← The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club
INTERVIEW: Miguel Talks 'CAOS,' Parenthood, Ex-Wife, Love, Anger, Heritage, Reaching Clarity, U.S. Crises +More
01:00:28
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- [00:00]
Host 1
This is an I heart podcast.
- [00:04]
Host 2
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- [00:32]
Hunter (Podcast Host)
I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in America. Stories like Erica Hunt, a young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend, 2016. No goodbyes, no clues, just gone. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:08]
Miguel (Musician)
Hold up. Every day I wake up.
- [01:10]
Host 3
Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. Yes, it's the world's most dangerous morning show. The Breakfast Club. Charlamagne, Tha God, Jess, hilarious. DJ Envy. Envy is out today, but Lauren LaRosa is here and we got a very special guest y one of my favorite artists, man, and I am so glad he got some new music coming out. Miguel is here, ladies and gentlemen.
- [01:29]
Miguel (Musician)
What's up? What's up, bro?
- [01:30]
Host 3
How you doing, my brother?
- [01:31]
Miguel (Musician)
I'm good, I'm good. How you guys doing?
- [01:33]
Host 3
Blessed, black, and highly favored.
- [01:34]
Miguel (Musician)
That's right. Blessed and black and highly favored is right.
- [01:37]
Host 3
I'm just happy you putting out music, man. I've been like. And it's funny because we were literally having a conversation on the radio recently, like in the last week or two about what's up with Miguel.
- [01:45]
Host 2
Yeah, Leon was here.
- [01:47]
Miguel (Musician)
That's crazy.
- [01:48]
Host 1
I think we talked about Miguel too, when Leon Thomas was here too, probably. Yeah.
- [01:50]
Host 2
Because you got timeless records, man. Like, you know, even though we've been waiting for new, like, it's still things that we can go back and listen to and it's forever a classic.
- [01:59]
Miguel (Musician)
Thank you for saying that. Yeah, I mean, I've been feeling the same way, though. It's time. It's been time. So I'm excited to be back out. We got. We have a few records already out and the album's out October 23rd, so, you know, I'm just kind of getting it.
- [02:12]
Host 1
We.
- [02:13]
Miguel (Musician)
We doing the thing.
- [02:13]
Host 2
The name of the album is called Chaos, though.
- [02:15]
Miguel (Musician)
Yes. Yes.
- [02:16]
Host 2
Talk to us about that. Break that down a little bit, man.
- [02:18]
Miguel (Musician)
I feel it's. It's everywhere, you know, just look out and. And, you know, pull up your phone. I feel like it's. It's probably the best word for the times that we live in. And. And so, you know, I made an album about how that's been a big part of my growth. And, I mean, I think it's an inflection point. You know, I think overall, when we go through crazy and trying times, it's an opportunity for us to really take that and to make it, you know, clarifying. And so that's what this album really is. I think it's my most, like, relatable album, honestly. Yeah.
- [02:52]
Host 3
Where were you?
- [02:52]
Miguel (Musician)
Also my most angry and horny album.
- [02:55]
Host 2
Oh, I love a little angry.
- [02:56]
Miguel (Musician)
Horny. Duellie. Okay.
- [02:58]
Host 1
Even the production of it gives. It's, like, anger, but then there's like, a eclectic, like, come over here vibe.
- [03:03]
Host 3
Like.
- [03:04]
Host 1
Yeah, it's a lot of it. I think you were about to ask us, where were you, like.
- [03:08]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [03:08]
Host 2
Where were you mentally and emotionally in creating the album?
- [03:12]
Miguel (Musician)
Oh, everywhere.
- [03:13]
Host 2
Yeah.
- [03:14]
Miguel (Musician)
I feel it's to be. It spans eight years. You know, it's been eight years since I put out my last album, War and Leisure. And, you know, we've been through, you know, Pandemic. We've been through everything. Apparently, we made it through the Rapture. Apparently. I'm like, we supposed to see aliens in a couple weeks? I don't know. It's everything everywhere, all at once, at all times. And so the headspace has been pretty much reflective of that. It's like, I feel doing the best we can. It's a lot of pressure right now, and that's what really created the album.
- [03:54]
Host 3
I think, by the way, eight years isn't a long time. Cause there's certain artists, you know, you, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Sza.
- [04:01]
Miguel (Musician)
To me, Kendrick, Crazy.
- [04:03]
Host 3
I don't need y' all to put out records every year. You know what I mean? Put out records when the spirit moves you.
- [04:07]
Miguel (Musician)
Valid.
- [04:08]
Host 3
Yeah, that's how I feel.
- [04:09]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah. Yeah.
- [04:10]
Host 3
And, you know, you've always been proud of your Mexican roots, but it seems like you're leaning into them more deeply now.
- [04:15]
Miguel (Musician)
What inspired that shift, man, That's. That's digging and. And really getting to. I really didn't want to do music anymore. I was getting to a place where I was like. And the reason why is. Which I feel like, you know, in your books. And, man, congratulations, bro. Because the last Time I was, you know, it was before you published your first book, so. Congratulations, man. Thank you. It's an incredible feat that's, like, up there with, like, running a marathon, you know, it's like, I'm probably never gonna run a marathon or write a book, but, you know.
- [04:47]
Host 3
Yeah, it's got a story.
- [04:49]
Miguel (Musician)
Why didn't you. Yeah, I don't know, man.
- [04:50]
Host 2
Why didn't you want to do music? Why did you almost walk away from it?
- [04:54]
Miguel (Musician)
My priority, the way I was prioritizing how it affected my sense of myself, you know, I think I entered into my career as a musician, as an artist with the idea of becoming someone that was on the main stage and on the TV screen doing the. Getting the record, and. And we've been very blessed, very blessed to have an audience who've given us that platform. You know, I have an amazing audience, and I love them deeply, and they've really made my music successful. And I think that can take priority of, you know, and really rinse the real purpose of creating from one's own motivation. And it can kind of like cannibalize the whole experience, because then you start to not expect, but you're aiming for. Well, if the record didn't do as good as this one, then it kind of robs the value. And I needed to take some time to figure out what was gonna be my motivation moving forward, you know, to be fair. And I never stopped making music, but I think the act of putting music out, especially with the industry changing, I mean, you've seen the industry change.
- [06:13]
Host 3
Absolutely.
- [06:14]
Miguel (Musician)
We've gone through revolutions of new ways of putting out records. I know you guys are seeing it because you're seeing the artists and you're seeing how it all moves. It was a very different game when I came in, you know, and it was.
- [06:29]
Host 3
You had CDs.
- [06:30]
Miguel (Musician)
Yes, right, we had CD. It was real physical. I mean, we still. CDs are coming back now. It's crazy, but it was a very different game. And I think learning, relearning, refinding my. My love and also doing some real hard work on. On. On me.
- [06:51]
Host 2
Yeah.
- [06:52]
Miguel (Musician)
Figuring out where I'm at. Like, let me just check in. I forgot that I've been on a run for some time. I didn't take time. So.
- [06:58]
Host 3
Was leaning into your heritage part of that, though?
