Known for his soulful voice and an eclectic mix of R&B, funk, and electronic sounds, Miguel has carved a niche that transcends conventions. Over his ten year career, he’s continuously redefined the boundaries of genre and artistic expression, challenging both himself and his audience—but also, as we learn, having a lot of fun along the way.

With the anticipation building for his upcoming album, WAVE sat down with the Grammy Award-winning artist for an exclusive chat exploring the depths of his artistic metamorphosis. As Miguel prepares to share Viscera with the world, he shares his insights on the disciplined control of his craft, the complexities of his lyrics, and his new direction marked by a profound sense of authenticity and freedom.

Your career has spanned a decade, marked by genre-blending and innovation. How has your artistic vision evolved over the years, and what drives your constant exploration of new sounds and styles?

My artistic vision now isn't very different than it was from the beginning. I think I've always wanted to at least capture what inspires me in the time that it inspires me. And it's the same now. I mean, for the most part of my career, at least leading up to this point, it's always very much been rooted in sharing things about relationships and love and my sexuality and the intimacy I look for in my sexuality and the depth of love that I'm hoping to manifest in our life. And I think those things have been one of the things that have made some of my music timeless.

I remember Lionel Richie telling me, ‘man, love never goes out of style’. He's like, ‘I still have avid fans who I get to see and share energy and music, and moments with all around the world’. That's obviously not all he does now, but it's something that he still gets to do because of that.

So, for a short answer, my vision was always just to share truthfully. And now that's how it's different, it's expanded to a wider range of my emotions. So I'm excited to explore new territories, let my fans in on a more holistic, more rounded sense of who I am, and give them a little more of the person I am.

The Viscera Experience showcased a unique blend of performance art and music. How do you approach the integration of visual and auditory elements in your work, and what role do these immersive experiences play in conveying your artistic message?

The place where I spend a lot of my time outside of the way that the lyrics feel in the music is the sonic, the sound around it. And then applying that was something that came naturally - trying to capture a tone more than anything. So I really wanted to capture the tonality of the album in the performance. Because I think that that's what it was all about - introducing a new tonality to my audience so they can at least know what they're stepping into as we start to roll out the album.

Collaborations have been a significant part of your journey, including Number 9 featuring Lil Yachty. How do these partnerships contribute to your creative process, and what do you enjoy most about working with other artists?

I'm looking forward to more meaningful collaborations. I think, in the past, there have been collaborations that were more my friendship with the artists outside of the music, and I was showing up for them.

There are collaborations that better represent my personal taste. Obviously Cole and Kendrick, just through the music, you can hear that there's a synergy there. But really expanding on that repertoire of collaborations to express a more rounded sense of my taste is exciting. It's really exciting to think, oh man, we should collaborate more with artists that represent all the different tones and colours that you love in music and artistry.

So there's a big opportunity there, and I'm excited to get to ten years from now and have a lot more variety in my collaborations. Ones that give my audience a more rounded sense of my taste and what I appreciate in music.

As a versatile artist, how do you approach the challenge of creating a cohesive album while exploring a range of musical styles and themes?

This is one of the things that I don't know how to do. To be fair, I don't think I've always captured cohesion in my albums. There may be an album where I'm like, ‘oh, I wish I would’ve dialed it in here’. We could have maybe changed the order up to give it a little more of a flow.

For the most part, I feel like there's been cohesion in my albums and my projects. I think what I find in the albums I appreciated the most is that there's a sonic emotion coming through that makes it cohesive for me. And sometimes it's a stylistic thing, there's easy ways to do that. That doesn't tend to be my approach, which is going the same way a band would and using the same elements in every song.

For me, I find I lean more into the moods of the music. So for this album, I would say what holds it together is that overall we're exploring darker emotions. Well, maybe not darker - just maybe less surface-level. More intimate emotions. That’s what holds this album together, which is what I was hoping to do.

Viscera is described as an exploration of change through risk-taking. Can you share a bit about the personal experiences or inspirations that shaped the themes of this album, and how your own growth is reflected in the music?

