Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Rogers.
Molly, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in the small but beautiful city of Frankfort, Kentucky. Most people tell me they’ve never heard of it, but it’s actually the capital city. I’m the youngest of three girls, and we all grew up on the second floor of my family’s business: Rogers Funeral Home. It’s both one of the oldest funeral homes and one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the country, founded in 1802! I was homeschooled my entire childhood all the way through high school – so I like to joke that those are my excuses for any quirks in my personality!
I started piano lessons at age three after I started plunking out some melodies I liked from my favorite movies. A year after that, my parents asked if I wanted to start violin. I’m told it was my dad’s idea, and I remember they showed me an orchestral PBS special to see if I was interested. I’ve been playing ever since. What started out as group lessons in my hometown turned into weekly private lessons, which eventually took place all the way up in Cincinnati: a four-hour round-trip we took for nine years until I graduated high school.
My childhood was mostly dedicated to my classical studies. I figured out fairly early on that I loved violin (and my athletic ability could not meet my enjoyment of sports, haha), and I was eventually practicing several hours a day, heading to an occasional competition, and thinking about what my future could be like as a full-time musician.
I came out to Los Angeles exactly ten years ago this month. I was just shy of my 21st birthday, and I didn’t know a single soul other than my cousin who ended up moving back to Kentucky shortly thereafter. Looking back, I don’t know why I took such a bold chance on my own – I honestly think I was simply just unbearably naïve. I knew that I loved film music pretty much more than anything, though, and I knew that I loved recording work from the small amount of experience I had. And I knew that this was the place for me to give that a shot.
Now, a decade later, I’m honored to say I make my living as a full-time musician. I’ve played on dozens of albums, amazing films and television shows, and video games. I’ve joined a vast range of artists on many live performances, live TV appearances, and awards shows. I have also been on some world tours, including with some of my heroes on Hans Zimmer Live and Game of Thrones Live ft. Ramin Djawadi. I’m also extremely lucky to have married a wonderful man, Scott Goldbaum, a born and raised Valley kid who is an incredible musician in his own right, and somehow with all this traveling, I’m also a dog mom to a pretty dang sweet golden retriever named Capo. He’s currently living his best life considering we’re quarantined at home with him now.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t know very many people that would say their road was smooth! I feel like mine is among typical experiences had trying to “make it” here. It was difficult learning how to navigate Los Angeles on my own. I took a job in the service industry. I remember physically running to the bank on one of my lunch breaks to deposit the tip money I’d made so far so that I could pay my rent in time for an old studio apartment with no furniture, no air conditioning, and no internet. My car would stall in the middle of every intersection, and I couldn’t even afford to get the broken wipers on my car replaced. It doesn’t rain enough in LA to have made it worth the cost anyway, right? On my path, I met and invested time in people who didn’t have my best interests at heart. I also initially had no idea how to meet people in the industry – you can’t just go take many auditions, either. I didn’t even have a smartphone for the longest time, although social media wasn’t really yet a platform for content exposure when I first began my career anyway. It wasn’t exactly a quick and easy journey, and I distinctly remember someone I was close to at the time asking me when I was “going to figure out it was never going to happen and move back home.”
Then, in 2012, just as I felt that I was beginning to get a small foothold, my father passed away unexpectedly. People have often asked me what it was like growing up in a funeral home. The truth is that while it gave me great insight into how grief demonstrates itself in human interaction and behavior, I had no personal experience in dealing with it myself. We can never be prepared for it, nor can we know how it might change us, day by day, moment by moment. Even eight years later, I wish I could pick up the phone and call him; I still imagine flying home and hugging him. Losing him at such a vulnerable time in my life gave me a new perspective on where I was and a renewed focus on my music.
All of that experience has transformed me in a way. You usually don’t know you’re in a growing period while you’re actually in it, and I was very much in it. Although, I hope that I’m always growing in one form or another. Looking back, I’ve learned that I wasn’t alone, despite my predisposition towards feeling that way. I have a wonderful and supportive family. People have surprised me with their capacity for love and grace. Even something as simple as a free ride to work when I needed it helped me tremendously on this journey. And one of the most important things I’ve learned living in such a diverse city is just how crucial that diversity is and how much our differences can complement each other.
Eventually, I met people who trusted me with the right opportunities to play and perform, which led to more introductions and more work. In some cases, I don’t even remember how I first connected with certain employers that I now work with regularly, but I am grateful to and acknowledge those who have helped me and continue to help me, even in some small part.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a violinist, violist, and vocalist. I also arrange music for strings (especially for my string quartet, Orchid Quartet) and I love composing. My training and experience have helped me be able to bend my sound to multiple genres of music, including my roots of bluegrass with Irish fiddle, and continuing with folk, jazz, hip hop, rap, pop, Broadway, opera, and rock. Of course, with my education, I’m able to sight-read any music or charts, but I also grew up in a gypsy jazz band who taught me how to hone my improvisational skills. That allows me to play by ear if a producer or composer has thoughts they haven’t yet put down on paper, or to be able to come up with a part on the fly if that’s what is asked of me.
I’m a session musician, but I’m also a performer. I believe performing is a type of meditation – a moment in time I’m able to be truly 100% present, letting the music flow through freely without overthinking it. I sometimes feel that I’m able to be my most authentic self on stage, and I find so much joy in expressing myself that way. I think that’s why people love going to live shows and experiencing that as well.
I’m proud of taking chances and giving myself the time to demonstrate my dedication and love of my craft in a community full of incredibly talented musicians. I strive to continue to work hard and keep a joyful and grateful spirit as my career continues in Los Angeles.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced so many bucket list moments I couldn’t believe were actually happening. Truthfully, though, I just hope that I’m making my family proud. I often think of my dad and wish he could have seen my career turn into what it is now, and what my character and life is like among my husband, loved ones, and peers. In reflecting on this question, I thought about the first session I went to when I returned back to LA after my father’s funeral. I wasn’t sure I was ready to work again or if I would be able to keep myself focused and together. But I was and I did. And it felt like a turning point in my career. Maybe that’s what I’m most proud of – not ever giving up.
Or maybe just figuring out how not to be late in LA traffic all the time. (Tip: leave way earlier than you want to.)
Contact Info:
- Website: mollyrogersmusic.com
- Email: mollyrogersmusic@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Morgan Demeter, Augusto Piccio, Hamid Moslehi, Jordana Golub
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