I love this video because it’s about how being your unique self can make you stand out.
In just 15 minutes, Maggie Rogers wrote “Alaska” and played it for Pharrell Williams—only to have him declare,
“I’ve never heard anything that sounds like that.”
His visibly stunned reaction went viral, launching her from a student with writer’s block to a rising star overnight.
Imagine creating something so unique it leaves Pharrell Williams speechless and takes the internet by storm—that’s the story behind Maggie Rogers’ “Alaska.”
Watch the Unknown Maggie Williams Play “Alaska” for Pharrell Williams
The above is just Maggie Rogers and Pharrell Williams along with Professor Bob Power.
The Longer Video With Maggie, Pharrell Bob Power & All Students
The above is the longer video in which Pharrell gives feedback to all the students (including the Maggie Rogers footage).
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: na
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: na
Release Date: February 2016
My Favorite Parts of the Video
It’s so awesome to see a talent like Pharrell Williams discover for the first time a new talent destined for greatness.
Notice how in the beginning Pharrell looks guarded ( when Maggie walks up to sit with him, he crosses his arms (the body language of a skeptic).
And Pharrell’s lips are mostly pursed (more on that later.
The first 2+ minutes are on Maggie (aka “Mags”) sharing her story
- Grew up in rural shore of Maryland playing banjo music outside (very “straight-ahead folk music”)
- “Spiritual Experience” — but she stopped playing music for a couple of years and studied abroad in France and had a “really spiritual experience” with dance music
- “Can’t make enough” — She said she resumed making music and “can’t make enough” (to which Pharrell nodded yes).
Pharrell loosens up a bit.
At 2:20, they play her song “Alaska”
Pharrell’s reactions change:
- At 2:29, You can see his mouth open a bit (as if he’s becoming more open to her talent) and his eyebrows raise
- At 2:33, he’s moving his head and a few seconds laterturns to look at Maggie in a new light.
- At 3:07 ,he looks to someone in the room (perhaps a colleague) with a nod as if to say “She’s got it”.
- At 3:10 he’s nodding his head side to side as if to say “this young lady can’t be this good”. Pharrell is beaming at this point.
- At 3:28 mark he gives an even more stunned look. What I love about this moment is that Maggie is starting to dance in her seat showing how much she likes her own music.
- At 3:41 mark Maggie turns to Pharrell hoping for approval and sees he likes the music and she gives a huge smile.
- At 3:48, Pharrell scooches in his seat as if to say “I don’t know what to say…this young lady has got it.”
- At 4:06, he mouths something that looks like the word “WHAT”
- At 4:15, he uncrosses his arms and puts them on his hips and starts gazing off as if he’s searching with where this new sound is coming from.
- At 4:50, he’s tapping his legs.
- At 5:26, the music stops and Pharrell says simply: “WOW”
Pharrell goes on to share his thoughts:
“WOW”. And, then, he says: “I have zero…zero…notes for that” (as in anything he’d change).
I’ll tell you why. It’s because you’re doing your own thing.
It’s singular.
It’s like when the Wu-Tang Clan came out, no one could really judge it.
You either liked it or you didn’t…but you couldn’t compare it to anything else.
And that is such a special quality and all of us posess that ability.
But you have to be willing to…willing to seek.
You have to be willing to be real frank in your music.
And frank in your music.
Most of the time people say ‘I want to make this type of song and it ends up sounding like something we’ve heard before…or felt before.”
…your whole story I can hear in the music.
I can the journey of you having that type of background.
And I love your singer songwriter verses.
Singer-songwriters are the best to me…I love them”
Pharrell shares a bit more after that but you can’t expect me to transcribe everything, right?
🙂
Background of the Maggie/Pharrell Meeting (and other Maggie details)
In 2016, Pharrell Williams sat down at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music (my sister went to NYU!) to host a masterclass for a group of music students. It was a normal day of critiquing student projects—until Maggie Rogers played her song Alaska.
The Set-Up
At the time, Maggie Rogers was not a household name. She was just another NYU student, a Maryland native, who had previously considered a career in music journalism. Before Pharrell entered her life, she had interned for music journalist Lizzy Goodman and even worked on Goodman’s book Meet Me in the Bathroom.