I think the overarching theme is ending and beginning. All of the ways that cycles proliferate in life. Ends of ways of behaving, ends of ways of thinking, new ways of thinking, new ways of behaving, and all of the violent, beautiful change that has to happen for that to manifest. It's that in-between area that this album really captures. That's why I said it's not necessarily a dark album. It's just a little more complex in all of the manic emotion. It's realization, it's mourning, It's sadness and pain. And then acceptance, happiness, and growth. I think acceptance is a big one. There's a lot of power in accepting and being able to move forward, and having a real sense of self through your growth.

There's a lot there. And it's not dark. It's just the complexity of change. That's what this album represents for me.

Looking back at your discography, is there a particular song or album that holds a special place in your heart or represents a pivotal moment in your career?

They all do. They all represent different stages of my artistry and my goals as an artist. I think this album takes my favorite things from all of those and then expands on them.

Freedom is a big thing for me. I'm learning that feeling free to do and be as I feel is honest and true, and not having to live up to anyone’s expectations is really important, and each album is an expression of my freedom coming from where I come from.

So all my albums are shades of who I am, and this next album takes the things that are the most visceral in those albums and expands on those things in the most intimate way that I've ever been able to express before.

In your decade-long career, you've explored various musical styles. How do you maintain authenticity while experimenting with different genres?

I just go with what excites me now, you know? I think it's such an underrated gauge. We forget that when we're excited by things, that's a spiritual indication. Now, if it excites and scares me at the same time, it’s an indicator that this is worth sharing. I can get behind this now and be excited about it.

Like, if I can listen to a song, top to bottom, and I’m still in it all the way, I'm not checking my phone, that's my gauge. And it's worked. The songs that I've been the most excited about, top to bottom, when I play them now, I still feel the same way. So that's the only way I know how to do that.

R&B has seen considerable evolution over the years. How do you think the genre has changed since you first entered the scene, and where do you see it heading in the future?

R&B now, it's just cycles. I think we forget that we live in cycles and time, and human behavior happens in cycles. So understanding how cycles happen and how interests repeat and change and evolve, it's almost like sociology. If we look through the history of music, what we want from music is what we see in the cycles of not just R&B but in every genre. I think we're starting to get there - and in the business of music, I think we're starting to see it proliferate that way too. So I love every version of R&B. I love that we're getting to more traditional R&B chord structures. We're getting back into the same approach that we were getting from the 90s into the 2000s.

And it's going to happen really fast. We're going to switch over to it no longer being about, like, big singles. It's more about the intimate approach we're all feeling. We're feeling that we have to work so hard for intimacy because we're getting so much information. But connection and information are different. You can have a conversation with someone and get information, but looking into their eyes and answering deeper questions will give you a completely different sense of who they are and how you connect. And we're looking for that in our music, so regardless of the genre, that's where things are going.

Give It To Me explores themes of flirtation, desire, and chemistry. How do you translate these emotions into your music?

Give It To Me isn’t even a complicated song. It's just, ‘yo, I haven't heard flirtation in a minute, and this is how I feel’. If anything, the sound of the song is where I spent most of my creativity. The production of the song is where I really wanted to explore. Like, can we make this a harder feeling? Can it be a little more aggressive? I think capturing that was where I focused my attention on the song. I mean, the song bangs to me. I fucking love that song.

The visuals in your music videos often complement the themes of your songs. How involved are you in the creative process of your music videos?

Different amounts at different points. Now, I'm mostly interested in collaborating with people I trust and allowing them to do what they've spent all their time and energy doing. When we need to pivot just to make something feel more true, I'm always involved in that way, but visually, now, that's what I'm interested in.

Now, it doesn't mean that I won't write my own treatments and be hands-on all the way, but right at this moment, there are so many things to do. I prefer just collaborating with people I trust and don't have to give notes to.

What message or emotions do you hope fans take away from the new album?

Change is your right. It's your right to evolve and to change. And though it may present uncomfortable, painful, experiences in the end, it's the process of breaking through the cocoon that make moths strong enough to fly.

RIGHT TO CHANGE - MIGUEL DIGITAL COVER 

As the long awaited music festival, Primavera Sound slowly approaches, the energy of Barcelona becomes even more vibrant as we move closer to opening the doors of it’s first day.

For 2024, Primavera once again never disappoints, with their consistent and aligned collaboration with CUPRA, we were treated to an exclusive test drive experience throughout the festival before doors open! This gave us the chance to see just the amount of space Primavera takes up for its eclectic mix of genres and artists throughout the weekend, and rightfully so. In addition CUPRA didn’t stop there and elevated by partnering up with Boiler Room to bring us that club feeling within the festival, going down as one of the greatest and iconic stages for DJ’s across the globe.

