Coachella 2011: Miguel brings ‘eclec-tric’ rock star edge to R&B
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Who: Miguel
When: Friday
From: San Pedro
R&B upstart Miguel hoped to carve out his own genre of music that’s a hybrid of R&B, funk, hip-hop, dubstep, rock and electronic. And the San Pedro native already has a name for it: “eclec-tric.”
“I always use that term. It’s a sound that I’m pioneering and still developing,” the 24-year-old told The Times late last year. “The reason I use the word is I want the music to remind you of really special nuances of music that you love from the past, but to always have something that’s electrifying and new. I think my style as far as vocal delivery and even down to the pronunciation of certain words is so deliberate.”
After penning tracks for Mary J. Blige and Usher, he got his shot in the spotlight -- and later earned exposure opening for both artists on their tour. With leanings toward Prince, James Brown, David Bowie and Queen, the singer brought a rock star edge to his debut, “All I Want Is You” and his live offerings tap into the high octane showmanship that his influences perfected decades ago.
Though his disc is laced with sticky hook-filled tracks such as “Pay Me,” “My Piece” and the album’s J. Cole-assisted title track, check out the R&B swagger he injected into Britney Spears’ “Hold It Against Me” for a sense of his unpredictable live showing.
Download his mixtape, ‘Mischief’ on his official site.
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-- Gerrick D. Kennedy
