Exclusive Interview with The Rigs – Caitlin Parrott and TJ Stafford Discuss Their Music Journey and New Single "Fall or Fly"

The Origin of The Rigs

Caitlin Parrott (CP):
I grew up in a musical family. My mom was a singer, and my dad was the frontman in a Christian country rock band throughout my childhood. Music has always been a huge part of my life. I started writing silly songs as a kid and wrote my first real song in high school after my dad bought me my first guitar, a Big Baby Taylor. Since then, songwriting has become the way I process emotions and tell stories.

TJ Stafford (TJ):
I’ve been playing music since I was 5 when my mom handed me a guitar. I started taking lessons, and the rest is history.

What Makes Their Collaboration Special

Caitlin Parrott (CP):
The history and tension between TJ and I is what makes this collaboration unique. We had known each other for about a decade before we decided to write music together, and by then, we had so much to pull from. We had found our artistic voice both individually and as a team. Our producer, Smidi, has also been a huge part of our development and success.

Evolving Sound of The Rigs

TJ Stafford (TJ):
Since starting The Rigs, we’ve expanded beyond folk rock and gotten more creative. Our sound has stayed true to who we are, but we aren’t afraid to try new things and step outside of the box.

Defining Their Unique Sound

Caitlin Parrott (CP):
What sets us apart is that we don’t confine ourselves to a specific genre. Our sound is sweet, angry, emotional, and raw—it’s real, like life. I love when people hear our music and say, "I haven’t heard anything like you guys."

New Single: "Fall or Fly"

TJ Stafford (TJ):
Fall or Fly was born from a life stage where we became okay with disappointing people in order to live honestly. The song reflects the tension of being vulnerable and true to yourself in relationships, especially when you care about others' opinions.

Caitlin Parrott (CP):
There’s so much power in the moment when you expose your true self to someone. The song captures that tension right before the truth is spoken, and it feels like standing on the edge, ready to jump.

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‍Music Featured on TV Shows

Caitlin Parrott (CP):
It feels amazing and humbling to hear our work on major TV shows. It's like a dream come true every time.

The Impact of Their Music on Listeners

TJ Stafford (TJ):
We hope that our songs affect listeners in whatever way they need at that moment. Music is personal, and we write from our perspective, but each listener interprets it in their own way, and that's beautiful.

Goals for 2018

Caitlin Parrott (CP):
We want to keep writing, maybe play a show in LA, and build on the foundation we’ve created.

TJ Stafford (TJ):
I’d also love to finally read The Count of Monte Cristo in its original French!

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