#111 - Destiny Rogers

Destiny Rogers is a singer/songwriter from California. In her 2024 album 'Still Your Girl' she talks about coming out to her friends/family and how a break-up allowed her to form this project.

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Camusk everyone. We have low Dies, Finest in the Building, Finest Destiny
Rogers. Still your girl has beenout for I don't know what two couple
of months now, right, yeah, yeah, and now you're here finally

(00:21):
on a freaking like album run promotingthe album. Yeah, two months later.
But you were saying that it's becausetour happened and life was happening so
quick that you just haven't had timeto really soak it in. Yeah,
I haven't. I didn't have timeto soak it in at all, Like
I did. I dropped the albumthrough like two album release parties that week,

(00:41):
and then the next day left forMontreal, which was the first stop
on the Madison tour. So wentstraight into tour life. And when you're
on the road, like you don'thave time to think about literally anything else,
right Yeah, yeah, yeah,I'm just focused on traveling, getting
to these places safely, doing mydance on stage. Yeah, I mean
yeah yeah. But now that I'mback, I'm like, Okay, Pride

(01:03):
Month's over. I had a coupleof like Pride festivals whatever, and then
I was just like, Okay,my album is out, my work is
out. Yeah. So it hada delayed reaction. Yeah, it's kind
of like a weird well, Idon't want to say like a weird situation.
It's just a different situation because normallyit's like the press runs first and

(01:23):
then a tour, but you wentdirectly into tour and now you're doing the
press runs like when you're touring withMadison Beer, right, you're obviously promoting
a lot of this new music,and because it's new music, like did
your fans even have time to digestthe lyrics and the songs like while you

(01:45):
were performing on tour? Well,it was. It's so cute actually because
a lot of like Madison's fans whenlike Madison announced me going on like the
East Coast run, her fans withDM ME asking like what songs like I'm
gonna be singing for my set sothat they can learn it. So yeah,
that's so nice. It was likeI was like, I'm so like,

(02:07):
I don't want anyone knowing my show, but I'm like, here's a
set list y just like you knowon the East Coast, I'll learn it,
you know what I mean? Butoh yeah, there were fans that
with DM ME and it's like,yo, like I want to learn your
music I want to sing along,So I would send them my list,
my set list. But you know, I'm super locked in on the West
Coast, you know, so forme to go out to the East Coast,
there's obviously like a little more ofa drier crowd when I go out,

(02:30):
but obviously I still stole hearts everynight. Then I think, I
think, well, first of all, what's the name of your like your
group, like your fan base.Do you have a name for them?
They have like I have like two, Like when I first started, it
was like Team Destination. Oh,when I first started, it was Team

(02:52):
Destination. I made merch for iteverything. I was like thirteen or fourty
it was back then it was Iwas called it was called Team Destination.
And then and then some a groupof fans came up with the low Writers
like ide for like desks Yeah yeahyeah yeah, like where my Lowriters at,

(03:14):
you know what I mean? Likeokay, okay, So like my
fans have like stuck with that,Like there's like an official like fan page,
Low Writer's official fan page. Ohmy god, So I think that's
it. But like I'm waiting untillike I hit like a next like Pivotal
moment in my career where I getnew fans to see what the new the
newbies come up with. Well,shit, man, I mean shout out
to Team Destination, shout out tothe because y'all are representing heavy in the

(03:37):
in the East Coast. Just tryingto understand well, trying to know the
lyrics for the Madison Beer tour likeover in the East Coast like that,
I don't know, at least forme, that's unheard of. Yeah,
like for people to reach out andjust be like, I want to learn
your music. Yeah, it's justthe wholesome feeling. It was awesome and
it's like good music too, Yeah, great music. Are you kidding me?

(03:59):
Like literally, like I was justtelling you before, like I feel
like I want to cry, butthen I also feel like, okay,
I feel empowered. It's like aroller coaster of emotions exactly exactly, Like
that's what I wanted to make itfeel too, you know, like all
of my past music in the beginningtwenty nineteen, twenty twenty twenty one era,
yeah, yeah, Westlake era andthe Tomboy era. You know,
I was nineteen, I just signeda deal. I'm outside. I moved

(04:23):
to lay myself like of course,I'm like living the dream and I'm like,
ye know, my moment's about tohappen, like I'm on cloud nine,
but I still haven't really went throughanything, you know. And during
those years was when I was ina secret relationship with a girl from twenty
nineteen to twenty twenty one, soI was also like in love but like
keeping it a secret in myself asecret at the same time. But then

(04:46):
twenty twenty one, when me andher broke up, that's when, like,
you know, I was like goingthrough some shit, you know,
Like, yeah, I was themaking of this album kind of around that
era too, of that twenty twentyone. Yeah, yeah, it's this
album started. I started the creativeprocess for this album literally the day I
got my heartbroken. Oh well yeah, I mean it feels like it's a

(05:11):
blessing in disguise. It is ablessing now, But then I literally wanted
to die, Like it's like theworst feeling going through like your first but
you know, wait, wait wait, that was your first break up like
ever too, you know, highschool things. Yeah, it was like
a little over two years like likethere, like this was like a routine,

(05:33):
you know this was, you know, and especially going through like as
a secret to You're just like,okay, now I even have to process
these feelings of a heartbreak alone,like exactly. That's the part. Like
I told like maybe like two ofmy friends knew I was with this girl,
but like my older sister, myparents didn't know, my team didn't

(05:56):
know. So like as an artist, I wish I could just go in
the studio and cry and write.Yeah. I was like, damn,
like I'm gonna have to come outto them well because yeah, because even
like artistry in itself, when you'recoming up with lyrics, like you have
to be honest if you really wantpeople to fill it. So I can
only imagine like you're in there andit's like, well I can't throw them
like a curve ball talking about ayou know what I mean. And I

(06:20):
tried that too. I'm writing sadShip and they're like what's like, how
does how are you coming up withthis? Because you know, I'm not
a sad girl writer. Yeah,I'm a boss, but they're like,
where is this like coming from?I don't know, just on my heart.
I remember the meeting to when Iplayed them the records and my heart