- [07:00]
Miguel (Musician)
Like, it became. It became a natural part of it because really doing. Trying to understand, you know, where my. My decisions, my decision making were becoming habitual and not really, like, thought, you know, I wasn't really thinking Things through. It was like knee jerk reactions to things and just looking at where I was and where I wanted to be and the discrepancy between that, you know, I had to, you know, now everybody, which is a great thing, is like, you know, going and doing therapy and meditation and on. On all of my self work and shadow work and whatnot. I think it just naturally pushed me into really getting to know and be appreciative. Not that I was never. I was always super and you know, this. I've always said I'm black and Mexican, I'm Mexican and black, you know, always proud of it, but really like having a like, sense of it. And the things that I looked back and thought were kind of. I don't want to say I look at them so much more as blessings than as challenges. I always felt that growing up, my heritage, it was a challenge. I'm like, man, why am I always having to prove myself? Like, why do I. I'm with these people, I feel like I gotta prove that I'm this black or I'm with these people. I gotta prove that I'm this Mexican. And. And over these eight years, I think taking that time has really given me a sense of pride. And I look back and I'm like, man, I'm so proud that it's given me a unique perspective and it's given me a unique positioning. And also how I am with people and who I am with people is a reflection of the cultures that I've been blessed to take me and, you know, throw their arms around me and have that. So naturally, I think with that I've explored more of my songwriting. It's made its way into my songwriting. It certainly made its way into. And also as you become a parent, you know, congratulations. Thank you very much. Yeah, yeah. You become a parent and you really start to look at the things that were great about your child, the things you love about it, and things that are worth passing on as well as the things that you definitely do not want to pass on. That's right. You know, leaning in and in all these different ways and all the cultural. Just the beautiful cultural things that I been blessed with was a very natural thing. So.
- [09:27]
Host 1
Yeah. Did you feel like at one point you talk about making it to the big stages and being a different place now about your heritage, did you feel like at one point you couldn't lean into your heritage because it wouldn't get you to that main stage? Because even in your music on this album, you're speaking in Spanish and all the things that we didn't hear a lot from you.
- [09:43]
Host 3
Your name is Miguel.
- [09:44]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, exactly.
- [09:45]
Host 1
But still, there's a lot of people, I don't think there's a lot of people that would know that you're like, I'm Mexican. Like, this is my heritage first, like, to be honest with you, I think we look at you as like a mainstream rock star artist, and we don't think about your heritage.
- [10:01]
Miguel (Musician)
That's love. I mean, in the past, it's always been that I never wanted to lean on it as a crutch. I was very aware that there was pressure, like, why don't you just do the. Do the Spanish? I mean, and. And also different game at the time, too. It wasn't like Latin music was a premier, you know, big. You know, it wasn't a big market here. Right. But it also was. It was one of those things that I never wanted to do that it didn't feel natural, you know, it didn't feel authentic. And there was a time in my career kind of towards the. Towards, like the. Towards Wild Heart, that I wanted to make it more, really start exploring it. I took a trip to, you know, where my family's from, Samora Michoacan in Mexico. And that was kind of the beginning of really getting in and like, wanting it to feel natural. And so I think since then, it being like, you know, five, six years, naturally, it's become more and more. But I tell you, becoming a parent will do it. You'll really just start to look at everything.
- [11:12]
Host 2
Listen, congratulations. How is fatherhood? How's that?
- [11:15]
Miguel (Musician)
It's incredible. It's the most. Is. I. I've. I don't sleep, but I'm the most. I got the most energy I've ever had. I. I also, I feel so much more sure about what is, what is and what isn't for me, you know, it'll definitely do that. You'll be like, yep, nah. Absolutely.
- [11:35]
Host 3
No.
- [11:36]
Miguel (Musician)
You know, you start cutting things out.
- [11:37]
Host 3
And you realize how precious time is, man. Anything that takes away from it, this little being, I gotta raise over here. Yeah, you gotta be worth it.
- [11:44]
Miguel (Musician)
It's gotta be worth it. It better be. And don't play with my time, you know, so I just. I try and maximize as much as I possibly can and. And it's made us, you know, in terms of creating it just. I don't know, I feel I'm the most inspired. Even my next 10 years are more clear. You know, I started a company. I. I think it was. He's, you know, a catalyst for a lot of where I'm at and where I'm going.
- [12:12]
Host 3
So, yeah, I'm glad that you've been doing the work on yourself.
- [12:15]
Miguel (Musician)
Do you.
- [12:15]
Host 3
Do you feel like leaning into your heritage now is also about healing, like, maybe reclaiming parts of your culture or history that weren't always centered for you growing up?
- [12:24]
Miguel (Musician)
Absolutely. It's. It's one of the blessings that I feel come with that, you know, when you start to really look at yourself and you're like, okay, well, who am I? You know, who do I want to be? Who am I really proud to be? And what are the things? I'm not really. I can't really take this with me. It's not gonna. It may have gotten me here, but it's not gonna get me where I want to go, you know, and all of that has been sort of happening in tandem. You know, one kind of, like, informs the other, so. Yeah. Yeah.
- [13:01]
Host 2
You still care about numbers and winning awards and stuff?
- [13:04]
Miguel (Musician)
Oh, no, we want to win awards, of course. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy to receive an award if it's. If it's granted, but I don't show up with an expectation or that being the. And you know what? I'm gonna be real with you. I used to say that. I used to say, like, nah, I'm not tripping on no one, but I'll be. I'll be mad. I'll be. I'll be so mad if I wasn't nominated or if I didn't get it or what have you. But. And you know what? If it's to happen again and I do or I don't, I'm sure I'll feel away. But I also know that it took a long time to refine the, like, the love for. Just create. Just to. Just to make something and be excited about it, just to find that I'll never let go of that again. I will never. I'll never let any of the. And also, because even the conversation with this album, it's a. It's about me peeling back layers and having a conversation with my audience that's not. Not about. Like, let me make a song that everyone's gonna sing, and then hopefully it becomes a big song, and then I get the thing. The whole intention is, like, I'm telling you, like, it hurts to be human, you know, I'm telling you, like, man, sometimes I lose myself, sometimes I. That's. To have a conversation that's not about. I didn't write. I didn't go in like, I'm gonna write the big record. I wrote the album that was like, I want to have a conversation.
- [14:35]
Host 2
Yeah.
- [14:35]
Miguel (Musician)
Which means that I'm. I'm showing up to. To have a deeper relationship with my audience. That means that the music and. And everything that that happens with that. It's about the personal. It's about the personal thing. It's like the intimacy. Yeah.
- [14:49]
Host 3
I feel like you can hear it in the album, though. Like. Like, what's something you've unlearned in order to grow as both a man and an artist?
