Rogan Mei Channels Angsty Renewal on Anthemic Folk-Rock Single “Rushmore (So What)”

With rugged honesty and a dose of youthful defiance, Rogan Mei returns with “Rushmore (So What),” an angsty and liberating folk-rock anthem about missed chances, restless energy, and carving your own road. Louder and more unapologetic than his earlier reflective work, the track captures the friction between wanting change and actually living it – set against ringing guitars and a chorus built to be shouted back.

The song’s title traces back to an unfinished idea that sat dormant for years. “Originally, it was going to be about a road trip with friends where the main character was just not in a good headspace and would sleep in the back seat while everyone pointed out monuments like the biggest hockey stick in the world, the Grand Canyon, or Mt. Rushmore. That’s where the line ‘So what I didn’t see Mt. Rushmore’ came from,” says Mei. Though the story shifted, that core lyric survived and became the heart of the new track.

Watch the music video directed by Mitch Graszat of Juicebox Studios HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-cyoqTKO5Y&feature=youtu.be

Unlike his last release “Lefroy,” which emerged in just a few days, “Rushmore (So What)” simmered for years before coming to life. Brought to a songwriting workshop in 2024, Mei dusted off the fragments with the encouragement of collaborator Anna Goldsmith, who helped him reconnect with the song’s raw energy. With support from bassist and mixing engineer Wesley Covey and the full band, the track evolved into one of the most anthemic highlights from his upcoming Dickies Green Plaid Jacket EP.