(06:43):
was racing. I was like,do I do it now? And I'm
like, no, I don't doit now, don't do it now.
But I ended up doing it acouple of weeks later. Oh my god.
Wow. And how did like yourteam react to it? Well,
they they already had a feeling.It's kind of like it's kind of like
kind of a relief when people arelike, well duh, you know,
because it's like okay, good,Like it's not gonna be like oh really

(07:05):
like you were lying to yeah,you were like why weren't you honest with
us? You know, it wasn'tlike that. But I remember the day
it happened. I like came outto my manager first, and like it
was like halfway through like the conversation, like as soon as I said,
like, so there's something I've beenlike meaning to tell you. I've been

(07:26):
holding on to like for a longtime. I will be honest, Like
I haven't been my true self,but I got to this point in my
life where like I need to tellyou I was in a relationship with a
girl. And as soon as thathappened, like the stereotypes walk in the
door, yeah, and then theywalk in so as soon as I like
dropped, like drop that sentence tomy manager, I look and they're walking

(07:46):
in and I'm like, I waslike, you guys should just have a
seat, And they already could knowby the energy and the room. They're
like, so, what's going on? Like yeah, gentle, and like
I was like, well, likebisexual, Like I was in a relationship
with SO and so, because thisgirl that I was with, I brought

(08:09):
her around all the time. Shewas like coming to my video shoots,
my shows, so she was likemy homegirl around when she was around me
behind closed doors, you know,it was like something romantic. But I
was like, yeah, I wasin a relationship with SO and so.
We just broke up like a monthago, and I'm in a terrible place
and I literally want to die andI need to write music feel from this.

(08:31):
So literally all they said was likeyo, desk, like we don't
look at you any differently. Thankyou for opening up. I knew that
took a while. They're like,but this doesn't change a damn thing.
Let's go make music. And thenthat same day we went and started creating
that. The first song was stillyour Girl. Oh well, the first
song, right off the rift wasstill your girl, and I was crying

(08:54):
the entire day, Like the vocalsthat are on the record now, we
just we wrote it over just likeguitar and vocal first, and I laid
down vocals just as like a roughlike past because like I was so congested
like nasally and stuff. And they'relike, no, like we should keep
that in the original record, Likeyou're not going to tap into that emotion
again. You're gonna try to makeit sound cleaner and prettier. Yeah,

(09:16):
just keep and you just need that, right yeah. Yeah, And so
those are the same vocals. Wow, that's amazing and in some way,
like because you know, my sisteralso went through like a phase of like
I mean I think she's still bisexual, but she just got married this past
Sunday, right like, and ittook her a minute to even like open

(09:37):
up to me. And it's nothingthat like, you know, I obviously
asked for. It was just likehey, like kuya, like this is
what's going on. I'm like allright, cool, Like that's dope.
I still accept you and everything.You're kind of in a situation while you
were kind of in a situation wherelike this is my personal life. But
my personal life is so integrated withmy professional career that at some point,

(10:01):
like I have to say something aboutthis, right Like, in a sense,
did you feel like it was timeto finally say something or was there
a little bit of like I'm kindof like forced to say something right now?
That's it's a good question. Definitelynot forced. There's definitely been moments
in my career where, you know, my team or like people around me

(10:24):
are just trying to find like inspirationor just get to know me more because
they still felt like I wasn't reallybeing one hundred percent me, Like what
else is there to a girl that'sLatina, that's skates, that's from northern
California, Rep's the West Coast andyou know, does R and B you
know what I mean? Or somethinglike that, Like what's what else is
there? Like that can't just beit? You know? So they would
try to pull strings and like tugat me, and you know me and

(10:46):
my guard's up and I'm like nah, like I'm good, like I'm happy
like this this and that. SoI knew, but obviously I knew I
was battling that, and I waslike, one day they'll get the truth.
But it's not now. Yeah,it's not now. It's not now.
Already wasn't ready until like literally myheart got broken. And then I
was like, maybe this was whatneeded to happen because now I need my

(11:07):
people to like comfort me because Idon't even have like my parents or my
sister right now, you know whatI mean. So the people that I'm
with every day, I knew Ihad to tell because I live in LA
and my my family lives back home, So yeah, I couldn't hide myself,
Like I didn't want to hide myselfanymore, like around the people I
loved that I was seeing every daybecause it was like it was just bad.
That's tough, Yeah, going throughthat. And now, like you

(11:31):
said, do we just passed PrideMonth and going performing at all these festivals,
singing the national anthem at Dodgers datingfor Pride Night, Like what how
did that process? O? Bro? Oh my god, it's been literally
nuts because I just like came outpublicly in twenty twenty two, twenty twenty
three, I like didn't get likebooked for anything because I didn't have any

(11:52):
new music to like promote or anythinglike that. So I had that Pride
month off. But when I wasdoing like press for these interviews and stuff
like that and then like telling me, oh, like so being like a
queer like, and I was like, how do you know that? But
I'm like, oh, ship,like I'm out now, you know what
I mean. Hearing it from likea stranger and being in front of a

(12:13):
camera on a microphone, I'm like, oh my god, they do know
these things, Like wait, howdo you know I seem like, oh
wait, no, I bro.I was like, I was like,
how do you know that? No? But but no, Yeah. Doing
the press, I was like,man, this is crazy. I'm like,
but damn, like I finally madeit, Like I'm here, like
wow, yeah, well I loveso. I don't mean to cut you
off, but you literally just saidI finally made it. Like that's nuts.

(12:37):
Finally made it and being your trueauthentic self. Yeah, I think
that's what anybody you can ask for, like all anybody can ask for,
right. And I grew up goingto like Pride Pride Fest like in San
Francisco and stuff. I'd always goto. Oh yeah, I've been a
couple of times. It was popping. I was going during high school.

