“On + Off”

Much ink has been spilled over the nature of Maggie Rogers' seemingly overnight success, and with good reason. It's not every day that viral success plucks someone out of obscurity who wasn't even really asking for it, especially in an age when “America's Got Talent” and social media maneuvering are many budding singers’ first line of offense. Enthusiastic Pharrell co-sign or otherwise, Rogers’ voice is practically bursting at the seams with originality, and her new track, “On + Off,” solidifies her status as a veritable breakout star. Structured around a tight keyboard loop and Rogers’ pitch-shifting falsetto, it elegantly recalls a carefree summer that so many dance singles try to capture, but much like her breakthrough hit “Alaska,” retains a homespun feel that sets it apart. After an echoing handclap announces the chorus, Rogers, chants her way across a velvety electronic groove, layering her vocals like a choir. There's an earnestness here that you simply can't fake. Standing at the intersection of so many genres (pop, folk, soul, and dance), Rogers’ music is united by the brazen heart she wears on her sleeve.