MIGUEL with DOROTHY at Sound Academy (11 Polson), Tuesday (August 11), doors 8 pm. $39.50. ticketmaster.ca.
Miguels third album, Wildheart, is getting a lot of attention for its raw eroticism, but on the first day of his tour for it, hes eager to discuss its grandiose philosophy.
This show is wild, fun and sexy, and thats all great, the singer/songwriter explains over the phone from Austin. But theres a level of positivity that radiates from everyone, and I think its because of my new sense of purpose.
Wildhearts opener, A Beautiful Exit, urges listeners to look inward and accept the new, dont linger on the past, and he wants the show to convey a similar imperative: knowing yourself, trusting yourself, believing in yourself enough to ignore the noise and find your voice again.
Were bombarded with distractions: on our phones, in the media, blah blah blah, he adds. Were so distracted at all times that we almost drown our own voices out unknowingly.
The music industry tends to put black artists in either hip-hop or R&B categories regardless of their sound, and neither genre fits Miguels musical evolution.
I definitely feel that there is a bigger, broader understanding of what Im accomplishing, he says. That doesnt mean I dont feel a lot of people shying away from the fact that this is not a straight-up R&B record. Its a fuckin rock n roll pop record.
When Miguel (born Miguel Jontel Pimentel) first hit the charts thanks to the surprise success of single Sure Thing, he had one foot in the world of beat-driven, hip-hop-influenced R&B. His breakthrough album, 2012s Kaleidoscope Dream, shifted the emphasis to atmosphere and a rock n roll attitude stemming from his interest in 60s psych rock and 70s funk and soul.
Meanwhile, the slow-jam Adorn propelled him into the pop mainstream and opened the door to collaborations with Mariah Carey and Janelle Monae. (He also became the subject of a meme when he landed on a female fan during a stage dive gone wrong at the 2013 Billboard Awards.)
Wildheart marks a clean break from modern R&B it opens with a scuzzy guitar riff and pulsates with lustful, restless energy that underscores various spiritual and philosophical ideas. Whats Normal Anyway? unpacks Miguels experiences growing up biracial in status-obsessed Los Angeles. Its bluntly personal, but when asked about moments from his life that contributed to his newfound sense of purpose, he speaks in general terms.
This album and its message revealed itself to me, he says. Were all born with a knowledge. Were born pure and with pure intention, and early on we decide for ourselves what we like, our taste.
In the midst of that we also have to deal with our circumstances, our upbringing, friends, families and all of their opinions, which shape and mould how we believe in ourselves and what we believe can be achieved.
For Miguel, one of those factors was religion. References to sin are all over Wildheart, particularly on sexually charged songs The Valley, …goingtohell and Coffee, and the idea that truly good sex requires a sense of transgression abounds.
I was raised to be very religious. I suppose that stuck with me, he says. Concepts of sin, purity, spirituality, holiness and so on and so forth. I wouldnt say that Im the most spiritual person, but Im cognizant of the need to pay attention to ones spirituality. Spirituality is part of the balance.
As Miguel distances himself from R&B, a genre riddled with shallow portrayals of sex, his music increasingly feels like a repudiation of one-dimensional sexuality masquerading as sexual liberation.
Im a very sexual person. I really do like to have conversations about my purpose, my journey and my aspirations and shroud them in love and lust. Because what is life but our relationships? Who we are and how we relate to our lifestyles its a relationship thing. Sometimes were in love with it. Sometimes we fucking hate it.
kevinr@nowtoronto.com | @kevinritchie