(12:58):
I go with my sister like wetake the bar and like, you know,
but I but I remember just likebeing it pride. I'm like,
I can't wait till I can likebe a part of this community to actually
celebrate with my people. Because Iwas still I was like, oh I
support y'all, I'm a yeah,and I'm like, but no, I'm
actually one of y'all. So likenow it feels cool like being like really

(13:18):
mean and has the community like embracedyou also for coming out? Oh yeah,
totally totally. I mean everyone knewlike every like when I came out
coming out post and they're like thecloset was glass Bay. Like I'm like,
okay, that's funny. I willsay that like the community community,

(13:43):
they definitely have the best like comeback to it's like you're roasting me,
but it's so funny that I'm like, bitch, I love you. Yeah,
yeah, you're like yeah, Igot oh my god. Thinking of
Still Your Girl, was there anyother session that was robule that sticks out
to you for another song other thanStill Your Girl? Wait? What does

(14:05):
that mean? Like, did wasthere a session where you were just like
everyone was there and you guys werejust like this is a like a fucking
vibe right now, Like this islike besides the Girl. Oh yeah,
hmmm. I mean obviously, likemost of my album is like pretty like
like you get the bangers like Outsideand like single again, because I still

(14:28):
wanted to have a little taste oflike my past like sound, but I
feel like for this album, Iwanted it to just be like super just
like like the message to like justbe in your face, and I want
a beautiful like production around it andstuff. So it's definitely like I'm trying
to think. Like I mean obviously, like Outside was one of one of

(14:48):
the songs that we were going crazyabout and we're like gonna put it out
as a single. But I wantedOutside to be one of like the the
records on my album to where it'slike it'll just like blow up on its
own. Yeah yeah, yeah,Like I wanted that to be like my
little hit in gem. So whenyou listen to the album, you're like,
Yo, what the fuck does where'dyou come out with this one?
You know? Yeah? Yeah,So I think Outside Outside of still your
girl. You know, she shehits you in a way of just like

(15:11):
emotion, Yeah, like you know, like the messages is powerful, but
outside it is just the fucking box. And that was a song that I
wrote in my like the pivotal likemoment of when like I was finally like
over my ex and I was literallyoh okay. You know. It was
literally a moment where I was like, yo, like I want to go
out this weekend, Like I'm likeready to leave my bed and like go

(15:31):
hang out with friends and go likeout to dinner and like I'm feeling I'm
coming into this new version of me. Oh dude, cause I know all
of us have been through that typeof shit where it's like you break up
right like whether you are the personwho like mainly this happens with the person
who got broken up with I'm justlike, man, I'm staying in here
for like a month at the veryleast. I remember playing PlayStation for like

(15:54):
a month and I was like Idon't want to talk to my friends or
nothing. But that moment where you'rejust like you know what, like I'm
gonna go outside. I'm gonna dowhatever the hell I need to do.
Like it's beautiful. It's so beautifulto go through. No, it is
beautiful to go through, especially likeI like was like I started hitting the
gym again. And I started thegym, like I started eating healthy.
I started like journaling, and likelike I was like just trying to find

(16:18):
things that don't make me feel better. Like I tapped into like spiritual spiritual
shit, like I started like gettinglike uh like uh like spiritual readings and
like Crystal. I was just tryingto find things that could bring me peace
and and it did. And soyeah, I finally am in a good
place. Well, if it meansanything, you are podcast number one eleven.

(16:40):
So that's an angel number. Sothat is perfect. Yeah, yeah,
awesome. Yeah. Literally right beforewe started and he was like,
Okay, what number is this gonnabe? I'm like, so I looked
at our previous when it was oneten. I was like, oh,
it's one, it's one one one. That's so crazy. That's so crazy.
So I love it. You're likespiritual. I love so in that,
Like in that healing process, waswas it tough to just kind of

(17:07):
find it by yourself? I guessin this sense like trying to heal by
yourself. Yeah, it was.It was really hard. I at the
time, like didn't really have alot of friends. I May had one
best friend that's Kat. Yeah,and she was really the one that like
would check on me every morning andthen like throughout the day. Like I

(17:29):
remember every morning, I'd wake uplike around noon, I was so depressed
that I'm just sleeping as much asI can because my my like mental.
As soon as I would wake up, I'd check my phone and I'd be
like, I'm gonna try to sleepas long as i can, just so
I don't have to live today.Like it was crazy. And so she
would text me, good morning,have you showered? Have you eaten?

(17:49):
Girl? Like get up and goon a walk. It's beautiful out today,
Like she would like check up onme because like she was literally I
was in such a bad place thatlike she had check on me every hour
just in case. Like shout outto cat Man. I mean, that's
it's very rare to find a friendlike that. Really, I know,
I wouldn't be a smarter It's awesomeif she wasn't the one to like teach

(18:14):
me and like either for me andstuff. Yeah, I mean, Cat
Filipino, you Mexican, but apparentlya lot of people think you're Filipino.
This is the perfect segue I'm notgonna lie. You're like, oh,
you're talking about a Filipino girl.Let's go to it. No, dude,

(18:36):
crazy cause Jackie be looking at melike all right, come up with
the next topic, and I'm justlike, all right, just let me
do it. But okay, Soit was funny because I thought you were
Latina the entire time, right,and then at one point in time,
I believe it was January of twentytwenty two, I'm going to Sabu and
then Ashley twenty twenty three. Yeah, correct, Ashley met a text me.

(19:00):
She's like, dude, like meand Destiny are here too, And
I'm like, oh shit, okay, that's pretty fucking cool. And then
I was like what for. She'slike, oh, she's performing at this
Wavy Baby festival. And I'm like, is Destiny Filipino? His whole world
was about it, like a flipupside down, dude. A lot of
people think that I'm mixed. Theythink I'm Filipino and white. Oh yeah.

(19:23):
So like literally, like if yougo on like Google Search, you
type in Destiny Rogers and like thesecond bar under it says is Destiny Rogers
Filipino. It's like so funny crazy. Everyone thinks it, but I get
it because I did used to hangout with like James Reed and you know,
all Careless crew and stuff. SoI was surrounded by that. But
also my best friend Kat is Filipino, and I just when I moved to

(19:47):
La, I just like went rightinto their family. Their family, Her
family is Filipino as fuck. SoI was like, I'm like, it's
kind of similar to Mexican a littlebit. Yeah, but like now instead
of like I'm eating fucking lumpia.Yeah, see, that's hell of fun.

