Miguel is a firm believer in divine timing. Though he wrote his song “Sure Thing” at 18 and waited nearly seven years for its initial release, the precocious songwriter wasn’t flummoxed. At 25, he watched the song bloom and catapult his career as one of the premier R&B artists. At 40, the song, glittering in TikTok gold, reemerged and became a top 15 record nearly a decade and a half later, solidifying his pen and status as a songwriting marksman.
“I believe in signs, and for whatever reason, all of those variables didn’t come together for ‘Sure Thing’ at the time,” says Miguel in his new Billboard News In-Conversation interview. “I wrote that song at 18, 19, and years before Mark [Pitts] heard it. And then it took years for the song to be released. So there were a good six-plus years before writing the song and before anyone actually heard it. The game was so different.”
He continues: “‘Sure Thing’ went No. 1 on R&B and never went anywhere else. So it was really my core fans — the ones who were with me, gave me my flowers and gave the music a place to be and exist. I’m so grateful for that. Fast-forward two years, and new fans, younger fans, discovering the music is a testament to why I do this.”
Peaking at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023, “Sure Thing” resided on his debut album, All I Want You Is You, which turns 15 later this year and marked Miguel’s entry into the R&B game at a time where Usher, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo reigned supreme.
“It’s a journey,” he reflects. “You think about how much time it took to get that album out and what it took to get there in terms of cycles, growth, challenges, failures and learning experiences. To have all of the blessings between that point and this point in my career is beautiful. It’s a trip.”
Along with “Sure Thing,” Miguel also had his debut record, “All I Want Is You,” featuring a young and flashy J. Cole. The chemistry between the two then-rookies was palpable and sparked two more instant classics later on in their careers, including Cole’s “Power Trip” and the singer’s “Come Through and Chill.”
“I come from underground hip-hop, which is a big part of my development and career,” says Miguel. “A lot of that started with my education, love for hip-hop and deep, true lyricism. Those things, I think, informed how easy it was for Cole and me to make music, and I think with the grace of everything, I look forward to many, many more because he’s not going anymore, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“We’ve definitely talked about going back and forth on production and fun concepts. That just feels like timing,” adds Miguel about a possible EP with Cole.
While Miguel enjoys reminiscing about his past successes, he’s moving forward and in a new direction, especially on his upcoming album. Earlier this year, he released “Always Time,” a sharp contrast from “Sure Thing,” where his relationship turmoil drowns him in regret.
“I am the most reliable, most unpredictable homie. I am deep into a lot of conspiracy theories. I listen to metal music. I grew up in a punk city. Punk is a huge part of my upbringing. My father is Mexican, so I love all of the traditional things that I heard growing up. He also loved Black women. So I got to listen to all the great soul music in his car when we took rides. Where I take my fans will be about the truths I’m finally comfortable sharing with you.”
Watch Miguel’s Billboard News In-Conversation interview, in which he speaks about also working with j-hope on “Sweet Dreams” and diving more into his Mexican roots musically.