Day 1 treated us with greats from Freddie Gibbs & Madib to long-awaited new comers such as Amaarae, whose astonishing performance was a blend of black girl punk magic. As the night progressed, spirits stayed high courtesy of Peggy Gou who kept the vibes going by giving us a 2 hour DJ set to finish the night off and bring the festival day to a memorable close.. there is truly no experience like a Peggy Gou party.

Day 2 was one of the highly favoured days, as it consisted of a musical pic n mix of genres. From the trippy band BADBADNOTGOOD who teleported us into a different realm through their electronic, never seen before, live instruments, filling the crowd with Dance and a Hip/hop and Jazz fusion. To then follow on, was rap duo Clipse! The two brothers, Pusha T and Malice, a much-missed noughties rap duo hit the stage with high energy following an exclusive reunion with his brother after almost 15 years of not making music together. After, was the melodic and dreamy Lana Del Rey, who was definitely one of the most highly anticipated in Barcelona that night. The crowd stood still as Lana’s harmonious lyrics melted the audience. However, the most favoured set for the entirety of the festival was determined as soon as Disclosure hit that Estrella Damm stage. After a 8 year hiatus of no shows, Disclosure did not disappoint with their nostalgic unforgettable dance songs that quite literally had the whole crowd at its feet.

Day 3, our last and final day kicked off at the Channel One sound-system. With unwavering faith, we turned to the vintage vinyl dub plate records to revive us from the aftermath of a wild night, and they delivered just that. This transitioned us into the foreseen feels of SZA who headlined that night. The audience at the Santander stage, were left with all the stars in their eyes. Which prepared everyone to be hypnotised shortly after by the electrifying pop girlie sensation that is Charlie XCX!

It’s fair to say Primavera Sound 2024 was an unforgettable one. A place and home for all kinds of artist. A space full of inclusivity, love and just all round magnifying vibes.

Primavera x CUPRA 2024

Odumodublvck isn’t just changing the game, he’s rewriting the playbook. With a seismic debut album EZIOKWU, featuring heavy-hitters like Amaarae, Fireboy DML, and Cruel Santino, he blends grime, drill and Afrobeats into a thunderous echo of his Nigerian roots that’s impossible to ignore.

From the streets of Lagos to the bustling crowds of Boston, Odumodublvck's personal style - both sartorial and sonic - reflects a deep-rooted respect for his heritage coupled with an innovative spirit that challenges the norms. Ahead of his much-anticipated North American tour, friend Ireti sat down with the Odumodublvck to delve deeper into the elements that shape his identity and his art.

Why Odomodublvack? Where did you get the name from?

Odumodublvck: It was when I was in secondary school, someone was trying to banter me with this name. So I thought, let me make this my music name. I went and made it my music name, people were laughing.

Let’s go back to 2022. What’s the process been like from then to now? When did you know your music was going to take off?

Odumodublvck: When PICANTO dropped, I knew this shit is going to go. I'm the first person in the history of the world to have dropped an album before the album dropped. 22 songs were previewed before it dropped, just to show that someone will sweet to it.

I knew it was going to pop because Zlatan has reached and people were like, who is this new guy that’s featured on Zlatan?

It's been officially a year since Declan Rice dropped. It almost feels like you and Rice’s destinies are tied in some way - the day you dropped, that's the day Declan Rice scored that winning goal against Italy. And then the year after, he was captain for England. So why Declan Rice?

Odumodublvck: It just came out of my mouth. I was there, writing the song on the spot and that's what happened. The guy himself is the destined child. When you see him, you see that he's a grounded guy. Yeah, he's big, but he's the most noble guy. Even on the field, when you see them try to rile him up, he always comes in peace. He’s very efficient, he's an industry machine.

Ireti: Who are your biggest musical influences, and how would you say they've impacted your sound, your style, and how you record and think about music?

Odumodublvck: Skepta for one… because of the audacity. Burna Boy, Omah Lay, 2face, because he’s singing and rapping. What Black Sheriff does is great.

Ireti: Now that you have a Skepta collab, who would you love to collab with next?

Ireti: That would be wicked. You spoke briefly about your gang, your people, the anti-world gangsters. You're so intentional about putting your people on. Why do you think this is so important?

