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'''Miguel Jontel Pimentel''' (born October 23, 1985),<ref name="Mandi"/> who performs under the [[mononymous person|mononym]] '''Miguel''', is an American recording artist, songwriter and producer. Signed to [[Jive Records]] in 2007, Miguel released his debut album, ''[[All I Want Is You (album)|All I Want Is You]]'', in November 2010. Although it was underpromoted and performed poorly upon its release, the album became a [[sleeper hit]] and helped Miguel garner commercial standing.<ref name="Rytlewski"/><ref name="Graham">{{cite web|last=Graham|first=Nadine|date=March 24, 2011|url=http://soultrain.com/2011/03/24/qa-miguel/|title=Q&A: Miguel|publisher=[[Soul Train]]|accessdate=2012-10-17}}</ref> After Jive's dissolution in 2011, he moved to [[RCA Records]] and released his second album ''[[Kaleidoscope Dream]]'' in 2012 to critical acclaim. In December 2012 he appeared on the cover of [[The FADER]] magazine's annual NOW Issue.<ref>{{cite web|title=Miguel: Second Wind|url=http://www.thefader.com/2012/11/16/miguel-second-wind}}</ref>
'''Miguel Jontel Pimentel''' (born October 23, 1985),<ref name="Mandi"/> who performs under the [[mononymous person|mononym]] '''Miguel''', is a [[Grammy Award]]-winning American recording artist, songwriter and producer. Signed to [[Jive Records]] in 2007, Miguel released his debut album, ''[[All I Want Is You (album)|All I Want Is You]]'', in November 2010. Although it was underpromoted and performed poorly upon its release, the album became a [[sleeper hit]] and helped Miguel garner commercial standing.<ref name="Rytlewski"/><ref name="Graham">{{cite web|last=Graham|first=Nadine|date=March 24, 2011|url=http://soultrain.com/2011/03/24/qa-miguel/|title=Q&A: Miguel|publisher=[[Soul Train]]|accessdate=2012-10-17}}</ref> After Jive's dissolution in 2011, he moved to [[RCA Records]] and released his second album ''[[Kaleidoscope Dream]]'' in 2012 to critical acclaim. In December 2012 he appeared on the cover of [[The FADER]] magazine's annual NOW Issue.<ref>{{cite web|title=Miguel: Second Wind|url=http://www.thefader.com/2012/11/16/miguel-second-wind}}</ref>


== Early life==
== Early life==

Revision as of 21:39, 18 April 2013

Miguel
File:MiguelSoulTrain2012Awards.jpg
Miguel at the 2012 Soul Train Awards
Background information
Birth nameMiguel Jontel Pimentel
Born (1985-10-23) October 23, 1985 (age 39)[1]
OriginSan Pedro, Los Angeles, California
GenresR&B, pop,[2][3] neo soul[4]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist dancer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar,
Years active2000–present
LabelsBlack Ice, Bystorm, Jive, RCA
Websitewww.miguelunlimited.com

Miguel Jontel Pimentel (born October 23, 1985),[1] who performs under the mononym Miguel, is a Grammy Award-winning American recording artist, songwriter and producer. Signed to Jive Records in 2007, Miguel released his debut album, All I Want Is You, in November 2010. Although it was underpromoted and performed poorly upon its release, the album became a sleeper hit and helped Miguel garner commercial standing.[5][6] After Jive's dissolution in 2011, he moved to RCA Records and released his second album Kaleidoscope Dream in 2012 to critical acclaim. In December 2012 he appeared on the cover of The FADER magazine's annual NOW Issue.[7]

Early life

Miguel Jontel Pimentel was born and raised in San Pedro, Los Angeles, California.[8][9] He is one of two sons born to a Mexican father and an African American mother.[10] Miguel's parents divorced when he was eight years old.[11] At a young age, Miguel was introduced to the older R&B his mother listened to,[10] and his father's musical tastes, including funk, hip hop, jazz, and classic rock.[9] At age 5, Miguel wanted to become a dancer. However, at 13 he began pursuing a career in music.[10] At 14, he was writing songs and developing ideas with a four-track recorder he took from his uncle.[9] In ninth grade, Miguel was introduced by a mutual friend to a member of production company Drop Squad, and he subsequently spent the rest of high school learning his way around a recording studio before seeking a record deal.[9]