- [14:57]
Miguel (Musician)
Unlearned to grow as both a man and an artist? You know, we have a lot of people that support us all the time, but you have to be so clear with yourself. You have to have ultimate clarity about what you want. If you're not clear, you're susceptible to being pulled and swayed by different. In different directions. And lots of directions have great things about them, and they can be pitched to you and be colored in ways that make you want to go that way. Without clarity, you're susceptible to. And as millions of past. You know, this is like, man, I could think of a million, you know, ways where something could be. Can look really nice. But you have, without ultimate clarity of where you want to go and what you really want to do and how you want to feel. Oh, that's what it is. And have clarity about how you wanna feel. I think that because before I was like, I know I wanna be a. You know, I wanna be an artist that's known for making music that's timeless or that is true. It's at its core. There's a soul there. And I was very successful at doing that. But I was. I didn't have clarity about how I wanted to feel about being a musician, being an artist. And so having clarity about how you feel is important.
- [16:23]
Host 3
The reason that's so powerful. Cause they'll tell you, right? Like, you know, we listening to the album. I listen to the album, like, three times, and they was like, do you like the album? I said I love the album. And I said, the reason I love the album is because Miguel is a feeling to me. Same way Erygo Badu and Jill Scott is a feeling to me. I know what Miguel's gonna make me feel like. So if I didn't get that feeling, I'd be like, damn. And it ain't about a sound or anything. It's just a feeling. So I'm glad that you are that intentional about putting that feeling into your music, because we as consumers Feel that.
- [16:50]
Host 1
What was the point? Because I know in, like, the New Martyrs for you, you talk a lot about being able to find yourself or keep yourself while losing yourself at the same time, right?
- [16:58]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [16:59]
Host 1
But it seems like you've arrived at that point, especially by the end of the album when you're talking to your son. What was it for you, where you were like, okay, I'm here. Like, was it an event? Was it a song you made? Like, oh, I'm not what turned you around?
- [17:09]
Miguel (Musician)
I wouldn't even be pretentious like that and be like, I'm here. You know, I think that's the. That's the. That's a big one that I want to embrace in my life, is that there is no here, you know, or I've not. I've never arrived. The moment I felt that way in the past, that was when I was starting to really unravel. Because then I'm like, I am. I am this. I am this. It makes you. You lock in too many things, too. It's like. It's great things to know about yourself. But to say that you've arrived or that you've. You've met your final form, I think is such a treacherous place. It also robs you of the excitement of the possibility, and it takes away any kind of sense of being a student and remaining moldable, remaining plastic, you know, plastic. What is it like, neuroplasticity? You know, it's like remaining able to be taught and learn and then to take those in to teach. I think that's the. The beauty of. Of this. This experience is like that. What's that? It's a quote, Lauryn Hill. She's like, if it's not growing, it's dead. That's like, I'm trying to stay there. I'm trying to stay growing. So to answer your question, this. I think what. What got me to talking about what I've. What I've been talking. What I've been, you know, what the album really encompasses or to even just make the album about that energy, about the energy of being angry and. And not. Not okay, you know, but still pushing through to figure it out was just not finally just being like, I don't want to accept this anymore. I don't want to accept this experience, this feeling, because this is not how I want to feel. I want to feel great, and I want to feel like I'm moving forward, and for whatever reason, I'm hitting the same. I'm hitting donuts in my cycles. You know what I'M saying, I'm like, shit, look fun. Oh, excuse me. Look fun, but I'm not going anywhere, you know?
- [19:19]
Host 3
Did you ever feel like you were dying? Like, you know, you weren't growing? Like, did you ever.
- [19:23]
Miguel (Musician)
There was. There's some songs that the initial iterations of the album are not on this album, that I think I will put them out. But in the context of everything, I think it felt really heavy. But there was some real. It was some dark moments, man. I will say I was feeling like I was losing my mind for a second, and I couldn't. I couldn't. I was like, is it something I'm eating? I did everything. I did. Cleanses, I did, you know, I, like, went away. Worked on music alone. Went away and didn't do anything and just sat with myself. And it just felt like I was this nothing, you know, just it. And I think wherever we are in this time, whether it's. If it's, you know, technology, whether I. We've got a lot of pressure.
- [20:13]
Host 2
Yeah.
- [20:14]
Miguel (Musician)
Everybody's dealing with a lot. And everything is moving so fast. It's moving so fast, and the information is just too much. You can't tell what is true and what is false and trying to make sense of it all while you're trying to survive. Oh, wow. You know, you're trying to get your shit off. You're trying to do your. Be your best self, you know, and all the things that we want to be. It's a lot, man. It's a lot. It's a lot. So I've locked in more to, like, okay, well, how do I want to feel? How do we get there?
- [20:44]
Host 1
You know? It felt like on the album when you did the song Angels, the angel song.
- [20:48]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [20:48]
Host 1
For your song. And that's your son's voice on the song.
- [20:51]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [20:51]
Host 1
Okay. When I was listening to that song, after listening to the production in the beginning, which was really, like, heavy and dark, it feels like that's when, like, the sunshine comes out. Not to be, like, cliche, but how has been a father changed how you tell your story in music?
- [21:07]
Miguel (Musician)
I think the core of what I'm saying has to be. I'm working on making what I say very clear and easy to understand because I'm anticipating he's gonna be asking more and more questions. We asking questions soon? I mean, he's already saying no. We were talking about this in the elevator. He's one year old, and he's like, no. But right now, it's a question. It's like, no. Like, can I say no. Or is like. Is no the right response right now? But in a short amount of time, he's gonna be saying no. That's right. You know, and I'm asking to come with questions, and I'm gonna have to have answers. And I feel like that's made its way into my music. I'm not saying I'm there yet, but wanting to be really clear again. Just clear about how I feel and clear about where I'm. What I'm getting at.
- [22:03]
Host 3
And let kids know their boundaries early because I don't know what happens to us as adults, but at some point, we just forget how to say no. It's valid.
- [22:10]
Miguel (Musician)
It's valid. That's one of my favorite things, is when he's like. Or he doesn't want to go to somebody. You know, people get.
- [22:16]
Host 2
What is it?
- [22:17]
Miguel (Musician)
When people get that? Your child, you know, somebody asked me to hold him. I'm like, your baby? I don't know you.
- [22:22]
Host 2
Right.
- [22:23]
Host 1
Was it like a female?
- [22:25]
Miguel (Musician)
You seen that? I know. Yo, that's weird.
- [22:28]
Host 3
It was even worse when we were kids when adults would be like, no, give them a hug, baby. Oh, yeah, give him a kiss.
- [22:32]
Miguel (Musician)
Like, I don't know this mother. Nah. You know what I mean?
- [22:34]
Host 3
So we teach these kids not to have boundaries so early, and then we gotta learn to have boundaries again as we get older.
- [22:40]
Host 1
Yeah, and on that song, too, I thought this was powerful. You say, sorry, I'm not perfect, but there's nothing I wouldn't do. And I'm like, that feeling as, you know, as a new dad, that's like, a heck of a feeling, I imagine, for you to experience.
- [22:52]
Miguel (Musician)
It's real. It's. Look, I own a gun. There are things that I never thought that I would be and do at this stage of my life. And, you know, I talk about this in the album, too. It's like life has a way of, you know, taking you in unexpected places, taking you unexpected great ones and places that you're like, okay, well, I didn't expect that. But, I mean, there are definitely things where I'm like, I can understand parents being extremely like, you know, I be protective, you know, and so there isn't anything that I can't imagine myself. Look, they're gonna pull this shit up if anything happens in the future, like, exhibit A. D. Say exhibit A. He did say that. Yeah. No, but I think any parent out there can relate to this. It's like, you would.