Odumodublvck: My own mentor is Jesus. I look at what he does. This guy, according to our belief, is God. God is in you. All these collabs, everything you do, you can’t do it on your own. It’s only better with your people.

Ireti: You’re performing across North America this spring. Which city are you looking forward to the most?

Odumodublvck: At this point, I'm looking forward to everywhere. I went to DC, it was crazy. I thought I was in Abuja. And when I went to Boston, the place I went to perform, there were a hundred people there, 80 people were Ghanaians. Crazy shit. So I'm looking forward to every city. Let me see what's happening, let me see how far the music has reached.

Ireti: Talking about Ghana as well, those ties are getting really strong - WOTOWOTO SEASONING is still number one in Ghana. You performed your new record at the Africa Games with Stonebwoy. Why is that Ghana-Naija link so important to you?

Odumodublvck: When I was small, I used to play Ghana music. To me, Ghana and Nigeria are basically one. Regardless of the banter that we used to have, we love each other. That's why I've always been there to do this.

Ireti: Talk to me about your relationship with the big homie TeeZee. You guys have been able to build so much in the last year. How do you guys work together?

Odumodublvck: We go there together, we shut this shit down. We’re always planning, that shows how serious we are. When we’re working together, everything’s intentional. That’s why we’re showing up everywhere. We’re always planning, planning, planning what the next whole thing is. We can make one plan, the plan is looking like a super plan, tear it down and start another plan. That's just how serious we are - organized and coordinated. And everything is not just how we are working together. Everything is intentional. It doesn't matter what the music is. Some people do music, and some of us do music business. What we're doing here now is part of the music business. It's very important, very vital. That's why we're showing up at every interview, every show, every whatever.

Ireti: When it comes to your personal style, you always stand out - whether it's from your hat that has cultural meaning and value to you, which you've now brought into the mainstream. Where people from every and any tribe, as long as they're a fan, is rocking with that and rocking with you. How important is it for you to bring your heritage and culture along with you through this journey of becoming a global superstar?

Odumodublvck: It's very important because, when I rap, you must know that it's me. You know what I'm saying? When I started rapping, everybody that knows my voice, they have heard it before, they know that I exist. I'm not trying to sound like somebody that I'm not. For some people it can be that. But for me, it's not going to help me. Right now I have a song with Skepta, Unknown T, Chip, Headie One, and it's because I sound like a Nigerian - that’s why they want me on the song.

Ireti: Let's talk about your swag. How would you define your fashion?

Odumodublvck: Basically, I just like to wake up and jump into anything. Tracksuits. Two-piece. I don't even want to stress myself. Say I have a show. I just want to jump in and mash it up like the rapper and the grime star I am. I just want to mash up the ting and come back in like, jeans, t-shirt, nice sneakers, move about. Simple, easy, but rough.

BETTER WITH YOUR PEOPLE: ODUMODUBLVCK Digital Cover 

This year, WAVE proudly introduced its inaugural sister brand, OTW (On the WAVE, see what we did there.) OTW was built and designed to offer a unique form of escapism through wellness activations. We’re highly enthusiastic and passionate when it comes to merging the creative realm with new liberations that foster a connection with nature and celebrate the joy of movement - all essential tools for maintaining balance and grounding in our lives. 

As we observe a significant cultural shift, the younger generation is moving away from traditional nightlife and gravitating towards wellness centres. Recent studies reveal that 44% of drinkers aged 18-24 occasionally opt for low or non-alcoholic beverages, signalling a broader trend towards healthier lifestyle choices. This shift is creating a ripple effect, from emptier events to the rapid closure of night clubs, there’s now a generating demand for spaces that promote community, socializing, and meaningful connections all while improving ones well-being.

In July, OTW hosted its first event just an hour outside of London. The day began with a hike led by wildlife conservationist expert 

, where fifteen creatives gathered to walk, converse, sing, and climb trees, all while learning about the hidden wonders of nature from Chantelle.


Alongside the walk all participant received the ultimate hiking goodie bag, generously provided by 

, ensuring all skincare needs were well taken care of. We have to give a special thanks to 

 for keeping everyone energised throughout the day and lastly, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to 

 for equipping everyone with their very own hiking shoes.

WAVE PRESENTS: OTW

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