Miguel dares you to be different, do the unexpected (Bark + Bite)

With an already hot songwriting career under his belt and an even hotter new single on deck, Miguel just may be the next thing to blow in R&B. He talked to Bark + Bite about songwriting, his brief foray into reality TV and his single "All I Want Is You."

Q: So when did you start singing? Writing songs?

A: I started singing before I was 5. I've been singing since I can remember. But I started writing when I was like 8.

Q: That's interesting. So what kind of songs were you writing when you were a kid?

A: You know what, it started out as poetry then they just kind of turned into songs. I was writing about all kinds of stuff. I liked girls so I'm sure I was writing about girls. My parents got divorced and what not so I was writing about that as well.

Q: Now you were on "Blowin' Up With Fatty Koo" right? What was that experience like?

A: It was...interesting. The whole synopsis was they were looking for a new member and I was one of the candidates. They kind of made me out to be the antagonist, but I think that people are more aware of reality TV and how they can make a certain light by way of editing. So when they look back they're a little more understanding. But they kind of made me look like an asshole.

Q: Well even though they kind of made you look like an asshole, do you consider that your big break, meaning the first time people heard you sing? If not, what do you consider your big break?

A: I think my big break has yet to come. I think it let more people know about me but it's mostly like 'Oh, he's that guy we saw on TV.' You know what I mean? It didn't really put me on. I think what is going to put me on is my music and my talent and drive if that makes sense.

Q: Now I want to ask you a little bit about your mixtape [ 2008's Mischief]. For me it was kind of different from what everyone else was doing at the time. In your own words, how would you describe your sound?

A: What you'll find in all of my music is a very unique delivery of message. I think what is consistent in all my songs is how I sing, how I pronounce words is unique to who I am. I don't think I sound like anyone else. But I think it's subtle so it's not off putting. Damn, I'm not answering your question though. [My sound is] very honest, unapologetic, sexy, vulnerable. That's how I'd describe it, it's very funk, soul, hip-hop and a mix of classic rock.

Q: That works. Can I ask you a little bit about your songwriting career outside of your own music? You've worked with Usher, Musiq and Mary J. Blige. Who else have you worked with?

A: I have written for Musiq and Mary J. Blige. I've worked with Usher. I've written for Jaheim and myself, that's pretty much it right now. Working with Usher was an amazing experience because it makes it a lot easier to get their personal perspective as opposed to trying to guess with them and making the song and the writing chose the artist. Whereas with Musiq and Mary J. Blige record that I wrote on, it was a song that we just came up with that happened to fit. So I can't really say I got to work with them, but I hope that I do get to work with them.

Q: So how do you go about writing a song for someone else? Because I would think that songwriting is something so personal, how do get in a space to write something for someone else?

A: Alright so this is what I do: I take a picture, say Mary J. Blige, I take a picture of her and I go find the exact same outfit she was wearing and I put it on. I do the whole thing--I'm just kidding. I pretty much find what I can find online about the artist and kind of just listen to the music they've already put out to see their perspective on life and their demeanor. I just try to put myself in that space. I think it has to do with the connecting with the artist or the person and really feeling where they're coming from and starting from that point. It's kind of like acting and getting into character.

Q: Do you play any instruments?

A: I play the guitar and the piano badly. (Laughs)

Q: Let's talk about your new single with J. Cole "All I Want Is You". Who produced it?

A: Salaam Remi produced the record. That came about through my management and Mark Pitts. Mark Pitts is my A&R at Jive and my manager, who manages Nas, were trying to get me with Salaam for a long time so it all kind of happened for me.

Q: Did you go into the studio with J. Cole?

A: No. I recorded the record in Miami and then Mark Pitts, who also manages J. Cole, played the record for J and I guess he loved it.

Q: What's your MO in the studio? How do you set the mood for creativity?

A: First, I get naked and then I get ketchup and then I spread it all over my stomach. Then I take two pieces of bread and then I listen to jazz music...I'm just kidding again. I get creativity sporadically. When I have to work in a set session, I just look for whatever inspires me at the moment and I just run with it.

Q: So what inspires you?

A:You know what, it could be anything. It could be a word, a picture, the music that I'm hearing, something I saw on the way to the studio or something that's going on in my life. Whatever I can find. I'm like a scavenger for information and inspiration.

Q: Who are some of your favorite artists?

A: My favorite artists include James Brown, Prince, Michael Jackson, Queen, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, J Dilla, Common, Biggie, Kraftwerk. Those are some of them.

Q: What do you hope people grasp most from your music?

A: I hope to inspire people to be themselves. Especially artists because it's so easy become entangled in what's expected of us. We have these expectations and sometimes it's hard to get away from that. There's a need for people to categorize things. It's okay to be different.