Canadian Singer-Songwriter Malia Rogers Shares Genre-Spanning Debut EP Chameleon feat. Peaceful, Swirling Folk Ballad “Indefinitely”
Nova Scotia-raised, Ottawa-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Malia Rogers unveils her debut EP, Chameleon, featuring the vast and heartfelt centerpiece, “Indefinitely.” Chameleon merges her East Coast roots with folk, bluegrass, and Celtic traditions to explore themes of identity, growth, self-compassion, and enduring connection. With a storytelling voice rich in vulnerability and nuance, the six-song collection offers a layered portrait of transformation, pairing past hurts with their healing counterparts.
“Indefinitely” offers a barefoot love song for the deeply known – a sweeping meditation on partnership, evolution, and unconditional devotion. Built on rhythmic acoustic textures, lilting mandolin, melodic strings, and a heartbeat of bodhrán, the track captures the feeling of the tide coming in – calm, powerful, and enduring.
“I told my producer Neil Whitford that I wanted it to sound like the tide,” says Rogers. “There’s ocean imagery in the lyrics, and as a Nova Scotian living away in Ontario, the water makes me feel like I’m home. So does the love this song is written about.”
A seasoned performer in the Canadian folk scene, Malia Rogers also lends her talents to acclaimed roots group Jessica Pearson & The East Wind, offering mandolin, banjo, and harmonies. With Chameleon, she steps into a new chapter – one that embraces change, affirms her voice, and finds courage in emotional honesty.
“This release has helped me overcome a lot of impostor syndrome,” says Rogers. “I’ve learned to trust my instincts, take my time, and be proud of my work. Chameleon is proof that our stories can change – and so can we.”
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! I’m Malia Rogers, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and theatre performer originally from Nova Scotia and now based in Ottawa. I write introspective folk songs that celebrate vulnerability, explore human flaws with compassion, and tease out the hope and beauty that live in even our hardest moments.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
My recent release is my debut EP Chameleon, featuring the single “Indefinitely”. Chameleon is a six-song collection that draws on Celtic, Americana-bluegrass, and folk influences to explore themes of identity, relationships, grief, growth, and how the stories we tell ourselves change as we reflect on them through our lives. The songs on the collection respond to each other in pairs: one explores hurt, and the other explores healing.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
My songwriting process developed out of a lifelong practice of journaling. I’ll often either draw on inspiration from my own past, or a journaling session will turn into songwriting in real time if the emotion is strong enough. I tend to write melody and lyrics in tandem — my voice notes folder on my phone is a total jungle! — and I’m constantly re-learning how valuable it is for creativity to build moments of stillness or ‘boredom’ into my day.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
I released Chameleon to a sold-out, lovely crowd of folk appreciators at Red Bird in Ottawa at the end of May. At the time of writing, I’m in the passenger seat of an SUV headed to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI with Jessica Pearson & The East Wind — a folk trio I play banjo + mandolin for, and who I’ll also be opening for under my name for a handful of shows on our East Coast tour. I also recently filmed two live videos at Breezehill North Studios in Ottawa, the first of which — for “Indefinitely” — came out today!
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
Approaching this EP with my producer, Neil Whitford, has felt like both a turning point and a massive highlight. This was my first time getting to invest significant time and resources into recording music, and I was apprehensive of the process at first — what if what we make doesn’t sound like ‘me’ in the end?. Neil’s patience, kindness, incredible skill, and genuine interest in my creative direction healed any fears I had around collaboration and left me feeling so much more confident in my own artistry and vision as a songwriter. I’m so excited to be finally sharing this years-in-the-making project with the world, and to see what life it takes on beyond us.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
I got to see the Ontario-based folk duo York Street Thought Process perform at the Mariposa Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase back in April, and immediately fell in love with them. Welcoming stage presence, playful vibes, and multi-instrumental switcharoos are top draws for me!