About a year ago, Miguel was featured as part of our annual “Who’s Next?” coverage as one of the only R & B artists we predicted would have an amazing year in 2010 as a novice in the game. The same issue that previously presented the talents of Ne-yo, Chrisette Michelle, Teedra Moses and Lloyd before they were household names scored another one with singer Miguel with his buzz beginning to catapult toward the middle of 2010. When the “Who’s Next?” piece was released many readers had never heard the name, but now those same readers are scrambling to find out more about the voice behind the hits “All I Want Is You,” assisted by J. Cole and the radio friendly love song, “Sure Thing.” We recently caught up with Miguel for an interview and he’s on the cover of our latest print issue, so decided to give you some behind the scenes conversation with Miguel. You’ll have to check out the issue for the full story…
On reaching his goals of music:
It’s crazy as you reach a goal in life, you realize there are other goals. So as I start to achieve these goals I start to realize the possibilities and my mind and my eyes reach further. I’m very happy and very thankful to reach my goals, but I’m also trying to keep my mind on accomplishing as much as possible.
Album lovers love your song writing, tell me how you came up with the concepts for a couple tracks.
“Pay Me”:
“Pay Me” literally started off as a joke. I walked in the studio one day and I started talking about something and I remember saying to my manager tell them to “Pay Me.” And I started joking about ‘Gimme pound, gimme pound, gimme euro, gimme yen’ and that became the chorus.
“Vixen”:
“Vixen” was like a writing exercise for me. I was like, this is what I like, let me see if I can write a song about it.
Next single:
“Quickie”
By this time next year:
I hope to have gone multi-platinum with my debut album. Hope to have toured in Japan, Europe and Australia. I hope to have released my second album and have it be critically acclaimed.
If I wasn’t making music:
I’d probably be a photographer. I actually just brought a little camera so I can take more pictures.
In the Studio or On the Road:
I love being on the road cause I spent so much time early on in the studio, now I get to spend time connecting with the fans.
On Hard Work:
Even if people don’t like you or they don’t like your music, they have to respect your work ethic. And you can’t make everyone like you, life isn’t about everyone liking you, but respect is something you earn.
Advice:
Life is about finding what you love and doing it despite what anyone says. Imagine all the people, all the things that we would have never known, all the things that would have never been created, all the buildings that would have never been built, the ideas that would have never been developed, all the things that would’ve never made it to your textbook if someone didn’t believe in themselves. It took courage. Just find what you love and just do it. The world would be so much better if everyone just did something.
Main Image by Kai Regan
Image 2 by Donald Lee for Parlé Magazine
Also Check Out:
“Who’s Next?”… Miguel: Multi-Talented Recording Artist
Jawan Harris – Fearless Approach, Endless Possibilities
Miguel Perdomo – The First Dominican Male Supermodel
