Life & Work with Brittany Rogers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Rogers.

Hi Brittany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My initial interest in music was the desire to use my voice to tell a story. I was obsessed with singing, and no matter how out of tune I was, no one could convince me to stop practicing. From day one, I have had (and continue to have) dreams that surpass my current abilities. If I have learned anything in life, it is that humans are capable of anything they can articulate and admire in another person. I knew that if I could not yet sing/play something, then the right tools, practice, technique, and unwillingness to quit, would get me there.

I applied that attitude to everything in my life, not the least of which music. I made a decision from an early age that I had no limits, and that fear could be a character, but not the author of my story. I didn’t have to be good at something to start, I just had to start. I didn’t have to prove myself to anyone, I just had to be consistent. This mindset lead me to putting myself on stage over and over again, even when stage fright had me initially crying through my performances. It lead me to eventually singing for 10k people at a MLK march in downtown Seattle, singing to support human rights.

It drove me to getting a degree at Berklee College of Music (in a field that only 2% of women are currently recognized), to pursue a career in music production and engineering. It led me to working with industry inundated artists and engineers; taking internships, networking, and making new art I never thought I would be capable of. Not a single musical milestone I’ve experienced thus far has come from a place of natural talent, but the unrelenting decision that I wasn’t going to let the fear of failure stop me from expanding my musical understanding/capabilities. I believe deeply that the purpose of my life is to learn to speak the language of music, and use it foster a sense of togetherness in the communities I have the privilege of playing with/for.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No matter what hurdles came my way, the greatest of which were always my self limiting beliefs. I think the greatest gift we can ever give ourselves and the people around us, is learning to find then take down the barriers where we limit ourselves. Most of my struggles come from not allowing myself to take up space in one way or another. It’s amazing what doors can open when I just knock. It’s easy to wait for the perfect moment (which spoiler alert; never arrives), or hide all of my ideas for the fear they will be rejected.

It’s tempting to believe great creations only come from those who are somehow superior to the average human. When in reality, no matter how many accolades or merits someone receives, we are all broken and lacking in some way. We are all impostures. Nobody escapes feelings of self doubt through material success (not for long at least); because at the end of the day, we know how many times we failed before we got accepted, we know how unsure we were that anyone would care to listen, we know all the ways we could have done it better. So my greatest struggle is and will always be remembering that those fears and feelings of self doubt are normal.

As convincing as they can be, they aren’t necessarily the truth; sure, self doubt may highlight areas for growth and even help me understand my internal motivations for what I am pursuing; but at the end of the day, they’re just feelings, and there’s something more important on the other side of fear.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a vocalist, instrumentalist, songwriter and engineer. I am a part of 3 projects (Turtlnck, Red Thread, and Henko) as the songwriter, singer, producer and engineer, and I release music under my solo artist name as well, “Brittany Rogers.”

I am most proud of my recently released music which you can find on my Spotify (or any other major streaming platforms).

I hope what sets me apart is my own unique story. I think great artists have something to say- they don’t have to be the best, they just have to learn to speak authentically. That’s what I am always working on. 🙂

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I learned that balance is key to doing anything well. I can obsess over music ’til the sun sets and rises again, but I will be useless to anyone if I do not take time to laugh with friends, eat healthy, workout, etc. We can only show up as our best selves if we take care of the vessel!

Contact Info:

• Email: brittanyrogersmusic@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittanyrogersmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQuI1Bu67r0UKtWQA9E4-lg

Image Credits
Kyle Olthoff