Maggie Rogers is saving the indie-pop music scene. With her fresh lyrics and soulful sound, the American singer-songwriter has been steadily growing in popularity since the release of her hit single “Alaska” in 2016. On April 12, 2024, Rogers released her third studio album Don’t Forget Me, and ensures we will most definitely will not forget her.
Don’t Forget Me, like most of Rogers’ work, is free and full of emotion. With its mix of indie and Americana, these are songs meant to be blasted during a summer road trip with the windows down. It’s clear from listening that Roger puts everything into her music.
The album starts off strong with “It Was Coming All Along.” It sets a nostalgic and longing tone for the rest of the songs. The steady drums and guitar build a steady, upbeat melody that carries over into other songs. This includes the second track, “Drunk,” which is one of the fastest-paced songs and filled with anticipation. Rogers’ classic slight breaks, as well as the power in her voice, showcase the sheer emotion put into Rogers’s music and how it is just as much an outlet for her as it is an art form.
Songs like “If Now Was Then” and “Never Going Home” reflect on the past with longing and acceptance. “Oh, the things I’d do, oh, if now was then / But you can’t take it back,” Rogers sings in the former.
“So Sick of Dreaming” is the second of two singles from Don’t Forget Me. It opens with an almost groovy beat and is generally a fun and lighter song. Similar to that, “The Kill” is one of the more “pop” songs on the album. Rogers acknowledges past mistakes and looks hopefully to the future.
In the latter half of the album, Roger takes a break from her uplifting beats with “I Still Do” and
“All The Same.” Both of which are wistful and heartbreaking. Roger flexes the clear, rugged beauty of her voice with little backing tracks to hide it.
The lively energy is brought back, however, in “On & On & On.” This track is one of the shorter ones on the album but still feels very complete and fits in well with the other tracks.
The album closes with the title track “Don’t Forget Me,” a powerful bittersweet song in which Rogers expresses her fears around love and growing older. She asks that when her lover inevitably leaves her, they at least remember her. This song perfectly wraps up the album and has you dancing through the pain.
With a growing trend of overproduced and impersonal music, Maggie Rogers expertly strips it back and creates a raw, yet complete album that will have you both dancing and crying.
