Hi. We’re Allie Moss and Bess Rogers. Welcome to Thinking Outside the Blocks!
TOTB (for short) is a community hub for songwriters who want to grow their writing, overcome their blocks, and prioritize creativity in their lives.
We’ve been professional songwriters and artists for about 15 years, and over the course of our careers, we’ve dealt with our fair share of writer’s block, self-doubt, and creative burnout. Those struggles taught us so much, and through them, we’ve learned how to cultivate long-lasting and healthy creativity that keeps us on a path of growth and joy with our songwriting!
About Allie
Allie Moss is a singer-songwriter, sideman, vocal coach, and budding producer with a sweet voice, a big laugh, and a deep love for vocal harmonies. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to New Orleans for love (the romantic kind), which—unlike most of her houseplants—has thrived.
Her debut album Late Bloomer (2011) landed placements in Pretty Little Liars, Bones, Parenthood, and a major UK ad campaign for BT Infinity. Since then, her songs have appeared in dozens of TV and film spots, including Virgin River, Batwoman, Charmed, and most recently, Love is Blind.
Allie has been a longtime member of Ingrid Michaelson’s touring band (where she met Bess!) and has also performed as both a backing musician and opener for William Fitzsimmons, Joshua Radin, A Great Big World, and Rosi Golan.
In 2025, she’ll release her first self-produced tracks along with a new online course called Unlocking Harmony. For 1-1 coaching with Allie, see alliemosscoaching.com.
About Bess
Bess Rogers is Assistant Professor of Commercial Songwriting at Middle Tennessee State University and an artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. She graduated in 2005 from SUNY Purchase with a Master’s degree in Studio Composition, where she recorded her first album, Decisions Based on Information, produced by Dan Romer (HBO’s Station Eleven, Pixar’s Luca). From 2007-2013 she was a member of Ingrid Michaelson’s band as lead guitarist and backup singer, playing on stages all over the world, including Madison Square Gardens in NYC & Union Chapel in London, and on live television and radio, including Late Night with Conan O’Brien & Good Morning America. She also featured as a guitarist and singer on Ingrid's records, Be OK, Everybody, Lights Out, It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense, and Songs for the Season. In 2020 she co-produced, arranged and performed on 4 new songs for Ingrid’s Songs for the Season Deluxe Edition, including a duet with Zooey Deschanel (She & Him, New Girl).
As a solo artist, Bess has written, performed, and toured-in-support of her albums, Travel Back EP, Bess Rogers Presents Bess Rogers, Out of the Ocean, & Can’t Remember Where EP. Her songs have been featured on many TV shows, including Pretty Little Liars & One Tree Hill, and in advertisements for brands like Cheerios, Motts, Hersheys, Google, Facebook, New Balance, Cadillac, and more. In 2013 she formed a female-fronted rock band called Secret Someones and was quickly signed to Interscope/Cherrytree Records (Sting, Robyn, Feist), where they released their self-titled album to critical acclaim. The band toured internationally, sharing the stage with Feist, Ingrid Michaelson, Mariana’s Trench, A Great Big World, and more. In 2018, Bess joined Broadway’s first all-female pit band for The Go-Go’s Broadway Musical, Head Over Heels, performing in NYC’s legendary Hudson Theater.
Bess now lives in Nashville with her family, enjoys teaching and guiding the next generation of songwriting artists, and is writing her next solo record.