- [23:49]
Host 2
There is.
- [23:50]
Miguel (Musician)
I look at him like, man, you.
- [23:52]
Host 3
Kill somebody, I will.
- [23:54]
Miguel (Musician)
I'll go to the end zone, you know, And. And. And probably without even thinking about it. I think it's also what has given me a lot of. What angel changed was I had lost a lot of hope and faith in what? In everything. In humanity and possibility and the, like, purpose of all of whatever this shit is. I just was like, big time, big time grief. And I've talked about that too. That was something I was processing, that needed to be dealt with first. But that was top layer. Then you go down, you're like, man, I'm carrying a lot of. You know, I've got resentment for people in my life that I grew up with. And, man, I feel I've been taken advantage of in these different kinds of ways in business and these kinds of ways. And I was lucky, right? Man, I was so lucky. I could have. Man, they could have got me in terms of, like, taking advantage of, like, just being a young artist and, like, putting things in front of me. And again, I'm so grateful. They could have really. I could have been in a bad situation in terms of, like, financial and. But I got lucky. I've got people who listen and. And thankfully, the music has really grabbed on to people. But in. In hindsight, I look at it and I go, wow, I have so much more faith than I did before. And it's really. It's very much because of my son. So. Yeah. Yeah.
- [25:29]
Host 2
And go ahead and slow it down. Song you say, Pray I can make peace with the past because tomorrow comes way too fast.
- [25:37]
Miguel (Musician)
You guys really listen. Thank you so much.
- [25:39]
Host 2
They ain't send it over for nothing.
- [25:43]
Miguel (Musician)
That's right. That's right.
- [25:45]
Host 3
By the way. By the way, she's married to a Mexican black man.
- [25:57]
Miguel (Musician)
And everything, you know, all that.
- [25:59]
Host 2
So I wanted you to, like, unpack that.
- [26:01]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [26:01]
Host 2
You know what I mean?
- [26:02]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah. Pray I could make peace with the past because tomorrow comes way too fast. I mean, it's hindsight. Everything is so much clearer. And I mean, the. It's. It's. That's exactly what it feels like.
- [26:16]
Host 2
Even when you were saying, like, people that you grew up with taking advantage of you and things like that, like, would you.
- [26:21]
Miguel (Musician)
I don't want it. That sounds so crazy because that'll be a sound bite after this. But, you know, it's like, I just thought about it. I was like, all. I can definitely see people be like, they could have got me. And they'd be like, see? But. But it's. You look at things with so much more clarity and maybe. How. How. Not again. Not Knowing how I wanted to feel.
- [26:46]
Host 2
Yeah.
- [26:46]
Miguel (Musician)
And just going with things and. And again, awareness, being. Being just like in it and being present and grateful. Having so much. I've always been a grateful person. But again, when you do this for. And you start to see, like, people react to the. And then it's like, oh, this is what happens when that happens. And you start to look at it and it's not expectation per se. Yeah. But it's that you're like, wanting it secretly. You know, you're like, at your core, you're like, nah, I really want the success. I really want this to happen. And you put this pressure on it and it becomes a big cycle of things. And by the time you get to the other side, you spent so much time wanting and expecting and not looking at the. The greatness in the midst of it and feeling the greatness and just being, you know, in the midst of it and. And loving those moments. And in that feeling, you. You look back and it's already over.
- [27:45]
Host 2
Yeah.
- [27:45]
Miguel (Musician)
You know, you're so focused on, well, what's gonna happen and being anxious about it and hoping and man. Yeah, just be with the feeling, man. Stay. Stay in that mode.
- [27:54]
Host 1
Talking a little bit about, you know, the past and you mentioned, like the grieving and different things. On Always Time, you say, maybe this time love means letting go. You talk about private truths and public woes and you thought there would always be time to fight for love. The, you know, an honest and like, first listen. I was like, is this about his past relationship and wanting to fight for that?
- [28:15]
Miguel (Musician)
Yes, absolutely. That album is absolutely. It's about my. It's about my. I mean, I've had a. I've been very. It's very public that I was married.
- [28:25]
Host 1
And we were very locked into you guys relationship as well, too.
- [28:28]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, it was a bit. It was a big part of my. My experience as a human being this time around. Yeah. You know, that was a massive part. I was with Nas when I was 19. You know what I'm saying? It was a long time. And in the midst of that, I was being a musician and becoming a musician and finding my audience and all of that, and it was a lot of learning. It's a lot of learning. Who were we? Who were we all when we were in 19, 20, 20. In your 20s? Yeah, look, I'm just hitting my. I'm feeling like, okay, I know exactly who I am. And look, I don't. I'm still learning, but I know my values. That's the part that's what I meant to say earlier, values don't change, you know, I mean your values, that's your core, but everything else and your style, your whatever, how you your values, your core values. Those are the things that I think I don't need to necessarily discover my values. I think where I'm at is that I'm honing them. I'm sure I'm only strengthening them. I'm only like doubling down on them, but always time. That song was written because I was uncovering a lot of my values in real time. And one of those things that I've always been is the word loyal is crazy because loyalty I saw my grandparents stay together are my entire life, you know, they were loyal to the family. But loyalty like where the days you.
- [30:10]
Host 2
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- [31:56]
Miguel (Musician)
Hey, this is Sarah. Look, I'm standing out front of a.m. p.m. Right now. And well, you're sweet and all, but I found something more fulfilling, even kind of cheesy. But I like it. Sure, you met some of my dietary needs, but they've just got it all. So farewell. Oatmeal. So long, use strange.
- [32:13]
Host 3
So break up with bland breakfast and taste. AM PMs. Bacon, egg and cheese biscuit made with K tree eggs, smoked bacon and melty cheese on a buttery biscuit. Am P M. Too much? Good stuff.
- [32:25]
Hunter (Podcast Host)
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- [33:27]
Miguel (Musician)
Happy, right? You know, I don't know. And that's, that's, that's a crazy one. And that song is about kind of like coming to terms with, you know, I can't even be the right person for you. I can't. I can't be it. I. And like, discovering that in real time is crazy work. When you're like, damn, I thought the whole thing was like, I'm supposed to fight it out and we're supposed to do it. And even when it's. And at some point you, when you stop and you go, you know what? The best thing I can do is actually let it go.
- [34:04]
Host 3
That's not what the marriage vows see, that's not what, that's not what my grandparents did.
- [34:07]
Miguel (Musician)
Right.
- [34:08]
Host 3
So all of that, psychologically, I'm sure it does.
- [34:11]
Miguel (Musician)
It's. I think that's, that's where generate. Our generations now are looking at the construct of marriage with a very, through a very different lens and also looking at the history, the historical evolution of what that meant, what that means and what it was before it was about the ring and about the. You know what I mean? And how that's like, it's sort of, it's taken away. And again, I'm not saying Anything about marriage or. I think it's a beautiful thing. I was so happy to be married when I was. Whether or not I was able to, you know, be true to it, you know, I think it's a. Such a beautiful idea. I think the word and the symbolism sometimes take away the purpose or what is supposed to be really representative of. You know, it's like, man, it's supposed to be that there's a relationship that's unshakable and you guys are really going to be partners in the whole shit. I don't know what happens, but most people I talk to are married. That it turns into something else. The partnership somehow is like. It's. The symbolism takes precedence over the actual core thing of what it's supposed to be.
