Digney Fignus: Unmasking Illusions, One Song at a Time

With a career that has danced between the spotlight of MTV’s Basement Tapes and the freedom of independent artistry, Digney Fignus has never shied away from telling it like it is. His latest single, “The Emperor Wears No Clothes,” is no exception—drawing from a familiar fairy tale to challenge the uncomfortable realities of our modern political theater. In this candid interview, Fignus opens up about the lies he aims to strip bare, the evolution of fame, the mirror he holds up to both society and himself, and the beating heart behind his genre-bending sound. From Boston grit to Cape Cod calm, he reminds us that behind every sharp lyric lies a survivor’s story—and a soul still singing.

Digney, you’ve said that “The Emperor Wears No Clothes” was inspired by a fairy tale we all know. But tell me, what truth—perhaps even a painful one—were you really trying to reveal with this song?

The blind eye that is being turned on the lies and gaslighting that has become the norm for our American political theater needs to be pointed out.  The blatant obfuscation of truth in our current society is disturbing, and if I can wake up some folks by “undressing” a few absurdities, then I’ll take the win.

From MTV’s “Basement Tapes” to a Columbia Records deal, and now to an independent artist with a message—how has your relationship with success evolved over the years? Has fame ever made you feel invisible?

I think as an independent artist, the struggle is more facing up to your failures and finding the courage to persevere in spite of everyone saying you should quit.  Whatever “fame” I’ve had was exactly the opposite of being invisible.  However, “celebrity” is a two-edged sword. It’s nice to be treated like a VIP, but getting followed around when you’re in public can be unnerving.  Sometimes you start to wish you were invisible.

You speak of holding up a mirror to power. But let me ask you this—when you look in the mirror yourself, as a man and as an artist, what do you see?

I see a survivor.  I think that’s why “Black and Blue” is such an appropriate name for this particular compilation.

This new track blends Americana with Eastern European rhythms. Why that choice? What did that beat unlock emotionally that a traditional roots groove couldn’t?

I wanted to give the song a Russian undertone. I had an image of Cossack dancers, arms folded across their chests, kicking out their legs from under them while the crowd cheers them on.  

Your career has taken you from the underground clubs of Boston to the peace of Cape Cod. What part of you belongs to the city—and what part longs for the sea?

I loved cutting my musical teeth on the gritty streets of Cambridge and Boston, that will always be part of my soul.  But Cape Cod is a wonderful place to live surrounded by the Ocean and the dunes. There are also lots of musical venues and festivals as well as a very supportive fan base.  To choose between them would be like trying to pick a favorite child.

Digney, your lyrics are often sharp, even satirical. But when do you feel most vulnerable as a songwriter? 

The most frustrating part of my songwriting process is trying to find the right lyric once I’ve developed a rhythm or chord pattern that I like.

Is there a song you almost didn’t release because it felt too close to the bone?

No, if I’ve developed a song to the point where I want to bring It into the studio, I’ve already made those decisions.

You’ve been described as a troubadour, a storyteller, a mirror to society. But who tells your story when the music stops? Who really knows Digney Fignus behind the guitar?

Starting with my grandmother, the women in my life have always been my inspiration.

And finally, if your life were a song—not just a hit or a headline, but a whole song—what would it be called, and how would it end?

I’m not sure what it would be called but it would start with a choir and end in a rousing chorus.