(20:07):
Her parents cook all the time.Like every time I go to her
place, like there's always just foodsitting there, Synagogue Lumpia. Literally,
like it's like it's amazing. I'mnot gonna lie. I was in I
was in East La by myself yesterdayand I just went to this video Gonzales
best Baudy in the fucking world,and I was like, Man, if
you put me in this situation likefive years ago, this ship would not

(20:30):
have happened. I probably would havejust won for some other ship. I
was like, dude, I needsome like goodass Mexican food right now,
right. No. And it's funnybecause a lot of people think, like
we posted a couple of videos recently, like POV you're in an interracial relationship,
and everyone has been commenting like,wait, who's Filipino and who's Mexican
between you guys, because they mixus up a lot. And it wasn't

(20:55):
until like we rebranded our like Mexicpanopodcast logo that we put our respective flags
behind us, and everyone's like,oh, okay, so Jackie's Mexican.
I'm like, wait, really,like y'all really thought I was the Philipine.
They're like yeah, because Filipinos don'tgrow facial hair, and they're like
and Nego has a beard and soyeah. It's just it's crazy how like

(21:17):
people just kind of mix that upto the yeah, that's true. And
if you get Jackie enough, Hennessy, she's gonna gostride a whip and say
yay area. Real story. Bythe way, this is a real story.
You had to say Henny, ohman, oh my god, oh
my god. But like, so, coming from norcw and and now living

(21:38):
in Socow, what's that? What'sthat difference for you that just really sticks
out? I feel like no ventsso Cow, but we're lit as fucking
nor Cow. We The thing isis, like I always notice this when
I come and party in La everyonejust be like posted up, like they're
just like on a wall, chillingon a wall, chilling. But then

(21:59):
I go to I go to Norcoo, and everyone's sneezing, everyone's dancing,
and everyone's like hitting the duggie anddoing all this, you know what I
mean. I almost like the energyhere is just so much like better when
it comes to the party party scene. Okay, but I will say so
Cow has literally like like opened mymind to even just like cultural foods.

(22:21):
Like it was growing up, Ijust ate Mexican and American food like my
entire life. But here now myfavorite food is like cream barb cue and
like like Vietnamese and like Chinese,and like now I'm like obsessed with Asian
food when like growing up, I'dnever had that. Our restaurants are kind
of like the same at least whereI'm from Lodai. You know, it's
a very small town, so wedidn't really have much like cultural I feel

(22:45):
that. No, I agree,because like it wasn't until I started day
Nico where I actually started. Imean, I grew up here in La
but my area, which is eastas literally Mexico. It's literally just Mexico.
But like when I started expanding,you know, even just food wise,
I'm like, oh my god,Like I think Korean food and is
like my favorite now and like I'mprobably gonna ship it that because I'm Mexican.

(23:08):
But it's like there's just so muchmore to outside of your city and
where you grew exactly exactly. It'sliterally insane, no exactly. I do
want to talk about your city though, because I literally didn't know Lodi existed
until like last year when we hadour friends Miles Parish and Felicia on the
podcast. Oh my god, youknow Felicia. I grew up with Felicia.

(23:30):
Oh that's crazy. Like I grewup with Felicia, Like I've known
her since middle school. We likegrew up together. We like went to
church together, like we were alwayslike hanging out. She's like one of
my best friends and Lodi growing up, I was sick. So yeah.
So and then when I moved tola in twenty nineteen, she moved during

(23:51):
the pandemic. She goes, yo, I'm gonna come too, and I
was like, fuck it. Shemoved to Compton. I'm like, why
are you moving? Because she's sorry, I gotta like ratch you out real
quickly. But like she moved tocontent with like like correct me from wrong,
like six other girls and like they'reall sharing the room like like her
rent was mad cheap, but shewanted she just wanted to get out here.

(24:14):
And then the fucking pandemic hit andstuck in her room with like three
girls like that, she was sure, Oh I we got to bring that
up to her next. That's crazyAnd it's so funny too, because you
know, growing up I was Iwas a fan of Kaitlyn and Miles,
you know. Yeah. When Istarted seeing that she was doing work for
him, like like in twenty one, I was like, God, I

(24:37):
was like, you better introduce meto Miles. Like so now they're hella
cool and and now me and Milesare hell of cool. So it was
like all like a full circle moment. Yeah, especially when it's Felicia,
because that's like, notice since wewere twelve, Oh yeah for sure.
Well we're you gonna say about loading, Yeah, Well, I mean Lodi,
like it's literally like grassland and farmlandand stuff. It's a wine country,

(25:00):
have a lot of vineyards and there'slike Hallow wineries and Lodi people.
Will Smith has came to lod Eyeto wine. Take what the hell?
I texted Kat yesterday because she's likehere, here's like a here's like a
one sheet. And I was like, nah, man, we're gonna talk
about any alien sightings that have aliens? Okay, I don't see aliens.

(25:22):
Man. Well that's the end ofthat segment. Now. So like growing
up in like a small town likethat, how does like music even come
about? Man? Okay, herewe go. You guys are gonna get
to know me a lot. Now, let's do it. So my dad,
I grew up in church. Mydad was a worship leader my entire

(25:45):
life for our church. And mymom also sing in the choir. So
my parents sing. My dad playslike piano and drums, and growing up,
you know, I was, youknow, the worship leader's kids.
So I was going to church notonly on Sunday but Monday Wednesday. Hey,
girl, I feel the same waybecause I was a choir boy too.