- [35:27]
Host 1
Yeah.
- [35:28]
Host 3
I don't know the degree for that, you know, Breakup. Keep you away from the music.
- [35:36]
Miguel (Musician)
Maybe, maybe not. Not in it. In and of itself, but I think the me underneath it and needing to understand what. What was informing my decisions is what kept me from. From doing the music. I need to go do some work. That's really. At the end. At the end of the day, I need to go figure my shit out. I needed to go figure it out because. Because it wasn't working and. And yeah, it's a. It's. Life is a trip, man. It's a trip. But always time is one of those ones. It's a. Like, it's such a. Like, that's a hard accepting but true, very honest song. Yeah.
- [36:18]
Host 2
And people always forget, yo, you are rock stars, superstar, celebrity, Miguel and all that, but you're still a real person.
- [36:24]
Miguel (Musician)
You look the real shit, you know. So I think we're all rock stars, superstar. Like, listen, this is. Every day you guys are. Everyone is a rock star. Everybody. Everyone at their core can be that. Like, you know. Yeah. Every. I. That's the thing. I was talking about humility before because we get this a lot. That is like, oh, be humble. Or I always get, man, you're so humble, you know, as opposed to. As opposed to, you know, oh, like rock star. Yeah, but everybody is, though. Everyone is. Has greatness. Everyone has purpose. Everyone. That's what I am. I'm not humble. I just don't think I'm greater than anyone else. I just think that I. I believe that I have something that's important to do and that everyone has something important to do. And I treat everyone like, no, you're here and you have something here to do and there's a purpose.
- [37:23]
Host 2
Yeah. Because I always look at the Word. Humble. As to being less than what you actually really are.
- [37:27]
Miguel (Musician)
Exactly.
- [37:28]
Host 2
Yeah. So I like how you just put that, you know?
- [37:31]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah. I'm trying. Hopefully you get what I'm saying. I'm like, man, look, they use humble sometimes. Like, yo, keep you in your place. Yeah. I'm like, no, no, Our place is greatness, man.
- [37:41]
Host 1
Do you feel like all of the work that you've done in, like, the place that you're at now with yourself, if you had done it before, you and Nas could have worked out your marriage.
- [37:50]
Miguel (Musician)
If I would have done all of this before, who's to say no? We definitely would have had a much better shot. A much better shot. But, you know, the. You know, the past is. You look back and it's so much clear. Everything is. What is it? Hindsight, everything. It's so much clearer. Yeah, it would have been. It would have been a very different experience. But can't change the past.
- [38:17]
Host 2
No.
- [38:18]
Miguel (Musician)
You know, and I'm very happy that we've had adult, real, like, man. And I've been able to. It's different when you're able to come to somebody and go, you know, I didn't realize I was doing this, and I'm really sorry.
- [38:32]
Host 1
Wow.
- [38:33]
Miguel (Musician)
And it doesn't take it away that it happened and that I did that. And I just want to give you some context. And I'm just so deeply sorry. I would never do this. And, you know, to be able to say that doesn't erase it, but at least lets them know, like, no, there's real love here. And that's. Yeah, that's where it was at the core. I just wasn't a big enough person. I wasn't an aware enough person to protect you for. From my automatic ways and things that I learned from generations and generations, you.
- [39:04]
Host 1
Know, place to be at.
- [39:06]
Miguel (Musician)
It's great. Yeah. Yeah.
- [39:08]
Host 1
But it's good to hear that y' all are in that space. Yeah, definitely good to hear. On Nearsight. Slow it down. You say slow it down for me because I might not get to feel this again. Did you feel like coming out of the situation with you and now that you weren't going to find love like that again?
- [39:22]
Miguel (Musician)
That song is more about all of everything. I've never. And even she any. I'll say this, and I said this before. I don't believe that there's like. It's like just one love. And I don't believe in, like, there's only one person. It's like, how many billions of people now?
- [39:42]
Host 3
What are you saying? It's when the Mexicans start to come out. Yeah, women. What do you mean? What are you saying? What are you saying?
- [39:49]
Miguel (Musician)
I'm just saying that I don't believe in. In a one. There's only one, you know, like monogamy or. I'm not saying. I'm not saying monogamy or anything. I'm not talking about constructs. I'm just saying that there's only. I don't believe it. There's only one person that you can find love with and actually build a healthy relationship with, whatever that means for them. I just don't believe in that. I do believe in love, and I do believe in being in love. So when I say that in that song, that's more about life in general. I want to be in this moment because everything is fleeting, and I feel it more and more now. I feel all of time, you know, I'm so, like, I want to. I want to get all the moments. I want to, like, just, like, even, like, coming back to doing these, you know, and it's like, before, I was like, yeah, you go do the ready thing, whatever, and then you go on tour, and it's just like, that's the thing you do not. Not really absorbing that, you know, this is people's time, you guys. All this is your careers, you guys. You guys earned to be in this room. And not just to be in this room, but to stay in this room and to be effective and to talk to people and to get people to really listen and pay attention to you. And me being in this room is like, I'm so grateful. I'm like, damn. I'm with people who have dedicated themselves to what they love, man. Don't ever take that for granted. Anytime I'm in a room with somebody and they've just. They've proven their. Their. Their dedication. We did the Blue Note for two nights over the weekend, and I'm in the room with Robert Glasper. Jamie Foxx pops up. You know, I'm in the. I mean, Jahi Sundance is somebody I've known since I was a teenager. These people have been in music and have been effective and incredible. And, like, I'm looking at pictures on the wall and I'm like, I will never take this for granted ever.
- [41:44]
Host 3
Damn, I wish I didn't even know you was at the Blue Note. That have been. Fire. Fire. Miguel at the Blue Note.
- [41:50]
Miguel (Musician)
Fire. It was great. It was great. Yeah, it was great.
- [41:53]
Host 2
Fans wanted.
- [41:53]
Miguel (Musician)
Real quick.
- [41:54]
Host 2
It's a fan mail that just popped up, said, is Miguel. In love now.
- [41:58]
Miguel (Musician)
In love. I love, man. I would say it's gonna. I need some healing to be in love. Right now. I'm working on being in love with me if I'm being very, very honest. And I have to do that work for my son.
- [42:12]
Host 2
Got you.
- [42:14]
Miguel (Musician)
But I love myself more and more every day because I'm. I'm proud of the decisions that I've been making, and I just lean on those. And. And when I have moments where I'm feeling a little, because I do still. I still. Sometimes I'm like, man, this is. This is a lot. Yeah. You know? It's a lot. Yeah. I'm. I'm. I can look at the things that the decisions make and how I'm making decisions and. And the why and leaning into, again, my values and my principles make that make it easier and easier. So I'm getting closer. And I do hope one day I can be in love again. Yeah. But right now, I'm working on numero uno, you know?
