Soul Boom R&B Singer Miguel on Ego, Resentment & Hip-Hop Culture
Dec 11, 2025
Grammy-winning R&B singer Miguel explores his roots and artistic evolution, blending soul, rock, and alternative sounds. He shares his journey from growing up Black-Mexican in gang-ridden LA to confronting deep-seated resentments through meditation and therapy. The conversation dives into the role of ego in Hollywood, the importance of owning your audience for creative peace, and the necessity for a spiritual revolution in a culture consumed by money. Miguel emphasizes art as a tool for social transformation and connection.
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Raised Between Rival Neighborhoods
- Miguel grew up Black and Mexican in LA, shuttling between rival neighborhoods and gangs which shaped his music's tension and juxtaposition.
- That upbringing fueled his interest in blending pretty melodies with aggressive sounds to reflect opposites.
Discipline Enables Transcendent Art
- Miguel says disciplined craft lets artists "get out of the way" so something larger can channel through their work.
- He argues practice and pressure-handling enable authentic emotional performance.
A Song That Felt Like A Prayer
- Miguel describes "Nearsight (Slow It Down)" as a prayer that wrote itself and surprised him with its honesty.
- The song juxtaposes wealth and anxiety: "I got stock now and a gun" and pleads to slow time to appreciate life.