(26:07):
I was an altar boy. Yeahyou know what I mean? Yeah,
no, yeah, I grew upChristian, but my Mexican side,
they're all Catholics. So I alsolike, like go to Catholic church too
sometimes and like catch the mass,like any funerals or weddings, it's all
Catholic. So I grew up doingboth. So I got the best of

(26:32):
both worlds with that one. Butbut yeah, so Pops is a worship
leader. I was in church allthe time. My parents like, never
force music on me. My dadalways told me, like whatever, Like
he told me this later on,but he was like, yo, like
when I when you were growing up, I let you figure out what your
hobbies were on your own. Likewhatever you gravitated towards, I would back

(26:52):
it up and like help you,you know, love it, you know
whatever. So he told me,he was like, I never like pressed
music on you, but I Ijust always gravitated towards instruments. First,
Like I loved the sound. Ilove to play it. I was the
little kid running around on stage playingthe drum sets and playing the bongos and
strumming the guitars like this, andso I just loved the sound. And

(27:14):
so my parents were taking me tothe flea market and like, would just
buying me a little cheap guitars andI would I would just buy. I
would just play play the guitars,like four years old. There's pictures of
me. And then when I wasaround ten years old, I just always
had guitars around. I was alwaysgetting new guitars because I was a skater
girl. Like I was always justskating, that's it. And then I

(27:37):
had a guitar. And that waswhen Justin Bieber started coming up, like
literally when he just started posting hisYouTube videos. So I was on YouTube
and I see Justin Bieber video andhe's playing guitar. He was like crib
Me a River by Justin Timberlake,and I was like, I was like,
oh. I was like this kidis really really good and he's cute.
I was like, I want totry playing guitar, you know.

(28:00):
I kind of like my competitiveness sidecame in. I'm like I want to
try. Yeah, I grab myguitar. I put it on and I'm
watching the video and I'd pause iton every chord, pause, check,
play pause, like yeah, Iwould. I would just wow. And
it was like a basic four chords. So I was playing it and I
was like all right, I'm likethat's that's pretty easy. I'm gonna cick
another video. Learned another song justby self, teaching myself and watching his

(28:23):
fingers. And then my dad comesin from work one day and he walks
in me. He's like, whatare you doing? And I was like,
I was like, Dad, Ijust learned how to play this song
like listen. And he was likeyou didn't know how to play guitar yesterday,
Like how did this happen? Iwas like, I've just been practicing,
like watching this guy's fingers. Andhe was like, do you know

(28:44):
what these chords are? And Iwas like no, and he goes call
me the piano. So he tookme to the piano and he's like,
all right, play that chord.So I'd play like a C and then
he'd be like all right, that'sa C. Play another one. Okay,
that's a G. Play another one. So he would tell me the
chords and then it would just stickwith me, and then he was like,
if you get good enough, hewas like, I'll let you play

(29:04):
with me on church every Sunday.At church every Sunday. And I was
like, oh yeah, you're likemy first leave, and so shiring up,
I would just go and go andgo in and I was eleven years
old, and I was now theguitar player for my church that yeah,

(29:25):
yeah, And I was also tryingto be like Jess Bieber. So I
was like, well, he gotnotice on YouTube, I'm gonna get noticed
on YouTube. So I started postingall my covers on YouTube, and I
literally like became obsessed with him.But I also wanted to be him,
and I wanted to be bigger thanyou know what I mean. So that's
when I just like I was like, I'm gonna do this. So I

(29:48):
started in church. Then I wasthe worship leader for my youth group when
I was thirteen. Then when Iwas sixteen, I went to another church,
was a worship leader at that church. And then and then seventeen is
when I'm at Stereotypes Stereo. Atthe time, I was still going in,
posting all my covers on SoundCloud,posting all my covers on YouTube.
I was performing at open MIC's inStockton and doing everything that I could.

(30:12):
And now now I'm like the twoO nine, Like I'm getting acknowledged by
like other two on nine artists.So I'm part of like the two on
nine like crew now, which iscool because now people look at me like
I'm like the star of Lodye.That was like to be a star everywhere,
Like what do you mean? SoI was like I still got work
to do, so I was stillposting heavy. I posted a location co

(30:33):
lead cover on YouTube and one ofthe old drummers from our worship worship team
in church had moved to la andgotten an internship at the Stereotype Studios.
He was an intern and when Ihad posted my video, he saw it
and he goes, yo, He'slike he's like he shows the stereotypes.
He's like, Yo, this ismy friend from Lodee. She's seventeen.

(30:56):
Like she's so cool, like yo, she's from loade I like what.
Some of them are from Sack,so they know where Lord I is.
And I was like or they werelike yeah, like she's hello, dope,
Like let's meet her. Let's meether. So we set up a
meeting and my mom so I gothealthy as my mom, like my sisters
bro, and so all of themcame stop with my mom. That's why

(31:22):
we always got to bring all ofour family literally, like graduations to like
Mexican families will be like, oh, there's only five that we can tickets
we can take. Everyone gets sobut her weddings parties. It's like,
I don't even want to throw nothingbecause someone's gonna be crying if you don't
get an invite. Complain that that'scrazy. No. Yeah, So it's

(31:44):
me and my mom and I gota squad behind me. All my pos
are right behind me. We're walkingin and then we we we walk in
the room and all the stereotypes thereand I'm pretty sure they didn't think I
was going to come rolling deep.Yeah. No. We all sat down
and I was like, this iscrazy. It's crazy now that I think
about it, because I remember theday so well. It's just so funny

(32:04):
anyway. But oh yeah. SoI walked in in the meeting and I
had my guitar and they were likeyo, so like can you play something?
And I was like yeah, likewhat do you want to hear?
And they're like you're asking us whatwe want to hear? And I was
like yeah, like I can prettymuch like play anything because I do open
mic, so I all the timeand I figure stuff out and they're like,

(32:29):
all right, play issues by JuliaMichaels. Because I was like the
shit then, so I was like, all right, so I like turn
around and I figure out the chords. It took like thirty seconds. I
turn around and then I sing thesong, like can you play? That's
what I like? Berbrudo Mars andsay sure, did the same thing.
And so from then on they alwayssay, like the moment when you ask

(32:50):
us what we wanted to hear andit took you thirty seconds to figure out
the song and sing it all theway through. I even messed up on
the words. They're like, youcovered it up so well, like we
knew you were a star, likewhen you did that, And so that
was like the moment where they're like, yo, we're let's do something.
Yeah. So then we ended upjust working, working. I was a
senior in high school. I waslike, this is perfect because I don't

(33:14):
got to go to college like Icould like we signed to these guys,
Yeah, move out to LA anddo it. So there was literally like
zero plan B from the jump,basically like no college, no nothing,
just not fuse going to college.Bro. Like when I did graduate,

(33:35):
I was still going back and forthto LA to work with the stereotypes.
But when I was home, youknow, I was like writing with some
of the best writers and like feelingso cool and awesome. And then I'd
come to a little I'm like,oh, I'm like the small town girl
again. But my mom was like, either like, while you're home,
you're gonna like go to just likea community college, or you're gonna get
a job. I was like,fuck it, I'll get a job.

