Malik: Congratulations on your success!
What were your influences growing up, which artists and what do they mean to you?
Miguel: Thanks, man.
Malik: It’s very refreshing to hear a Soul/ R&B artist in Canada. So how’s everything going for you? Miguel: It’s been tremendously fun. It’s been fun... you know we put Kaleidoscope Dream, my sophomore album, out last year in October and the ride since then has just been phenomenal. From the success of ‘Adorn’, the first single, and performing at the Grammys, winning a Grammy this year for ‘Adorn’... it’s been a tremendous blessing man, so I’m having a good time. We’re here on tour with Alicia Keys, it’s my first time in Montreal.
Malik: Is it? Welcome. Miguel: Yeah, it’s been a pleasure.
Malik: I want to talk to you about your hit single ‘Adorn’ what state of mind were you in when you wrote that song?
Miguel: Man, there’s so many. Between obvious influences like Marvin Gaye, or Prince, there’s David Bowie, and there’s Freddie Mercury and Sting and the Police and Queen, of course, the Beatles which I think is another, fairly obvious influence. But then there’s nonmusical influences like Bruce Lee.
Malik: Why Bruce Lee? Miguel: Man, I’m a huge fan of Bruce Lee because of his philosophy. I mean he was a philosophy major in College, graduated with philosophy degrees and I think his philosophies on life, are the reason why he was so diligent in his practice and developing his own style. His perspective philosophically, I think, has everything to do with his style. That classic interview of him just being like, you put water in a cup it becomes the cup. Be like water you know, be ever changing, ever evolving; be able to, adapt. Be adaptable, you know what I’m saying? I think that was his whole thing! You know, it’s just like being able to adapt and that’s why he was the greatest. So that’s why he’s one of my favourites and an influence, definitely. So, you know, writers, poets so on and so forth, definitely.
Miguel: I’m sure you’ve been here before you know? Malik: Like we like to say, I feel your fashion You’re gone for too long, you miss your girl. Even if style is avant-gardiste, it’s ahead of its time. you’re single or whatever, people have experienced that. You miss that somebody and that’s where I was, Miguel: Thank-You. I just missed my girl. I hadn’t seen her in too long and I was on a plane and the first line of the song goes, “these lips can’t wait to taste your skin” so that’s, pret- Malik: Tell us about your whole fashion ty much where it came from. It’s one of those songs swag? Even what you have on today, it’s I don’t really remember writing, it almost wrote itself pretty interesting. and here I am. Miguel: Cool, yeah (laughs as he looks down at his Malik: And what about your single ‘Do You’ outfit) it’s evolved. I’m a huge fan of fashion and I’ve which is very interesting also, where did always been a huge fan of fashion. I won’t say that I’m the best, I don’t have the best style, but it’s getthat whole idea come from? ting better (laughs) and the reason why I say that is because I really have a genuine interest and I do Miguel: Umm...I think it’s pretty self-explanatory research. I’m really interested in why trends became (laughs). I mean, the music that I put out, if you look trends and the cultural circumstances that have influback, or if you know anything about my music, I’m enced trends. You know what I’m saying? Doing that a fairly, direct person. I pretty much say what I feel. research, you kind of get to see how those cultural, You know, songs like ‘Quickie’ or ‘Sure Thing’ is very economic details have influenced designers to crestraight forward, it’s a bit more poetic but, I mean, I ate silhouettes that empower women or make women would like to say I’m one of those guys who gets away feel more edgy or just kind of rebellious. I think, that with saying some pretty outlandish things. And I think now, I’ve been able to tailor my style to feel, like it’s it’s just because I say what I mean and I mean what I my own. I don’t think I’ve been more comfortable or say. ‘Do You,’ is one of those songs where that’s just more confident in what I wear than I am right now. I what I was thinking, that was the question, here it is. would describe my style as being edgy and kind of counterculture. Before, I think I was trying my hand Malik: Like I said at the beginning, it’s so at a more futuristic type of vibe and I don’t know, you refreshing to hear a Soul/R&B artist today. just try things and you grow; we’re ever evolving.
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