all the stress out and clear my head. When I’m done, I’ll go back to my room and start fresh.”
The work of Rogers and The Stereotypes paid off with the release of Destiny Rogers debut EP titled Tomboy. This provided her with enough pre-COVID material that allowed her to perform in 2019 at SXSW. In the fall of 2019, she opened for singer Ruel on his Free Time Tour in North America.
Tomboy was not the end of our story featuring Destiny Rogers. No, March 29, 2020 she released her follow-up EP Great Escape. It follows a similar formula with The Stereotypes continuing as producers. Great Escape has also received critical praise from various music critics. Most have listened and agree that young Destiny Rogers has defied expectations.
Should I take time to listen to Tomboy and Great Escape? I believe you should. The reason lies in the way young Rogers constructed the EP’s. There is a great quote from DJ Booth that sums it up for potential listeners. “Rogers makes bubbling music meant to be consumed by everyone from tweens to adults looking for their next groove fix. The songwriting on Tomboy is smart and welcoming, with Rogers sounding like R&B’s playful Raymond Carver, the way she reports each image and setting in a matter-of-fact style.”
Of course there is more to Destiny Rogers story. However, I think you now get a clear picture. I love featuring young artists like this because there is a strong possibility that she will experience a big breakout and this particular post will go viral. As for you readers, you might just discover the next great singer/songwriter of tomorrow. Let’s listen, wait and see!