(33:55):
I was like, I'd rather makesome money. So I got a job
at Starbucks. I was a baristafor so sx months of vere. Yeah,
I was at Starbucks. Bro Oh, man, I'm about to just
hire you to make me some damncoffee because that's man, dude. I
love making coffee. It's so fun. But but yeah, it was so
funny because I was still like thisthe superstar of Odi. And I was
afraid of getting a job in Lodibecause I don't want people seeing me like

(34:20):
thinking I quit or thinking I gaveup. Yeah, yeah, you make
bread, like performing at these littlerestaurants, but like, why do you
have a job. And then Igot addicted to making money. So I
got a second job. And soI was a waitress at a winery at
Viagio Winery, and oh ship Iwas doing being a waitress. Over the
weekend, I was working at Starbucks, Like in the mornings, what the

(34:42):
did you do the happy birthday stuff? At the winery? I'm about no,
Like at the wineries, like Iwould have to take pictures like with
fans, Like I was gonna askbecause you like had regular jobs. Yeah.
Quote, like is there people thatwere like, can I get a
picture with you? Like during midshift? Is crazy? Midshift is wild.

(35:06):
I was I was busting tables withmy thing and I'm picking up glasses from
a table and a guy is like, I know you're on the clock,
but you can get a picture,Like drop this off and I'll come back.
Yeah, and so in uniform,in uniform, I'm an all black
non slips. It was insane thatthat's crazy. Hope, I hope he

(35:30):
has the photo. I hope thephoto is somewhere. But yeah, I
hope this guy sees this, andI hope you see. I hope you
see. But you know what's socool about just hearing your entire story?
Right Like, I think the musicindustry is in a very interesting situation right
now, and I honestly think it'sthe best time to make music because you're
basically your own promoter, and alot of people don't want to go through

(35:52):
the reins of like I got topromote on social media, I gotta do
this, I gotta do that.But if we take your entire story from
when you started, right, likeI'm just gonna pause a YouTube video of
Justin Bieber and learn these chords.Right, I'm gonna do all these open
mics. I'm gonna perform in frontof my theas, I'm gonna do this,
I'm gonna do that, Like youwere doing all the groundwork before social

(36:15):
media was even like really a thing. Yeah, and even now you're doing
all that groundwork, well groundwork indifferent ways, whether it be social media,
going to this event, going thatevent, whatever, And for me,
you're making sure there's zero room forexcuses. So my question to you
is destiny, Like, what's justkept you motivated from the time you picked

(36:37):
up a guitar and you were learningthese chords watching Justin Bieber videos. Sometimes
the motivation doesn't, like it goesaway. Sometimes, you know, you
have these moments where in your lifewhere you question if you're putting all this
energy into something, if it's notgonna work. You know, because you

(36:57):
know we do that. We Ioverthink a lot, and I'm always in
my head and I'm like what ifthis goes wrong? And and what if
like what if this isn't what Imeant to do and all this stuff.
But what always keeps me motivated isjust like remembering like why I started right
I started, because I've always seenmyself like just like being an inspiration to

(37:22):
people. You know, I havebeen through a lot, and like even
growing up before I came out,before that whole story, like my parents
split up, and like I nowcome from a broken family and that's not
talked about enough, and I alwaysjust want I want to be a voice
for people to help people just likego that they're gonna be okay. And

(37:44):
I want to be that coping,that person for them because I didn't really
have much of that, but Ialways knew, like I wanted to change
the world. That's what I alwaystold my parents. So what do you
want to do when you grow up? Like I want to change the world?
Like but how you know what Imean? But I want to I
just keep going and keep going becauseI know there are people out there that

(38:04):
like need saving and need help.Wow, And I'm phil and I am
called to be that person for fans, you know, and keeping also another
thing, keeping motivated. Just myfamily, we didn't grow up with any
money, Like my grandparents are immigrants, like my mom and everyone pretty much

(38:29):
like on my Mexican side, wenever really had a lot of money.
Like my mom started working when shewas like thirteen years old, and we've
never ever been at a time inour life where we were like financially stable.
It's always been a struggle, stilltill this day, still a struggle.
And that's why I'm out here kickingass and like, so I can
make sure that one day I canretire my mom, I can buy her

(38:52):
car that she wants because she's settlingfor a Nissan right now, and she
just deserves more. Yeah, myfamily deserves more. Grandma like my well
as she's not to be ninety onein like two months, and she always
says, like me, how Ican't wait till you get a house with
stairs? Oh my god, that'swhat she says. I'm like two stories
on, Grandma, you know theymake like eight story houses now. Like

(39:14):
She's like me, ha, Ican't wait till you get a house with
stairs, because that's just just atwo story home is so much to her.
Yeah, you know, And yeah, I mean, and I just
have family that has just struggled withaddictions and has been homeless, has been
a treatment. I have cousins thatare like locked up and I haven't seen
for years, and so, youknow, there's a lot of reasons why

(39:37):
I want to I want to workand so I can just be able to
like financially like support them. Youknow, when my when my cousin gets
out of prison, put him inlike a home and like get him the
treatment he needs, and get hima job and get him a car.
You know what I mean. Ifeel like there's all of these things that
like no one really talks about.Yeah, yeah, yeah, I work
so hard so that my family doesn'thave to so we just don't have to

(40:00):
struggle anymore. Yeah, I feellike that's literally every kids, like whoever,
like anybody who has an immigrant likeparent or an immigrant like family member
like that came here from the jump. That's like what we try and like
strive. It's like an every daylike, Okay, we want to retire

(40:21):
our parents. We want to getour parents something just to show them,
like you didn't make all those sacrificesjust for me to quit. Amen.
Yeah, amen, exactly, likemy parents drove me like from La or
from Lodi to LA all the time. Like even when my parents were going
through their divorce, they still likeco parent died and like took me.
Wow, so awkward for them tosit in a car together for five hours.

