Bam Rigby Reveals the Personal Story Behind ‘Silhouette’ and His Analog Music Mission

When I caught up with Bam Rigby over Zoom, it didn’t take long to see that he’s as passionate about building worlds as he is about writing songs. Between stories about growing up in Japan, watching Tina Turner videos before performances, designing his own merchandise, and introducing me to his dog, Dr. Pickles, Rigby proved he’s every bit as colorful as the music he’s making.

His latest single, “Silhouette,” arrives as the first glimpse into his upcoming debut album, Sometimes I Forget to Breathe, and it’s a statement of intent. Blending vintage analog warmth with modern indie-pop energy, the track feels both nostalgic and fresh, carrying a message that’s especially timely: stop standing on the sidelines of your own life. A Dream Became the Chorus

For Rigby, “Silhouette” started with a dream.

“I heard the lyrics, ‘Make it good, make it last so they’ll never forget your silhouette,'” he told me. “I woke up and thought, ‘That’s dope.’ I wrote it down immediately and knew it had to become the chorus.”

The rest came together surprisingly fast.

He wrote the song during the COVID-19 pandemic alongside queer singer-songwriter Bec Hollcraft, finishing most of it in about 20 minutes before refining it in the studio over time. But while the writing process was quick, the meaning stretches back much further.

“When I was younger, I told my mom I wanted to be a singer,” Rigby recalled. “She basically said, ‘If you’re going to do that, be the best. Learn as much as you can. Don’t just think you’re going to do it.'”

The advice intimidated him at first. Instead of performing around the house, he’d wait until his parents left before practicing in secret.

“I’d watch out the window,” he laughed. “As soon as I saw them pulling back into the driveway, I’d stop singing and pretend I was studying.”

Eventually, a talent show changed everything. His parents finally saw how seriously he’d been taking music, and his mother’s words stuck with him.

“I think about that all the time,” he said. “If you’re going to do something, do it for real. Make it so people remember who you are.”

That philosophy became the heartbeat of “Silhouette.” Finding A Sound Across Continents

Rigby’s music doesn’t fit neatly into one box, and neither does his upbringing.

Raised between Japan, Canada, Maine, Brazil, and now splitting his time between New York and Tokyo, he grew up surrounded by wildly different musical influences. His mother adored Elvis Presley, so much so that Elvis statues filled their home, while Japanese artists introduced him to brass-heavy arrangements that still shape his productions today.

Those influences collide throughout Silhouette, but Rigby isn’t interested in chasing digital perfection.

“I wanted to throw out the digital shortcuts,” he said of recording the single.

The song was tracked using live musicians and vintage analog equipment before being mixed and mastered through analog gear by Grammy-winning engineer Andros Rodriguez, whose résumé includes Florence + The Machine, Justin Timberlake, and Shakira.

For Rigby, it’s about preserving something computers can’t replicate.

“There’s a warmth to analog,” he explained. “There’s so much weird AI stuff happening right now that I just want to do as much real stuff as possible and see what sticks.”

When I asked how he’d describe his music to someone hearing it for the first time, he smiled before offering the perfect elevator pitch.

“It sounds like lightning and soda pop coming out of a record player.”

Honestly? That’s somehow exactly what “Silhouette” feels like. More Than Just Music

Rigby lights up when talking about building worlds around his songs.

Instead of simply releasing a T-shirt with each single, he’s designing collectible experiences. For the “Silhouette” music video, he illustrated an entire tarot deck that appears throughout the visual and will eventually be sold as merchandise. He’s also building an interactive section of his website called “Bamavision,” where fans can explore costumes, music video sets, and even have their fortunes told.

“I want people to feel like they’re living inside the world I’m creating,” he said.

That same ambition extends to future releases. One upcoming music video pays tribute to 1960s Star Trek, complete with practical effects, elaborate costumes, and visual effects Rigby spent nearly two years learning to create himself.

It’s a level of detail that feels increasingly rare in today’s attention economy. The Pressure Behind The Playlist Era

As exciting as his album rollout has been, Rigby didn’t shy away from talking about the realities of releasing music in 2026.

Instead of dropping an album after a few singles, many artists now spend months, or years, feeding streaming algorithms before labels feel comfortable releasing a full project.

“It just sucks that that’s where we are,” he admitted. “We’re all trying to feed the algorithm, go viral, hit a certain metric. Sometimes you just want to make music.”

That tension inspired the title of his debut album, Sometimes I Forget to Breathe.

“I’m always on the go,” he said. “Sometimes I literally have to remind myself to breathe.”

The album’s title track digs even deeper, reflecting on a past relationship while acknowledging his own emotional growing pains.

“It’s kind of saying, ‘It’s not you,'” Rigby explained. “‘Sometimes I don’t even know how to do the most basic thing that keeps me alive.'” Finding Community Through Queer Music

Like many LGBTQ+ listeners, Rigby found comfort in artists who reflected parts of himself.

While Elvis first sparked his imagination, it was Rufus Wainwright who helped him navigate his own queer identity.

“When I was coming to terms with being queer, I listened to Rufus Wainwright a lot,” he told me. “I really connected with him.”

Years later, life came full circle.

“I actually got to work with him,” Rigby said. “Now I can text him anytime. It’s wild how connected this industry can be.”

Moments like that remind him why he keeps creating, even when the business side of music feels exhausting.

With “Silhouette” kicking off a steady stream of releases leading toward Sometimes I Forget to Breathe, Rigby is betting that authenticity, storytelling, and a little analog magic can still cut through the noise.

If “Silhouette” is any indication, he’s well on his way.

Stream “Silhouette” now, and visit Bam Rigby’s official website to keep up with his latest music, upcoming releases, and future projects.

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