Juliana Lasses: “Music is my compass”

By WoodlandStories Magazine

Juliana Lasses is not just a singer. “I’m a singer and I’m also the leader of the Rogers band,” says the Colombian artist who has turned her life into a musical journey across two continents. Her story is one of a woman who reinvents herself, who “traveled with a suitcase full of dreams” and found an unexpected stage for her music in Texas.

From Colombia to the heart of Texas

Born in Colombia, a country she says she “deeply loves,” Juliana discovered early on that “music was my language.” She studied at Javeriana University with a focus on popular music, performing as a soloist and in duets. Her love for jazz, blues, and 70s rock blended with her Latin roots to create a unique style.

In 2017, alongside Brian Rogers—now her husband and guitarist—she founded the Rogers band. “Our first album was mixed in Nashville… it was amazing,” she recalls. But then the pandemic hit, and “my band was, in quotes, finished.” Still, she pressed on. She packed her bags and, in 2021, arrived in the U.S.—first in Florida, then finally in Texas.

A divine message and a new beginning

Juliana admits that “we weren’t going to live in Texas—we were going to move to California, but it was a divine message.” Destiny brought her to The Woodlands, where she started from scratch, performing acoustically in small venues. “Here I reconnected with my voice, my repertoire, and my audience,” she shares.

Today, with a band of Texan musicians, she’s created a diverse sound that fuses rock, blues, soul, and her Latin essence. “I think in Spanish, I love in Spanish, I live in Spanish,” she says, describing her style as “seventies, authentic, acoustic,” a tribute to real music and live instruments.

Between covers and originals

Her performances mix original songs with reinvented classics. “We want to connect deeply with our audience, to share stories and emotions in every show,” she says. And while it hasn’t been easy to overcome “the language barrier and the cultural barrier,” Juliana feels she has grown not only as an artist but also as a woman, immigrant, and entrepreneur.

Art, reinvention, and technology

Juliana reflects on the impact of artificial intelligence in music:“It’s impressive, technology is wonderful, but it also takes us away from the human side,” she notes. “Human beings will always need real contact with one another. AI can’t transmit what you feel when you see someone singing live.”

That’s why she balances her live career with personalized voice lessons and online recording services. “Now everything is digital… I have clients in other countries, and I record from my studio,” she explains, encouraging other artists to diversify.

A creative life and love for animals

In her free time, Juliana enjoys cooking and biking with her dogs. “I’m an artist, I’m creative: if I’m not creating music, I’m creating in the kitchen,” she says with a laugh. Life in The Woodlands, calmer than in Bogotá, has allowed her to look inward: “Instead of looking outward, I’m discovering many things about my own personality.”

A message for fellow dreamers

To those seeking to make their way in the U.S., Juliana advises:“It’s important to get informed, consume specialized content, find your style, and never stop knocking on doors.” And she adds with emotion: “I hope this story inspires other artists, immigrants, women, and dreamers who are building their own path.”