Florida-based artist Alex Rogers draws from deep Southern storytelling traditions and blends bluesy folk with a sharp lyrical craftsmanship that carries the weight of lived experience. In a poignant sit-down at the 30A Songwriters Festival, Rogers opened up about the "hand me down sadness" that fuels his latest work and the tectonic shift parenthood brought to his creative drive.

For years, Rogers was a spectator at 30A, sitting in listening rooms and thinking, "I can do this". However, the true "switch" flipped with the birth of his son, Hollis. "I wanted him to be aware that I made a mark in some way," Rogers explained, noting that the biological deadline pushed him to transition from band member to solo artist.

Rogers’ debut EP is a masterclass in emotional transparency, specifically regarding mental health and generational trauma. On the searing track "Before I Knew Better," he reflects on a childhood shadowed by parental addiction, singing, "Trust me, you've been saying sorry my whole damn life". He describes his songwriting as an attempt to find the middle ground between pessimism and optimism, particularly through the lens of "hand me down sadness"—a phrase he borrowed from the series George & Tammy to describe the cycle he is determined to break for his own children.

Rogers is refreshingly candid about the "impossible" business side of music. He observes a disconnect between casual fans and the data-driven reality of the industry, noting that music has become "basically like our bitcoin" where every stream and like is a quantified unit of value. Despite the digital noise, Rogers remains rooted in the craft, frequenting Nashville’s dive bar circuit to keep his soul-infused, Southern rock sound authentic.