- [42:57]
Host 3
Oh, what did you say, Jeff?
- [42:57]
Host 2
I said I'm gonna go ahead and respond. Say no.
- [42:59]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [42:59]
Host 3
We don't even have fandom.
- [43:01]
Host 1
No, wait, before you go, I was gonna just ask. Because that question, how you answered it made me think of this, right? You're in this really peaceful space, and you're getting back into all of this because of the album, and. And you talked about your son. When you posted your happy birthday for your son, the world erupted, and it wasn't positive. How do you. People were upset that you had a baby. Not with Nas that we didn't know about, but it's your choice. How do you deal with that in this new space? Like fans and people wanting to just inject their thoughts into that. Cause you're in a different space now.
- [43:30]
Miguel (Musician)
Well, it's not new. Definitely not new to me. It's been a long time since I've kind of been so. To kind of come out and to kind of. Again, kind of have an experience where people, you know, feel the need to express how they feel about your life. You know, it's just that it's. It was a good reminder coming in, I was like, oh, yep.
- [43:52]
Host 1
Were you like, no, man.
- [43:54]
Miguel (Musician)
No. You know what? I'm ready. I'm ready for it. See, I. And I did it with so much intention. I really am proud. I'm proud to be a father. I'm proud of my partner. She's incredible, amazing. She's like. I mean, he couldn't have a better mother. I'm just. And Life doesn't always happen the way that we imagine things to happen. And. And I also realized that we became a symbol when I was with Nas. We became a symbol to a lot of people of what, you know, relationships could be and could look like and things. But we're just human beings, just like everybody else.
- [44:31]
Host 2
Exactly.
- [44:32]
Miguel (Musician)
And we were mad young. Like, I was young. Like, I was coming up in my 20s, you know what I mean? So I did a lot of things the wrong way, you know, and I'm not proud of them, and I'm not making excuses, but come on, man. We've all done things that we like. You know what? I wouldn't do that again. Like, that. I would actually do it like this, you know, And I'm good with being upfront about, hey, I wasn't perfect, you know, but I'm here now, and my life has a lot more of a different experience that I get to show up in a better way for. And if people are, you know, upset about what they see, that's your. You could be upset, you know, but.
- [45:14]
Host 3
They don't know y' all all the time.
- [45:17]
Miguel (Musician)
I mean, it's only. It doesn't really. Yeah, it's. I. It's hard for me to say. I just. I'm just like. Look, I get that. That's what comes with the territory, you know? There is plenty of other things to focus on.
- [45:30]
Host 2
What you just described, like, what you just described is growing up, living your life like you said. You were young, you know, you made mistakes. That's everybody. That's like, just growing up, living life and learning. That's just what it is.
- [45:42]
Host 1
I think for a lot of the fans, though, even if you didn't know the timeline, the thing was, people felt like you got.
- [45:48]
Miguel (Musician)
That's what bothered me the most, though, I have to say this. The fucked up part is that people start doing the wrong math. The one thing I did not do is. Is start a relationship while I was married and then had a baby.
- [46:02]
Host 1
Okay, thanks for.
- [46:03]
Miguel (Musician)
I got divorced. And I'm gonna say this straight up. Everybody out there talking shit like, I was still in a marriage, and then I had a baby or I was having a. What is that? An affair? All this time I met. I met my son's mom after we were divorced. I met her at an event that we were not even supposed to go to that was. Well, after we were done. So anybody out there, it's always the one or two that just go. You know, they was together, and he had been seeing this girl for years. And they've been, no, I had never even known, we never crossed paths until after. So that's the one thing I will say I do get upset about that. I can't control it. But that makes me mad because also the, this woman is a good person. She's a great human being. And so, and I can't protect, I can't stop people from slandering, you know.
- [46:58]
Host 3
Because if you pop out with it, it might be like, look, she's a homework. And you're like, no.
- [47:01]
Host 1
How did you guys talk through that moment though? Because it was such a happy moment. And then it turned into. Not that.
- [47:06]
Miguel (Musician)
That's the hardest part. That's the, that's a, that's a crazy one. I wish. I, I, I don't, I don't wish this actually. I think this, this path of being, you know, public facing with your career or what have you, it just, it does have its ups and it's, it's got some, some things that, you know, you just going to have to deal with it. And this is one of them, is that personal things become public conversation in ways that they shouldn't, you know, but it's just a part of what comes with it. It was, it's been hard, you know, it was, it was, it was, it was a challenge because it should have been a very. And it still is. Don't get me wrong. I, listen, you're not about to take the happiness. You're not gonna rob me of the joy of being like, man, I'm so proud of this. And that's, that's why, that's what it was. And, and for her, I know she's, she's like, she's so happy and like, okay, cool, like, we're good. We don't gotta like. Because also he's getting older. And I think the big worry was when you put a child in the public, the moment the face is out there, then people can take pictures and this and that. So we were being very, very private. First and foremost for his safety. And then second of all also, like, let us get our, get our shit together. Like, let's let us, you know, get our groove. You know what I mean? Like, let's figure it out, let's dial in. But then there's also knowing the public is like, they want to know. So, so on that side, I'm. You're not going to find out when he's five years old, you know, I mean, I'm not going to. I wasn't going to wait till he was Five. Yeah, but. But I was expecting it to be a lot less slander. Yeah.
- [48:48]
Host 1
I think people just attached to your old relationship a lot. Yeah, like a whole lot.
- [48:52]
Miguel (Musician)
I understand. They need to listen to Always Time.
- [48:57]
Host 3
So what is New Martyrs about, then?
- [48:59]
Miguel (Musician)
New Mars is a whole other. So this. This album is. Is. There's a lot of anger in this album, but I want to say that because I feel like it's relatable. I feel generally we're all angry.
- [49:11]
Host 3
Yeah, absolutely.
- [49:12]
Miguel (Musician)
I feel so much anger in the. Just the ethos. It just feels like. Because we don't know, today's like, okay, it's fine tomorrow. I don't know if there's a genocide happening right now. There is a genocide happening right now. And I have to say it again. There is a genocide happening right now. And it's public. It's not like we're. It's like a century ago where we were getting news from the radio. This is real time on your phone. And there's so much happening right now that you could just scroll past it. Like, we can ignore it right here in our communities. There's a lot of things that are being rot. We're being robbed of. People are being taken advantage of. I think that's when we see things like the Mangioni case. When you see the Charlie Kirk incident, you look at it and you start to be like. Well, right.
- [50:02]
Host 2
You'd be dissens. You've become desensitized.
- [50:04]
Host 3
Or you understand. Well, you kind of understand why that's happening.
- [50:08]
Miguel (Musician)
You understand why people are like. When. When the man. The. The fascinating part about the whole Mangione thing was people got behind him. Oh, yeah.
- [50:16]
Host 1
They were dressing like him every day.
- [50:17]
Host 2
They were doing documentary on him.
- [50:18]
Miguel (Musician)
They're. They got behind her.
- [50:20]
Host 1
It's like a social media thing, but pop culture thing, but also like a political. Like, they made him out to be like this whole.