Career

2000–06: Career beginnings

Miguel signed a production deal with Drop Squad in 2000.[12] In 2004, he was signed by independent record label Black Ice and started working on his studio album,[12] Young & Free. It was scheduled to be released on November 30, 2006,[13] but was ultimately shelved.[2] Black Ice released the single "Getcha Hands Up" with a video debut on 106 & Park, but Miguel decided to change his sound and image and walked away from Black Ice records.[14] He later said in an interview for LA Weekly, "We shot a video, and if you ever see it, you will laugh your ass off. I have a fitted hat on and a white T-shirt and baggy jeans. I was 19 years old and it was the first time anyone had ever given me money."[9]

2007–10: Signing and belated debut

Further information: All I Want Is You (album)

For nearly a year, Miguel's manager at the time submitted several songs to music mogul Mark Pitts; after receiving a song titled "Sure Thing"—which Miguel described as a "highly personal...record that no one was ever supposed to hear"—Pitts scheduled a meeting with Miguel in October 2007. The following month, Miguel signed a recording contract with Jive Records.[11][14] Miguel recalled that the signing of his contract took place in a "very small room in a very small office in a small corner of the building at Jive".[15] After being signed, he recorded his debut album All I Want Is You,[16] but was sued by Black Ice for breach of contract.[17] Consequently, his album was not released for two years.[16]

That album was a huge learning experience. I left the marketing of my album and me as an artist up to the discretion of the label. They marketed me like the typical R&B artist, which I can't really blame them for, because that's what they know. But that's not what my lifestyle was.

— Miguel, Billboard[16]

For the following three years, he contributed to Usher's Here I Stand and Raymond v. Raymond, as well as Asher Roth's Asleep in the Bread Aisle and Musiq Soulchild's "IfULeave".[18][19] Miguel also released Mischief: The Mixtape; he explained that the title referred to his attempt to "[tell] people that there is an alternative to getting sort of the same thing".[19]

After his protracted contract dispute with Black Ice was settled,[9] All I Want Is You was released in November 2010.[5] It initially performed poorly, debuting at number 109 on the Billboard 200 on 11,000 copies sold,[16] and was underpromoted by Jive,[5] amid the label's dissolution.[20] The album's title track attained radio airplay, while Miguel toured as a supporting act for Trey Songz and Usher.[16] Its following two singles, "Sure Thing" and "Quickie", performed well on the charts,[2] After falling off the chart for three weeks,[21] All I Want Is You became a sleeper hit,[6] as it re-entered the Billboard 200 and climbed the chart for 22 weeks, before peaking at number 37 on May 14, 2011.[21] It ultimately spent 45 weeks on the chart,[22] and sold 404,000 copies in the US.[16]

2012–present: Label change and Kaleidoscope Dream

Further information: Kaleidoscope Dream

After Jive was shut down and absorbed by RCA Records, Miguel was subsequently moved to RCA, where Pitts was named president of urban music, and received a new marketing team.[16]

His second studio album, Kaleidoscope Dream, was released on October 2, 2012, to critical acclaim.[23] The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 71,000 copies in its first week.[24] As of February 2013, Kaleidoscope Dream has sold 322,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[25] In February 2013, he released a politically driven video for the song "Candles in the Sun," the eleventh and last song on the album.[26]

Artistry

Influences

Right now R&B is filled with so many people singing songs that sound like other songs. But Miguel is letting his art rule his whole flow, and that's the best place for an artist to be. To me he kind of feels like Prince, where he's doing this eclectic blend but still coming back to focused songs.

Miguel identifies himself as part of the new wave of R&B artists that include Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, and Elle Varner.[16] About.com editor Mark Edward Nero characterizes his music as "eclectic, artsy R&B-pop".[3] Miguel cites musicians Prince, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie Mercury, Phil Collins, Donny Hathaway, The Notorious B.I.G. and Kanye West,[27][28][29][30] as influences, in addition to expressing his admiration for Stevie Wonder, John Lennon and Diane Warren.[19] Miguel revealed his desire to have worked with James Brown, whom he considers the "last innovator for me when it comes to soul".[15] In addition to singing, Miguel also plays the guitar.[15]

Musical style

Miguel incorporates R&B, funk, hip hop, rock and electronic styles into his music.[14][18][30] Miguel described his sound as "nostalgic in a sense that it's familiar... it's shocking, edgy, energizing".[18] In an interview with Paper magazine, he regarded his music as "fly, funkadelic, intergalactic-hip-hop-meets-sexy-orgasmic crazy, dope shit". Miguel is often compared to Babyface and Prince.[15] His vocals are influenced by classic rock bands such as The Beatles, Queen, The Police and Def Leppard.[31] Brian McManus of The Village Voice writes that "[Marvin] Gaye, Prince, and (his comparison) Van Morrison all linger in his voice."[32]

Discography

Main article: Miguel discography

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 Miguel Sprint New Artist of the Year Nominated

