?Mostly I write songs that are upbeat, energetic or even aggressive. I like people to be able to dance and even head bang to my music.? That's how Bess Rogers describes her not-so-typical singer/songwriter style. ?I'm not afraid to take risks with my music and that's exciting,? she continues. ?Infectious?, ?catchy?, and ?hook-laden? are just a few words used to describe her memorable indie-pop-rock sound. Her 2009 EP Travel Back reflects these beliefs and has set the stage for a new September release in 2010.
Yet Rogers isn?t satisfied with a single sound. In addition to her own music, Bess records and tours with Ingrid Michaelson, fronts the country/bluegrass 80?s cover band, The Flux Capacitors, and plays guitar and keys in the orchestral/electronic indie rock group, The Age Of Rockets. She's a musical chameleon able to switch genres or instruments at the drop of a hat. ?I'm interested in a lot of different styles of music and so are my friends. We feed off of each other artistically and that makes us all closer and better at the same time ? plus it's a ton of fun,? says Rogers.
Growing up in a musical family, Bess was destined to follow in their footsteps. She remembers, ?My mom played harpsichords that my father built and even recorded a CD with her group. I'd go to shows and help sell merch or tickets.? Bess moved on to flute, and sang in her school choir before picking up the guitar in her early teens. Shy as she was, the passion to perform was too great. As a teenager she had already written many of her own songs, and she summoned up her courage to play them at open mic nights. As her skills grew she decided SUNY Purchase would be the place to refine her talents, ultimately earning a Master?s degree in music composition. And that's where she met many of the musician friends that she currently works with, including Dan Romer (producer for Ingrid Michaelson, Jenny Owen Youngs, April Smith and others).
At Purchase they recorded her first EP, Valentine. That was followed by her independent release, Decisions Based on Information in 2007. Through a mutual friend, Bess was introduced to Ingrid Michaelson. She happened to need a lead guitarist and Bess happened to play guitar. It was kismet. Next thing she knew she was opening for the Dave Matthews Band, playing on The Tonight Show, and touring the country with Ingrid. All the while she continued to write. 2009 saw the release of her EP Travel Back. She made a music video for the song ?I Don?t Worry?, and the track ?Yellow Bird? has been used on TNT's ?Raising the Bar? and the CW?s ?One Tree Hill?.
And 2010 will be busy as well. Packed with touring of her own, as well as playing high profile dates such as Bonnaroo and Lilith Fair with Ingrid, Bess isn't sitting around her home in Brooklyn waiting for fun to come her way.
Her new EP, entitled Bess Rogers presents Bess Rogers, will be released on September 21.
Check out her website www.BessRogers.com for all the latest and greatest.