Less is More
R&B Crooner Miguel on Keeping It Simple, Writing for Usher and New Album, All I Want Is You.
By Alex Catarinella
With smooth, soul-tinged pipes, a croony single -- "All I Want
Is You" featuring J. Cole -- making its way around the web, and
songwriting credits for current king of R&B, Usher, 23-year-old singer Miguel
has quite a burgeoning career in his hands. PAPERMAG recently caught up
with the rising star, who, with the likes of performers like Janelle
Monae, is putting R&B music back on the map, as he was cruising
around in LA. Below, we discuss his new album, All I Want Is You and his impressive ability to make dolphin sounds.
Can you sum up your sound in one sentence?
Who's your favorite famous person to follow on Twitter?
Russell Brand is pretty funny... and random. And the dude from Reading Rainbow. Reading Rainbow is the shit.
Can you sum up your sound in one sentence?
My
music sounds like fly, funkadelic, intergalactic-hip-hop-meets-sexy-orgasmic crazy, dope shit. I don't know man, how do you
sum up a sound in a sentence?
You're readying your debut album, All I Want Is You. What's going to set you apart from everyone else?
Style-wise, across the board,
I think individuality is what separates me. I'm not afraid to be who I
am. And I'm not trying to follow what everyone else is doing just to be
relevant. I'm in love with my music -- that's what separates me from
others.
Tell me about your songwriting process. What do you think makes a great song?
Simplicity.
There's something profound about simplicity. I think all of my favorite
songs where it's not so much how much is being said, but saying it with
with the least amount of words. And, obviously, simple melodies and great
guitar riffs make a great song. Simplicity and being
concise.
What's one song that describes Miguel?
"Good
Thoughts, Bad Thoughts" by Funkadelic. There are so many lines that are
just amazing. I really wanna get the entire lyrics tattooed on myself.
One of the lyrics is "free your mind and your ass will follow." It's so
simple, but it's so true.
You
are blowing up thanks to working the underground scene through a
mix tape and word of mouth. Was this is a struggle
for you?
I think life has a way of
going through struggles just to make you more resilient so when you get
to where you're trying to go you set bigger goals for yourself. That's
what life is about -- progress and evolution I was rejected just like
every other artist who's fought their way to be where they are and I've
got a long way to go. That's just a part of life, not just music.
What keeps you going?
Passion, creativity and inspiration.
Tell me about the day you signed with JIVE.
It
was very, very low key. I remember I signed my record deal contract in
a very small room in a very small office in a small corner of the
building at Jive at the time. It was exactly how it was supposed to
happen. Somehow life was telling me, "Okay, you got here, but this is
nothing. You're
supposed to be here, you're supposed to do this, but there's bigger
things. Don't think like, 'This it it, I've made it.'" It was a great
day though. We went out and partied that night.
What do you think of today's music? Are we finally tired of the vapid pseudo R&B mush and ready for some raw talent?
It's
kind of like when you're a kid, if all your friends are at McDonalds then you have no inclination for steak and potatoes or salmon. When
all you're being fed is junk, sometimes it's hard to be aware of what
else is out there. But I think when people do discover really great,
honest music, regardless of whether it's R&B or hip-hop or indie
rock, people cling to substance -- to actual honesty. Honest music,
honest art. Everyone is ready for it, it's just about them being open
to finding it for themselves. And what I hope to
accomplish with my music is to open minds to what else is out there.
I'd love to be a bridge for a mainstream audience to all the great indie music that is out there. Sometimes it just doesn't make it to the masses like it
should.
How is it working and writing songs for other artists?
It's
just dope to get in. I only really got to write for Usher. He let me
into his creative space and we got to vibe and learn his
creative process. But that experience alone is so valuable and
really dope because there's ways of creating that we just don't explore
on our own. And it takes stepping out of yourself a little bit to
embrace other ways of creativity. It's just really dope, a great
opportunity. Hopefully other artists will wanna work with me later on.
Has Usher offered you any great advice?
To just keep doing what I'm doing. When you find something that you love to be able to have the courage to say "Fuck you, this is what I love and I'm gonna do it." And that's
what Usher meant when he said it. "Yo, just keep doing what you're
doing. Just do it."
If you could collaborate with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
James
Brown. There's so much to learn from that man.
He is the beginning for so many great artists. He was really the last
innovator for me when it comes to soul. I would also love to sit down with Edison because he's
one of the last really original innovators at the very cutting edge of
things. He opened our worlds and our minds to the possibilities of the
things we can take advantage of now.
Russell Brand is pretty funny... and random. And the dude from Reading Rainbow. Reading Rainbow is the shit.
You sing, you dance, you play guitar. Any other secret talents?
I
can click a dolphin. I can really click like a dolphin. (He
demonstrates).
Is there anything you can't do?
I can't play the piano and the sing at the same time. I have to concentrate.
Is there anything you can't do?
I can't play the piano and the sing at the same time. I have to concentrate.
Do you have any guilty pleasures?
Gucci Mane is a guilty pleasure.
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