Blowin’ Up With Miguel Jontel

By: Alexis D. Washington

In 2005, BET introduced the world to Miguel Jontel on “Blowing Up with Fatty Koo” without recognizing he would be the one to blow up.

 

BET had no idea the confident kid vying for a spot in the group Fatty Koo would go on to write for Grammy award-winning artists like Mary J. Blige and Usher. There was no way they figured Miguel would lend a hand to Musiq Soulchild or rock songs Ne-Yo (“Let’s Just Be”) just had to have on his album.

 

Needless to say, he didn’t make that band and since 2005, Miguel has been the one blowing up. Fatty Koo is in the graveyard of reality TV singing stars and he’s prepping his solo debut to drop this year on Jive Records. 

 

Sole caught up with the 23-year-old rising star to talk about the music thing and what the “Miguel Jontel Experience” is all about.  

 

Sole: When did you know music was your thing?
Miguel Jontel: I’ve known music ever since I could remember. I knew it was going to be my life.

 

S: When did you land your deal?
MJ: November 2007

 

S: We can we expect your album to drop?
MJ: We’re looking for June/July

 

S: Do you play any instruments?
MJ: I play the guitar and dabble with the piano.

 

S: What’s your favorite time to work in the studio?
MJ: I actually like really early or really late. In between is not really my thing.

 

S: How much creative control do you have over your project?
MJ: The great thing about that is I have a lot. Coming in to the deal we had a huge part of the album done. So coming in it was already a clear picture as to what kind of music I wanted to make and I already have my own identity. I’m very solid in myself as a person and an artist. I have a lot creative control when it comes to the album in regards to the sound and the look of how everything is gonna be. It’s actually a blessing.

 

S: What are you looking forward to in promoting your album?
MJ: I’m really looking forward to touring. I’m excited to give people a real show. Like shows our parents used to talk about. They were up there and they put on a show, like an experience. I think that the live show is something that is majorly lacking when it comes to urban and pop music right now. There’s not too much of a live culture anymore. I want to make it cool to have a really great live presence.

 

S: If you could hand your finished album to any artists dead or alive and they would respond that is a great album, what artists would that be?

MJ: That’s hard, real real hard! I would say James Brown, Prince and Jimi Hendrix.

 

S: If you could do a jam session with five musicians dead or alive, who would it be?
MJ: Wow! Donnie Hathaway on keys, Stevie on drums, Jimi Hendrix on guitar, D’Angelo on the bass and that’s pretty much it. That takes care of harmonies too.

 

S: Outside of music what can we expect from you?
MJ: I hope to write screenplays and scripts and hopefully direct eventually. Own a couple a companies. I have a lot of big ideas but this is where my heart is at. Music is always going to be the focal point of anything I do with my life regardless of if it makes me money or not. I plan on doing everything. I feel I am talented enough to really act and be great at it but there are a lot of things I could do. But music is always going to be the focus of my life.

 
Check out his new music:
 

 

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