- [50:27]
Host 3
The line you say in the song, the love can't be silent when the system isn't.
- [50:31]
Miguel (Musician)
Isn't equal. Yeah, that's. That's. And that moniker is homage to, you know, in the 60s when we were organizing and we were really finding a way to carve out what was. What is right in this country for black people, for all. All ethnicities in these people really, in this country, rather for civil rights. That was a moniker. It was like, look, we can't be silent. It's not right. So we have to say something. And the song is inspired by just the general anger and the angst. I think we're all feeling when we're looking out and we're watching this shit not work the way that it's supposed to. I mean, our tax dollars are going to wars that we have no say about, and those tax numbers are going up. Absolutely.
- [51:21]
Host 3
Absolutely.
- [51:22]
Miguel (Musician)
I'm not. I'm not proud. Look, I'll pay my taxes gladly. Fine, Whatever. But I mean, now you're just. You're not. You're going to go apply that to a war that I don't believe in, you know what I'm saying? It's not supposed to work like that. It's not built like that. It wasn't built. It was built to actually. For us to have some say. We have representatives that are supposed to go and say, you know what? Taxpayer money. They don't want that. We have no say. We have had no say thus far. And so New Martin is inspired by these feelings of, like, man, we're all watching things in front of us that are. That it's not working for us. And modern examples of, like, the Mangione, I think, is like, vigilantism, extreme action are going to become more and more common if something changed. Yeah, absolutely.
- [52:07]
Host 3
And New Martyrs goes into. Triggered.
- [52:09]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, yeah.
- [52:10]
Host 3
That intentional. Yeah, okay.
- [52:12]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. More of the feeling.
- [52:15]
Host 3
More the feeling.
- [52:16]
Miguel (Musician)
The feeling.
- [52:16]
Host 2
Are we getting any visuals?
- [52:18]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, okay.
- [52:19]
Host 3
It's coming.
- [52:20]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [52:21]
Host 2
You got to put the vision to the word.
- [52:23]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, Yeah.
- [52:24]
Host 2
I love to see some Miguel visuals.
- [52:26]
Miguel (Musician)
It's coming. Yeah. We've been doing. We've been doing, like, shorter visuals leading in, but I have, like. I have more substantial ones in the. In the next couple. In the next couple weeks or I'm actually gonna play the video for New Martyrs, man. I've been honored to be invited to be scholar in residence at nyu. Yeah.
- [52:46]
Host 2
Amazing.
- [52:47]
Miguel (Musician)
So I built a program. The course is actually speaking chaos to power. Yeah. It's about taking what we know about chaotic times in our history and using those as examples in order to affect change in our modern time. Of course, I'm focusing mostly on the arts and how we can take the sort of. The disenfranchisement, the systematic. Yeah. Taking advantage of art and IP in the past and using that as ways now to take hold and control of industries and art. But it's to be applied across the board, so. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And we'll premiere the video for New Martyrs at the. At the end.
- [53:36]
Host 3
Good. Do you think artists have a responsibility to raise consciousness or just to tell the truth?
- [53:41]
Miguel (Musician)
Say it one more time.
- [53:42]
Host 3
Do you think artists have a Responsibility to raise the consciousness of people or just to tell their truth?
- [53:49]
Miguel (Musician)
Oh, I believe every individual has a responsibility to raise their own consciousness. I do believe that art is meant to bring human beings together, and the erasing of one's own separation from the next human being happens with art. And that, in and of itself, I do think, gives us the opportunity to raise consciousness. It's like you hear a song in Spanish that you don't know what it means, but you fuck with it. You love it, you feel it for whatever reason. That's art. Or you go see a painting and you sit there and you stand, you go. I don't know what it is about this, but I love this. You know, it's like great art is us finding ourselves in the details of the art. We lose our. We lose our own, and we become. There's a point of reference. There's a point of, like, we relate. I think that's what art does, and that's the. That's the purpose of artists. So I wouldn't say raise consciousness in and of itself, but I do think it is. I take it upon myself now to say that I feel responsible to make art that brings people together, and hopefully they forget the divisions that we have through the music. That's why I do love having great, you know, big songs. I think great, big songs that are able to whatever. If they're commercially successful or whatever, think of Adorn or. Sure Thing. I think of these songs even how many drinks? You know, I mean, I don't know.
- [55:20]
Host 3
I thought they were gonna cancel you for how many drinks at one point.
- [55:22]
Miguel (Musician)
That is a. That is a cons record. I want to go on. That is a consent record. There is a question in the song.
- [55:31]
Host 3
How many?
- [55:32]
Miguel (Musician)
How many? Hey, I know. How many would it. You know, I was.
- [55:37]
Host 3
It was a very bold choice to start the album off with a song with Spanish. Yeah, Yeah. I was like. Like, you said it sound fly, but I'm like, I have no idea what he's saying. What he's saying.
- [55:47]
Host 2
He could have been saying, your grandmother ugly, and you just over here singing.
- [55:51]
Host 3
But then you bought it right back to killing the pussy on the same day.
- [55:56]
Miguel (Musician)
Valid. Valid. Had to do it.
- [55:57]
Host 3
Had to do it. I just got a couple more questions. What does enlightenment look like for Miguel right now?
- [56:03]
Miguel (Musician)
Ooh, sureness. I think radical creativity and positivity in the power of what art can do. I think enlightenment for me is again, leaning into my values in a very radical. In the most, like. And I also think, like, choosing to be Happy. And choosing to be positive is what enlightenment looks like for me now, because otherwise I become apathetic. And then apathetic means that I'm don't care to do anything, and I just refuse to accept that there's nothing that can be done. So, yeah, that's what that looks like for me.
- [56:53]
Host 1
Oh, well, I was going to talk to you about the Martyrs artwork and how you gonna bring that into the class. But we kind of already passed that.
- [57:00]
Miguel (Musician)
But.
- [57:00]
Host 1
Yeah, yeah.
- [57:00]
Miguel (Musician)
So.
- [57:01]
Host 1
So the artwork for Martyrs and what you're doing at nyu when you're developing your course, like, selection, it's just you. And you're just using all of your art or. Oh, no, I wish I would a teacher to.
- [57:10]
Miguel (Musician)
No, I'm working. I'm working with professors. Yeah, yeah. To kind of put it together. Very much inspired by my experience as a. As a musician in the industry. My observations and my critique of what could be better and how it could be better, and really leaning on them for their insights on the past and how that intersection of art and commerce has always come at the expense of often black people, brown people. You know what I mean? It's like, often at our expense. And so what is it? What is it? What can we learn from the past to help us shape what industry looks like in a way that's equitable for the creators so that it's sustainable?
- [57:57]
Host 1
Were you at all nervous, though, in choosing to recreate such a bold moment of. Because this is the artwork. Right. Of Luigi.
- [58:05]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [58:05]
Host 1
Creating that moment from that security camera where he's shooting the gun. Right. And the reason I mentioned or asked you were you nervous about that? Is because I watched how Bad Bunny talked about not doing concerts here because he wants to protect his people from ice. Super bowl happens now. Politically, he is the conversation, and they coming for him. Right.
