Nme August 2017

In 2001 Dan Michaelson was living in Reykjavik, Iceland. Pondering the practical applications of his Fine Art degree and fussing over a handful of demos he had made in England 6 months previously, he returned to London, moved into an abandoned Jewish tearoom and theatre (which also housed the Lithuanian Social Club in the basement) and committed himself writing songs for the foreseeable future. The first fruits of this were heard on 2005’s DonkeyStock, one of three records under the name Absentee.

What, exactly, does Miguel want? Listening to the lusty slow jams that make up fourth album ‘War 
& Leisure’, you’d be forgiven for thinking this loverman mainly wants a nice cuddle. It wasn’t always this way, though. Speaking to NME this week, the musician explained that critically lauded 2015 album ‘Wildheart’ said “something about what I stand for”, but lacked commercial success. Back then, he wanted to be an artist. Right now he wants to be a pop star. This new record is stuffed with killer hooks, bouncing rhythms and breezy production, with Travis Scott-featuring lead single ‘Sky Walker’ racking up more than 28 million YouTube views since August. The force is most definitely with Miguel.

What, exactly, does Miguel want? Listening to the lusty slow jams that make up fourth album ‘War 
& Leisure’, you’d be forgiven for thinking this loverman mainly wants a nice cuddle. It wasn’t always this way, though. Speaking to NME this week, the musician explained that critically lauded 2015 album ‘Wildheart’ said “something about what I stand for”, but lacked commercial success. Back then, he wanted to be an artist. Right now he wants to be a pop star. This new record is stuffed with killer hooks, bouncing rhythms and breezy production, with Travis Scott-featuring lead single ‘Sky Walker’ racking up more than 28 million YouTube views since August. The force is most definitely with Miguel.