What is your name?
Malia Rogers
What is your genre of music?
Indie-folk with celtic and bluegrass influences
Give us a little bio about you.
I’m a Canadian singer-songwriter originally from the East Coast, now living in Ottawa. I’ve been writing music since I was 14 and picking up instruments along the way – guitar, mandolin, banjo, piano, percussion. In my music, I prioritize vulnerability and being the first person to take down my walls and hopefully encourage other people to do the same. I draw inspiration from my personal history navigating love, grief, mental health, identity, and the pursuit of hope in hard times.
What made you go into music?
I’ve been consistently ‘in’ music professionally for about 4 years, as a solo artist and as a side musician for other groups. But I’ve been an artist for much longer than that, and I think I’m drawn to making music as a way of making sense of the world around me and hopefully making others feel less alone in their experiences. The most rewarding experiences for me are when someone comes up to share a piece of themselves with me after a live show, having connected with one of my songs or stories. I get a really lovely and deep lens on people through this artistic practice and have made so many incredible friendships through music.
Who are your influences?
Musically I’m inspired by Phoebe Bridgers, Aoife O’Donovan, Hozier, Noah Kahan, Simon and Garfunkel, Dan Mangan, Feist, the Oh Hellos – but I’m also deeply inspired by poetry (Mary Oliver is a favourite), instrumental music like Irish trad, the natural beauty of the world, and the generous spirits of my family and close friends.
Are you signed?
Nope 🙂
You released a new single ‘Sunlight (A Good Death)’, tell us more about the song and the meaning behind it.
Sunlight (A Good Death) is a celebration of the people who shape us in our lives and the way we carry them with us long after they’re gone. I wrote it for my grandfather, who passed away back in Nova Scotia in 2021, but it’s really for anyone whose loved ones live in inside them. It’s a song about loss so there is a certain heaviness that comes with that naturally, but I believe grief and love are deeply interconnected and I see this song as more of a ‘celebration of life’ than a funeral. It’s a song about the enduring love of family and the beauty of loving each other even when we know loss will be a factor someday.
Describe the track in two words.
Cathartic and celebratory.
What was the writing and recording process like?
I wrote Sunlight in the span of two hours in January 2025, on the anniversary of my grandfather’s death. I was in Ireland on tour with a band I play for and woke up with a start on the day, in the very early morning, before really realizing why. Once I realized, I was flooded with emotion and memory and I was able to sit with that long enough to write this song for my grandpa John. It’s pretty much unchanged from that first demo, which is rare for me. I recorded it with my producer Neil over the span of Fall 2025, in bits and pieces around our other commitments, and I’m glad we gave it that space to breathe and treated it with such care.
Who did you work with on the song?
Alongside my amazing producer Neil Whitford, a pack of wildly talented and kind instrumentalists – Jeremy Kleynhans, Aline Homzy, Richard Lam, Donna Garner, and Spencer Murray. The gang vocal section is made up of my two siblings and a group of my close friends.
Will we see an EP or album this year and if so can you tell us about the creative process and what the fans can expect from it.
This’ll be a singles-only year for me I think! I’m planning to release four this year. I’m in the process of writing my next album, and I want to lean into more writing about romantic and non-romantic love across the life course.
Will we see a music video for the single and if so can you tell us about the creative process.
There is a music video! It’s here:
It features found footage of passed loved ones submitted by members of my community, which is extremely special.
Will we see any live shows or a tour coming up or in planning, if so what can you tell us about it?
No tour in the works at the moment, but I have a headline show at Red Bird in Ottawa, ON, on June 12 if anyone here’s headed out that way!
Where will we be able to buy tickets from?
Tickets
What else can we expect in 2026?
Three more singles, more live shows in the late summer, and a lot of creative incubation 🙂
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
It’s hard to say! I think regardless of what my life looks like in 5 years I will still be making music. I don’t think I could stop if I tried. Writing is so essential to how I make sense of myself and the world around me. Maybe I’ll be touring in your city by then!
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“Leap and the net will appear.” A reminder from my mother to be courageous and trusting.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Guitar tuner, herbal tea, a written set list, my show boots (I’m one of these people who draws power from their shoes, kind of?) and my gratitude for being able to have these experiences as part of my job!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
