Michael Figge personifies the landmarks that have raised him. With the booming arts scene of Denver to the North, and the Rocky Mountains to the west, he’s equal parts artist and outdoor enthusiast. Growing up as an Eagles Scout, he has always loved everything outdoors—particularly snowboarding. Even after his time at the San Francisco Art Institute studying fine arts, he came back to his hometown, Littleton, to be closer to the mountains. “As much as I’m inside, I’m outside,” he says, and he makes great use of his time in both. While at school in San Francisco, he underwent an important transition in his creative interests. “I was really into computers at the time,” he said, but he knew he wanted more from visual art than still images. Moving back to Denver, he started studying 3D animation and eventually graduated in digital design. It’s there where he recalls “[falling] in love with everything digital.” After graduating, Michael recalled how difficult it was finding a job in graphic design. But at one of CU Denver’s art internship programs, he met FM4FP’s founder Mona Magno, and she offered to bring him on as an intern developing music videos for Zonra. He loved how trusting she was in letting him explore and develop his own talents and potential as a creative; he has always felt free to explore his own visions. Today, not only is Michael the head graphic designer and a video editor for FM4FP, he also works on branding for FreePeopleTV and Free People Records. “It’s really fun to make what I think is the brand.” Through Mona’s trust in him as a versatile contributor to the team, Michael feels he gets a real experience that has helped his career development profoundly. In tandem with his visual artwork and contributions, Michael has always been equally passionate with sound, making house music under his artist name, Figgetronica, on Soundcloud. He was booked for a show in April that was cancelled when COVID hit. “It was weird—having all that stop,” he said. Still, he stayed focused on what could be done. Quarantine has helped launch that from a hobby to a second passion: “Here’s some time; here’s that extra time” he remembered thinking. Mona has been helping him with his mastering as he polishes up his new music to be released on Spotify and Apple soon. As he has shifted more into musical pathways, he’s been energized by people’s positive responses, and he sees the potential to develop it into financial solubility down the line. Also working through his graphic design business, http://getfiggewitit.com/, Michael feels it's the time to jump into art—music and graphic design. Michael loves bringing the crafts together anytime he can. “I’ve always had a love for images paired with sounds.” He’s always worked towards that goal.
Alongside his artistic work, he’s been dedicated to helping out at his family’s business, SOS Technologies, which leases oxygen and AEDs to small businesses (restaurants and hotels). The equipment buffers the time for people in emergency situations waiting for first responders. He’s been working there for over 15 years and can’t even remember when he started. But he loves having it in the background.
Michael is a versatile creative—through and through. He loves to have found the like-minded community he’s now a part of in Denver and getting to watch it grow.
Written by Tommy Clift