(40:45):
Yeah, you know what I mean. And so yeah, exactly,
like I don't I wouldn't want themto have done all that for me to
just quit and like go home andwork at the winery again. They believe
you, Yeah, they believed inme. They still believe in me.
You know, my dad gets akick out of it that I just did
the daughter state. Yeah, baseballis mine and him is like sport.
Like we bond over baseball. Sogetting to perform like a baseball stadium instead

(41:07):
of like an arena for an NBAgame was like a little different for sure.
It was a home run. Ohmy god, I'm sorry. I'm
feeling like full transparency. I'm feelingvery like enlightened, enlightened and moved and
motivated myself from just hearing what youjust said. Yeah, and I think

(41:30):
that's what you know separates you froma lot of other artists, and I
feel like you wanting to be vulnerable, you sharing that alone. Like I
mean, there's so many artists outthere that like it's like, nah,
I'm gonna keep my my life likeliterally just in one lane. And it's

(41:50):
just it's so much more than that. It is it is. And every
time, like people ask me,like where do you see yourself in like
ten years or where do you seeyourself like in five years. I always
like talk about like all the thingsthat I'm gonna do for other people.
And like one time someone told me, like Destiny, you had all this
list and you didn't say anything aboutwhat you're gonna do for you. Wow,

(42:12):
Like why don't you go buy yourg wagon? Why don't you like
take yourself on a nice trip withyour homegirls and like but I was like
no, because my mom needs this, and my grandma needs this, and
my sister's a single mom with twokids. My niece is about to graduate
high school. She needs to goto college, like you know what I
mean, It's like I'm just thinkingabout others. Like that's just my heart.
It's that question. I remember whenthe lottery was just like super freaking

(42:36):
massive and Jackie was like, whatwould you do if you want? I'm
like, well, first of all, first of all, I'm gonna make
sure my entire family has their ownindividual houses, and I'm gonna make sure
they're good first. After that,that's for me. That's not exactly like

(43:00):
yeah, but I feel you because, like, especially coming from an immigrant
family, like that's the toughest thing. I got this tattoo on my wrist.
It's nineteen seventy two, right,I'll get the joke of you were
born in seventy two. I'm like, do I look that fucking old?
I think this tattoo says the Philippines, but It'shilippians. No, literally,
I thought that once and I wasjust like, oh, maybe she is

(43:22):
Filippinos, Like your birthday's April thirteen. He's crazy. But nineteen seventy two
was the year that my grandfather camefrom the Philippines to San Francisco for the
first time. He went here withoutmy grandma. He also left my mom
in the Philippines, right, andso his mission was I'm gonna get a

(43:45):
job, I'm going to get ahouse. I'm gonna first move my grandma
and my mom over here and thenhis house ended up becoming the hub a
His house ended up becoming the hubfor the rest of my family members to
move from the Philippines to San Franciscoto give them their first chance at a

(44:07):
better life. Really, and whenmy mom told me that story, my
Grandpa's still here, thank God.But like when my mom told me that
story, I was like, wow, Like that's part of my life's mission
to help other people and make surethat especially my family members, to give
them the opportunities that they probably willnot be given unless I give it to

(44:29):
them. You know, Yeah,I feel like exactly, and I feel
like the reason and correct me ifI'm wrong. The reason that you're so
much like that is because you grewup in church so much. You were
literally surrounded by help others. Niceliterally the jump help others. And also
just like my mom like helping ourfamily members even when we didn't get it,

(44:50):
we didn't have it. Yeah,I remember my mom like one time,
like my cousin he got kicked outof his apartment, and my mom
like we didn't have it, butlike my mom, somehow like two hundred
bucks, got two hundred bucks andwe put him in like a motel.
For a week with him and hiskids, and that we would take groceries
to our our cousins that didn't havemoney for groceries. We take groceries to
their place. So I saw mymom's like helping him and like wanting to

(45:13):
help others even when we don't haveit. It's okay, yeah, still
keep showing, still keep spreading it. It'll come back, It'll come back,
you know. So, yeah,it's gonna come back, and it
is coming back. I can Ican definitely see that. And with this
album, I think this is justthe very like beginning. It's still the
fucking beginning. Yeah. Yeah,Like I'm in a whole new era now.

(45:37):
I cut my hair, Like I'mlike that was a big that was
a big thing for me, likecutting my hair. But I wanted some
change. I wanted something added,you know, I wanted some spice added
to who Destiny Rodgers is. AndI knew I just wanted to have a
fresh look. But no, yeah, the there's a story, like a
real real story now and I wentthrough some shit now and I want to

(46:00):
able to help people that are dealingwith the same thing, that are afraid
to be who they are, whoare afraid to tell their parents something.
Not even if they're gay, butif you know they're have an addiction or
they're struggling with something or you know, like they can call on their parents
and you know whatever. So amen, tattoosh, Yeah you have a lot.
I have a few. I wantto go down the list. Okay,

(46:22):
tattoo hall. I'm going to gofrom order from like first to like
most. Right, let's do it. First. One is the Iconic Philippians.
Fourth Philippines, not the Philippines Philippiansfour thirteen. This was I got
this the day I turned eighteen,on my birthday, and it's kind of
like big, I think for afirst tattoo. But I didn't tell my
mom because my mom doesn't like tattoos. So I got the tattoo and then

(46:46):
I had like the wrap around it, and like I went straight to my
birthday dinner and my parents are alreadysitting at the table and I was like,
hi, Mom, she goes,what's that? And I was like,
oh, I got a tattoo.Like Danielle myssis Sudnielle took me to
get a tattoo, Like, doyou like it? Because it's like a
Bible verse. That's literally that's literallysuch a like Mexican kid thing to do

(47:13):
is I'm like, I got thistattoo, but I know, I know,
I know, yeah, but looklike she the first thing, I
was like, I hope that's fakeand I was like, mom, it's
not fake. Whatever. First tattoo. Second tattoo is this Rose. I
don't need a Carols show the camerasRose with my grandpa. My grandma's initials.
Roses are my favorite favorite flower.And I just got this random cross

