We’re thrilled that Rigel joined our Pop Pride album, amongst other artists and producers chengheng, Cheyenne Jolene, and Tomas Altamirano.
Rigel’s upbeat, energetic writing and voice can be heard on the album. Inspired by artists like Kim Petras, Todrick Hall and RuPaul, Rigel’s tracks narrate everyday experiences in queer life, including “nightlife, drag, ballroom, and boys,” Rigel explains.
Read more about Rigel’s creative process below…
The songs you contributed to Pop Pride are so of the moment and contemporary. Did your personal experiences as a queer individual influence the creative process of your tracks?
Yes, I pulled inspirations from so many parts of queer culture: nightlife, drag, ballroom, and boys! I had so much fun writing these songs; they came naturally to me based on things already on my mind. It’s fun to write songs when they flow.
“Short Shorts” is such a fun song, and your delivery is pure camp in the best way. Could you tell us a little bit about how that song came together?
“Short Shorts” was about how picky gay guys are about the length of their shorts. Gay men spend a lot of time picking out shorts, and there are so many brands of short shorts just for gay men. And in queer nightlife, you see so many different kinds of shorts that, let’s say, are quite…appealing! I wanted to write something cheeky, flirty, and provocative.
I tried to think about it from a couple of angles: how sexy you feel when wearing them, how people look at you (sometimes in shock!), and how men react to you.
Were there any specific musical influences or inspirations that shaped the songs you contributed to Pop Pride?
So many artists inspire me: Kim Petras, Todrick Hall, RuPaul, all the queens who release music on RuPaul, Saucy Santana, Pabllo Vittar, and many more! I also love some new artists, like Mirage Amuro and Alexis Mvgler. These individuals all make simple, catchy songs that are full of sass and always with a great dance beat.
In what ways do you think music can be a tool for promoting LGBTQIA+ visibility?
Music is such a great way to get listeners in front of queer people in a way they wouldn’t otherwise. I love to see how so many queer artists have become mainstream, like Todrick Hall and Kim Petras. LGBTQIA+ music has become a genre of its own and is taking over in many arenas. Queer people create music out of their lived experience, and to listen to our music is to understand us better.
Do you have any upcoming writing/performing plans this year?
I am working on a few new songs this year, including some fun dance songs. Music has been such a fun outlet for me for years, and I can’t stop writing and performing!
Do you have plans for Pride this year?
Yes, I go to a bunch of Prides throughout the year. Atlanta Pride, the biggest in the Southeast, is one of my favourites and takes place in October. I also go to Miami Beach Pride every year, and it’s such a fun time, especially the celebrations on the beach.
POP PRIDE
An album of high-energy, upbeat pop featuring in-your-face vocals and electronic beats with lyrics orientated around LGBTQIA+ Pride.
Chat with us