Rogers had dabbled in folk music, releasing albums like Blood Ballet (2014), but she was battling two years of writer’s block. Then she had a breakthrough.
Rogers studied abroad in France and, after an impromptu clubbing trip in Berlin, she discovered electronic dance music. It was a world away from the folk roots she was known for. But when she combined these new influences with her natural sensibilities, Alaska was born—a song that would change everything.
Pharrell’s Shock
As Pharrell listened to Alaska, his reaction said it all. He was visibly moved, leaning back in his chair with a mix of awe and disbelief. You can watch it on YouTube—it’s gone viral since.
His face mirrored the collective reaction of millions who would soon hear the song. He said, “I’ve never heard anything that sounds like that,” and praised her unique blend of folk storytelling and electronic beats.
This was no ordinary critique session. Pharrell’s reaction to Rogers’ song was more than just admiration—it was a revelation. He was known for his work with global superstars, and here was a college student leaving him speechless. This moment would launch Rogers into the public eye.
The Viral Moment
The clip of Pharrell’s response quickly went viral. The way he marveled at her fresh sound struck a chord with viewers around the world. For anyone watching, it was clear something special had just happened in that NYU classroom. By the time the video hit YouTube, Rogers’ music was already being shared like wildfire.
Tracks from her earlier albums The Echo and Blood Ballet began getting hundreds of thousands of plays, all thanks to the attention Alaska was now bringing her.
Pharrell’s enthusiastic reaction was exactly what she needed to propel her career forward. It was as if someone had unlocked the door she’d been pushing on for years. Suddenly, the two years of writer’s block seemed like a distant memory.
Behind the Song
Alaska wasn’t just a fluke. Rogers wrote the song in 15 minutes after attending a National Outdoor Leadership School course. The lyrics are deeply personal, reflective of her connection with nature and the journey she went on to rediscover her creativity. The song balances ethereal electronic production with grounded folk-inspired vocals—a synthesis of her musical past and present.
Pharrell’s praise was laser-focused on this balance. He saw in her what most artists strive for—authenticity with a twist of innovation. Rogers didn’t sound like anyone else, and Pharrell knew that this was her key to success.
The Impact of Mentorship
It’s not often that a single moment defines an artist’s career, but that NYU masterclass was one of those moments for Maggie Rogers. Pharrell wasn’t just a mentor in the traditional sense; he gave her a platform and validation that set her apart in an industry flooded with aspiring musicians. His reaction wasn’t just for show—it was a passing of the torch. He knew Rogers had what it took, and his public enthusiasm gave her a push that many spend years trying to achieve.
Mentorship in the music industry can make or break careers, and for Rogers, it was the former. Pharrell’s recognition of her talent, combined with his public praise, opened doors that were previously closed. Soon after the viral moment, record labels and producers came calling, and Rogers was on her way to stardom.
From NYU to Stardom
By May 2016, just two months after the masterclass, Rogers graduated from the Clive Davis Institute with a degree in music engineering and production, as well as English. Her time at NYU had laid the groundwork for her future, but it was her encounter with Pharrell that truly launched her career.
After the viral moment, Rogers released Alaska officially in 2017, and it quickly climbed the charts. She went on to release her debut album, Heard It in a Past Life, in 2019, which further solidified her place in the music industry. Tracks like “Light On” and “Fallingwater” showcased her ability to fuse electronic, folk, and pop in a way that felt both fresh and familiar.
You Can’t Make This $hit Up
Imagine sitting in a classroom, playing a song you wrote in 15 minutes, and then watching one of the world’s biggest producers react as if you just changed the course of music history. That’s exactly what happened to Maggie Rogers.
Pharrell’s shock and awe were genuine. It was the kind of reaction artists dream of—but it happened in real life, in a university classroom, no less. You really can’t make this up.
A Lasting Legacy
Pharrell’s discovery of Maggie Rogers isn’t just a great story. It’s a testament to the power of mentorship and the value of staying true to one’s artistic vision. Rogers could have kept making folk songs and stayed in her comfort zone, but she chose to experiment, blending genres in a way that resonated with both Pharrell and the millions of listeners who would come to know her music.
That masterclass moment is now an iconic part of her origin story—proof that, sometimes, all it takes is one song to change everything.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly
Chief Maniac, Daily Doc