- [58:22]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [58:23]
Host 1
How do you. Where do you kind of lay in all of that, like, how you choose what you're gonna be radical against right now?
- [58:30]
Miguel (Musician)
I think it's the same thing when you see, you know, shows get canceled. I mean, Kimmel got canceled for a moment.
- [58:36]
Host 1
Yeah.
- [58:36]
Miguel (Musician)
But that was for a moment. And I bet you watch what happens at the Super Bowl. Watch how many people watch the viewership go crazy. It's going to break records. And then I bet you they never question if they're going to bring a Latino on on that stage. They'll never question it. You know why? Because it's touching their dollars. Yeah. And we saw that with Kimmel the moment they got backlash and their viewership went Down. Oh, no. It was like, bring them back. We don't have to figure this one out. You know what I mean? And so at the core of the chorus, it is about building your audience, which is another reason. And it's what my. My album is what it is. But I didn't make another record that primarily focuses on romance and that. That dynamic of my life or my perspective and love. And there'll be other records that I make that I'm sure I'll make songs like that and that sound feel good and whatnot. But right now, what it was. What this is about is me tapping into my audience and wanting to identify who's really my audience. Yeah. It's a proof. It's a case in point. You know, it's like I'm. I'm wanting to double down, that it's better to identify who's really there for you to listen and then build upon that so then you have leverage. And as we know, many times, we've heard this story a million times. Said artist walks into the, you know, record label, and they wanted. They want the deal. They want the whole thing that they're selling, but they don't have any leverage.
- [59:58]
Host 2
Yeah.
- [59:58]
Miguel (Musician)
And you look at that versus Birdman walking in when he got. You know what I'm saying? That's why he's got the. I forgot to have in here.
- [60:07]
Host 3
But it's the same concept.
- [60:09]
Miguel (Musician)
It's the same thing, man. You. Like, look, when you walk in with leverage, it's a whole different game. And the more leverage we have, that's the. That's. The other part is like drawing that parallel as well to looking at the numbers that we have. We have leverage. The people who are running government are. The numbers are so much smaller. You know, the numbers are. It just doesn't. So. So looking at all of these parallels and going like we're at an inflection point where we can use these chaotic times and the uncertainty to our advantage to really lock in and organize on what we believe in, whatever it is, because they are.
- [60:43]
Host 3
Yeah, I'm glad you did New Models because the rappers ain't doing it. I've been waiting for a rapper to tap into the moment and just talk about what's going on, and they just don't feel like they doing it. Yeah, I'm glad you did it.
- [60:53]
Miguel (Musician)
Love. Love. And I'm not. I'm not saying I have the answers or anything. It's definitely. It's New Martyrs isn't like, we should go do this. And it's not like that. It's just saying I'm, I'm feeling like we are all at that point where it's like, I got to do. I got to do something like, and, and it's only going to get, you know, it's only going to feel more and more like that as we go if we don't.
- [61:14]
Host 3
Now chaos is coming out on October 23rd. That's also your born day.
- [61:17]
Miguel (Musician)
October 23rd. Yeah, sure.
- [61:19]
Host 3
That was intentional.
- [61:20]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, absolutely.
- [61:21]
Host 3
Why do you want to do it on your bidder?
- [61:24]
Miguel (Musician)
I think I wanted to give myself the permission to move forward, you know, on my birthday. This one's been. It's taken a long time to get here and it's like, it's symbolic of, you know, a new cycle, it's letting go and it's also beginning new. What better time to do that on your birthday? You know, it's like, it's very much, it's very much that. So I wanted to go in like, ah, okay, we can, we can move forward. And like I said, My next 10. I'm looking at my next 10 years. The album is again, symbolic of like the conversation that I want to have with my audience being deeper and, and more about the human being. Not just about my ability, you know, but about who I am and what I believe in and a lock in with my audience like that. And then to build this, this company that's about supporting black and brown and Latin artists, talent across the board, whether it's film, TV or music, literature. All of those, all of those left the center ones who deserve development the way that we need it now, the way art needs it now that we're not getting and putting capital behind that as well to support that, because we need that too.
- [62:38]
Host 1
Yeah, it comes S1C. Yeah, that website is dope too. It's like a blog. It reminds me of MySpace.
- [62:43]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, thank you.
- [62:44]
Host 1
And like, you upload the different.
- [62:45]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, kind of, kind of reminds us of where we came from.
- [62:48]
Host 1
Definitely does.
- [62:49]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [62:50]
Host 3
So this is my last question. How do you measure success now? Is it impact? Is it artistry or is it peace?
- [62:56]
Miguel (Musician)
Impact. Impact, for sure. I don't think that any endeavor is peaceful, you know, any endeavor with real objective, real. Especially if you're trying to change something, be it for yourself or for others. It's not going to be a peaceful journey. It's just going to come with unforeseen, is going to come with challenges, and it's going to come with a lot of pushback, especially if it's going against the Status quo. And. And that's not a peaceful experience. But again, the values part, you know, that being at the core of things, I think it's really about if I can wake up and go, man, I actually did something I feel great about, you know, And I. And this is something that's going to affect someone in a positive way, man, I could do that for the rest of my life.
- [63:45]
Host 1
I got one last question for you. Not about no relationships, I promise.
- [63:49]
Miguel (Musician)
It's all good. Is it true that I'm happy someone was asking.
- [63:52]
Host 3
I was.
- [63:53]
Miguel (Musician)
I was like, who's it gonna be?
- [63:54]
Host 1
Nice.
- [63:54]
Miguel (Musician)
Nice.
- [63:55]
Host 1
I was reposting Y' all on MySpace, so I had to ask some questions. But sure Thing originally, was that a demo for Usher? Is that a true story?
- [64:03]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, Well, I wrote the song and I didn't write it as a demo per se, but we submitted it as a demo for Usher. Usher was. Was looking at the time. I'm not sure which album I feel like it was. It might have been Confessions. It might have been. Which I can't hear. Sure Thing on Confessions. Confession is such a perfect album as it is very different. Very different album. But, yeah, sure Thing was submitted for. For one of those projects. That one or the one right after it.
- [64:30]
Host 1
It.
- [64:30]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah.
- [64:31]
Host 3
Well, listen, Miguel, we glad you back, brother. Chaos is very, very dope. Very, very dope project. I can't wait for the world to experience it, man.
- [64:39]
Miguel (Musician)
Thank you, bro.
- [64:39]
Host 3
What you want us to play right now? You want us to play new martyrs?
- [64:41]
Miguel (Musician)
Play new martyrs. We got to bang that.
- [64:43]
Host 3
Why not?
- [64:43]
Miguel (Musician)
Yeah, sorry.
- [64:44]
Host 3
It's Miguel. It's the Breakfast Club.
- [64:46]
Miguel (Musician)
Hold up. Every day I wake up.
- [64:49]
Host 3
Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. Y' all finished or y' all done?
- [64:54]
Hunter (Podcast Host)
I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in America. Stories like Erica Hunt. A young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend, 2016. No goodbyes, no clues, just gone. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [65:29]
Host 1
This is an I Heart podcast.