(47:36):
one time. It was for free. We need those made by Heaven on
my thumb. Mama, I amthe rich that rich man from tom Boy
got it. And then Grace isactually my mom's name. Oh so I
got Grace. That was another thingI pulled. I was like, well,
Mom, look it's your name.She cried actually when she saw this,

(48:00):
Oh really she cried Race. Andthen Darryl that's my dad's name.
This is my logo, this threesymbol. It's like you had to get
your heart broken and go through thatin order to heal and you know,
go back to where you started.So it's also at the bottom of a
still your girl. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's it's like
literally like my my logo that I'mtrying to go for. It's all my

(48:22):
merchant stuff. What else do Ihave? Oh? I have a music
note right here, they're small rightnow. I have don't let the Dream
Die. I saw this font likewritten very small on a wall in Paris
one time, and I remember Iwas going through something. I just came
out to my dad actually and itwas like really affecting like my work ethic
when it came to like doing work. So I was going through like a

(48:44):
really hard time, and like whenI was in Paris, I had to
do like this video for a socialmedia something and so I was like all
right, So I took my phoneand I'm like making a video and then
I see like a very small printin the back, Like I was like,
what the fuck is that? Youto the side and I was like,
let me see what that was.And I go and in very small
print it said don't let the dreamdie. That's sick. And so I

(49:06):
took a picture of it and Iwas like, I'm getting it tatted.
And I got it tatted. Wow, it was a message you needed in
that it was a message I neededto where I like needed it on my
body. You know. I waslike, did you get it done in
Paris? No? I don't.The language barriers are so hard. Yeah,
it's so tough. Restaurants I getso shy, I can't order.

(49:29):
And what about the girls don't cry? Oh? Fuck, girls don't cry?
My boy verdie. This is hisbrand. I've always been a fan
of the brand, and I justleft the message behind it. It's very
like empowering. So I just wantedto get it tatted, and I got
it tatted, and now I getfree girls on cry ship for life.

(49:50):
We lovely did the same thing withlike my mom's Like, so I got
this done. I think what threefour weeks ago? First of all,
I was in I was in aNew Orleans trip for my brother in law's
bachelor party, and so I wasjust like, Okay, well he's on
a bachelor party. What am Igonna do? And I had the weekend
off and I was like, Igo get three tattoos. So I want

(50:12):
to go get three tattoos. AndI got my mom's it's GDL and that's
where she was born in Mexico.Yeah, so then and then I got
this LA one and then I gota yeah, hummingbird on this side,
which is my dad. Those arecute. Yeah, and then I have
a matching one with me. Ican do this heart and I drew the
one that he has. Oh ohmy god. Yeah, and it's so

(50:34):
cute for my grandpa. But that'sliterally how I would like say it to
my mom and be like okay,because she always told me, she's like,
don't ever get a tattoo about me. I'm like, okay, sure.
So when I did it, Iwas like, it's your writing and
it's where you're from. So soI'm like, so we have to explain
every piece literally is the mom,this is your grand I was like,

(50:54):
this is your like parents' names,right, yeah, care, that's crazy,
And I mean i'd say my favoritetattoo is uh this one. It
says two barangay baalanga. I actuallygot it in Sabu like that that same
time. Yeah, during that sametrip. Yeah, because when when I

(51:15):
was younger and I would go tothe Philippines, I would see this sign.
And whenever i'd see this sign,I'd be like, Okay, we're
literally five minutes away from where myfamily lives, right, and so literally
I already had it planned out ofmy head. I was like, oh,
what if I do this. Ijust took a photo of it,
and then I was like, oh, this would be a dope tattoo,
so kind of like how you did, and I'm like, yeah, wait,

(51:37):
so your family is from No sothis is actually in a part of
the Philippines called Balanga. It's init's in Badangas, so it's a complete
it's on a completely different island.It's on the main island. But then
I got the tattoo in Sabu.Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
long just a little bit, yeah, just a little bit. Yeah.

(52:00):
He understands it. But when likehe's trying to speak it, he's
just like, yeah, how Iam with Spanish too, I get a
little shy. Oh yeah, I'mnot really like fluent like that. I
used to be fluent. When Iwas younger in Spanish. I was like,
really good because my grandma only speaksSpanish with both my grandma's and she
would take care of me. SoI just like I was really good.

(52:22):
But as I got older, Iwas like, man, you feel weird.
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah,yeah. You have more songs with
Twee outside of a remix, notyet not yet. I mean damn,
I actually like haven't even like spoketo Twee in a while. She's been
doing her thing. I'm so proudof her, dude. Yeah, but
no, I definitely would like herlike on like one of my next projects

(52:43):
is I hopped on her song.So we've always talked about like me and
her getting in and actually having asession and creating something from scratch together.
So definitely definitely should be in thefuture for sure. I love that.
Yeah, Yeah, what else isin store? Many more of these?
More of like I said earlier,like I'm just like happy now that like

(53:07):
the shows are like done for rightnow and I could actually just like get
behind the mic and actually just talkand explain about the project and all the
things that I've been through for likethe new fans too that are just hopping
on my little bandwagon. But yeah, more of these. I definitely want
to hit one more tour and falljust to like maybe open for someone again

(53:28):
and gain a little bit more tractionfor that, Yeah, gain more fans
that way, and then top ofthe year do my own go to Asia.
I want to go to like Philippines, Korea, Japan. Everyone just
shows mad love out there every timeI go to Asia. So I want
to go to Asia, do afew state or do a few like key
states here in the US, andthen go to Europe and do like London,

(53:52):
Paris, Amsterdam or something. Yeah, yeah, I definitely wanna.
Yeah, I want to hop ona tour. And then I got a
couple more things that aren't super lockedin yet, so I'm not gonna talk
about it right now, but coolother things that you guys will see,
but we're manifesting it. Thank youthat we are, that we are Destiny

(54:12):
Rogers everybody where. Can everybody findyou and your music? You guys can
just type in Destiny Rogers on allsocials. Everything you got, I'm there.
My new album is Still Your Girlis out right now, and yeah,
thank you guys so much. Therewe go. My name is Nico
Blizz, I'm got Maris and I'mDestiny Rogers. We're out. Peace,