Concert: Miguel ready to show his ‘Wildheart’ to Salt Lake City fans

Miguel is bringing his smooth vocals and R&B-inspired pop beats to Salt Lake City.

Songs such as Grammy-winner "Adorn" and his duet "#Beautiful" with Mariah Carey have topped the charts.

The artist, born Miguel Jontel Pimentel, chatted with The Tribune about new music trends and the joys of playing a live show ahead of his "Wildheart" tour stop Wednesday at The Depot in Salt Lake City.

First, tell me a little bit about the inspiration for your music.

As an artist it's always about perspective and experience, so I'd have to say the biggest inspiration are those two things.

For you, 2013 was a good year at the Grammys. What did it mean to you to win for best R&B song?

I don't think there's any better word for that than feeling honored. It's a crazy thing to watch a song be something you do in your apartment at 2 in the morning and watch it become something that people culturally take. It grows on them and becomes meaningful for them. It was a really encouraging thing. So I feel both honored and encouraged.

There's been this really interesting new wave of soulful R&B artists such as the Weeknd and Frank Ocean and yourself. What do you think has brought about that musical trend?

I suppose it's a culmination of the way music is consumed now and our ability to kind of constantly and consistently feed our minds and feed whatever resonates with us when it comes to music. We're always consuming music, and it has no place to come out of but our creativity.

What do you hope your audience gets from your music?

I just want people to feel something. It's so easy for people to be so numb to everything. We're at a time when it's easy to be desensitized. It's cool to not feel anything or show anything when you do feel something; I want people to feel something when they hear my music. They do, and that's cool.

What is your favorite part of playing a live show?

My favorite part is there's no editing, no filtering of emotion, no second-guessing. It's all real-time, and a real, uncut exchange. When you look at someone's eyes and see their reaction to something, it's real. How a crowd responds is real. There is no hiding behind keyboard, editing and deleting; it's all right there in front of you. It's the ultimate gauge of your ability to effect people's state, emotion or the moment. It's a crazy feeling.

Any thoughts about performing here in Utah?

I can't wait to f---ing rock. I can't wait to get out there!

—

Miguel

With L.A. rock band Dorothy.

When • Wednesday, Aug. 19, 9 p.m., doors open at 8 p.m.

Where • The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City

Tickets • $32-$38; Smith's Tix; all-ages show