BET Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 Himself Best New Artist Nominated
2012 Himself Best Male R&B Artist Nominated
"Lotus Flower Bomb" Best Collaboration Won
Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice Award Nominated

Billboard Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2012 Himself Top R&B Artist Nominated
"Sure Thing" Top R&B Song Nominated

Grammy Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 "Finding My Way Back" Best R&B Song Nominated
2013 "Lotus Flower Bomb" Best Rap Song Nominated
"Adorn" Best R&B Song Won
Song of the Year Nominated
Best R&B Performance Nominated
Kaleidoscope Dream Best Urban Contemporary Album Nominated

World Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013 Himself Best Male Artist Pending
Entertainer of the Year Pending
"Adorn" Best Song Pending

References

  1. ^ a b Mandi, Nazanin. "Twitter Conversation with @iStan4MigMoney". Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Jeffries, David. "Miguel - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  3. ^ a b Nero, Mark Edward. "Album Review: Miguel - 'Kaleidoscope Dream'". About.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  4. ^ "Stream Kaleidoscope Dream, the new album from neo-soul alchemist Miguel". Fact. London. September 24, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  5. ^ a b c Rytlewski, Evan (October 9, 2012). "Miguel: Kaleidoscope Dream". The A.V. Club. Chicago. Retrieved 2012-10-19.
  6. ^ a b Graham, Nadine (March 24, 2011). "Q&A: Miguel". Soul Train. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
  7. ^ "Miguel: Second Wind".
  8. ^ Garraud, Tracy. "R&B Rude Boy". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. Retrieved August 33, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Wood, Mikael (October 11, 2012). "Miguel Finds His Place". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  10. ^ a b c Kwateng, Danielle (June 24, 2010). "Interviews: Miguel Makes Beautiful Music". Madame Noire. pp. 1–3. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  11. ^ a b Horne, Adam (Jun 7, 2010). "Miguel Builds Industry Buzz with Genre-Defying Sound". The Boombox. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  12. ^ a b "By The Numbers: Miguel's Kaleidoscope Dream". The Fader. October 2, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  13. ^ Mitchell, Gail (September 16, 2006). "An OK Place to Be". Billboard. 118 (37): 50. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  14. ^ a b c San Miguel, Celia. "Show & Prove". XXL. Harris Publications. Retrieved August 27, 2010. [dead link‍]
  15. ^ a b c d Catarinella, Alex (August 19, 2010). "Less Is More". Paper. Paper Publishing Company. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Lipshutz, Jason (September 21, 2012). "Miguel's 'Kaleidoscope Dream': Inside The R&B Dynamo's Fresh Start". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  17. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (September 17, 2010). "Miguel Calls Playing Eminem & Jay-Z's Stadium Show 'Unbelievable'". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
  18. ^ a b c "Miguel (The Eclectric)". Right On!. Retrieved August 27, 2010. [dead link‍]
  19. ^ a b c Perry, Clayton (July 2, 2010). "Miguel Jontel: Singer, Songwriter and Producer". AllHipHop. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  20. ^ McCarthy, Sean (October 19, 2012). "Miguel: Kaleidoscope Dream". PopMatters. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  21. ^ a b Ramirez, Erika (June 10, 2011). "Chart Juice: Miguel Describes His Sound & Announces Next Singles". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
  22. ^ "All I Want Is You - Miguel". Billboard. Retrieved 2011-07-22.
  23. ^ "Kaleidoscope Dream Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  24. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 10, 2012). "Muse's 'The 2nd Law' Leads Seven Top 10 Debuts on Billboard 200". Billboard. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ http://www.sohh.com/2013/02/bruno_mars_leads_the_way_kendrick_lamar.html#more
  26. ^ Battan, Carrie (2013-02-20). "Watch Miguel's Political "Candles in the Sun" Video". PitchforkMedia. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
  27. ^ Janneti, Cola (November 9, 2010). "Miguel: Evolving into Greatness". Singersroom. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
  28. ^ Reid, Shaheem. "Miguel Hopes to Get on 'All I Want Is You' Partner J. Cole's Album". MTV News. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  29. ^ Muhammad, Latifah (October 28, 2010). "Miguel Inspired by Kanye West's Honesty". The Boombox. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  30. ^ a b Kennedy, Gerrick D. (November 16, 2010). "Newcomer Miguel ready for the spotlight with his 'eclec-tric' hybrid of R&B". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  31. ^ http://www.singersroom.com/content/2010-02-22/Miguel-Jontel-Indescribable-Music/
  32. ^ McManus, Brian (January 16, 2013). "Pazz & Jop: Miguel Is Living The Dream". The Village Voice. New York. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

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