Released on March 7, j-hope’s new single “Sweet Dreams” opens with vocals so tender they embrace you like a warm beam of sunlight. Those vocals belong to none other than R&B singer-songwriter Miguel. The moment I saw the title and featured artist, I knew nothing could be more perfect. Listening to his music feels like floating weightlessly in a dream. Perhaps that’s why j-hope asked him if they could work together. Miguel’s voice isn’t just a sequence of soundwaves, but more like a tactile soundscape that stimulates the senses. It’s like a lazy summer afternoon and a cool autumn evening all at once. The way he combines lightness with gravity, whispers with shouts, leaves a lasting impression. He’s especially proficient at modulating the intensity and texture of his voice to align with the emotional arc of a song. It makes Miguel truly one of the most distinctive singers of our time.

To understand how important a figure Miguel is in the world of modern R&B, we first need to unpack the genre known as alternative R&B. Let’s hit rewind for a moment. In the early 2010s, the R&B/soul scene underwent a major transformation. By experimentally blending it with other genres, a new kind of R&B emerged with an unprecedented sound and vibe. Characterized by a dark mood, dreamy soundscapes, minimalist beats, vintage drums, melancholy melodies, falsetto-heavy and distant vocals, and ambient-like mixing, the music was referred to by some critics and fans as hipster R&B or PBR&B (a nod to the Pabst Blue Ribbon, a beer popular with hipsters). Right from the name, it was clear that this emerging genre stood in opposition to trends in the mainstream.

Artists in the PBR&B sphere in particular often played with traditional song structures or made liberal use of ideas borrowed from electronic music. By doing so, they approached the established emotional core of R&B from entirely new angles and expanded out from there. The lyrics also stood out, boldly exploring a broader range of subjects. As this new form of R&B gained popularity and became a bona fide revolution, the unofficial term PBR&B was replaced with a proper one: alternative R&B. With the adoption of this broader label, the definition of its sound and vibe expanded alongside the diversity of vocal styles. Above all, at a time when traditional R&B was fading from the mainstream, it truly became an “alternative” R&B in every sense of the word. And Miguel, standing at the very core of this seismic shift, took the lead.

Miguel is seen as part of a trio alongside Frank Ocean and the Weeknd known as the three pioneers of alternative R&B. While all three singers were relatively new to the scene, Miguel had already released his debut studio album, “All I Want Is You,” in 2010, unlike the other two, who were still at the stage of putting out their first singles or mixtapes. Miguel’s album balanced traditional R&B, hip hop soul, and neo soul with glimpses of experiments in genre fusion. The singer’s creative explorations only deepened with his second album, “Kaleidoscope Dream” (2012). As the title suggests, the album is like a fantastic dream of ever-shifting sands. Rooted in R&B, it infused elements of rock, funk, and electronic music, breaking out of the confines of traditional R&B to explore new possibilities and establish what makes Miguel’s musical world so unique.

Just listen to the sensuous, rising melody of “Adorn,” one of his most iconic tracks, to understand the shift. Though grounded in neo soul, the song features minimalist beats, ethereal synths, and futuristic, crispy sounds in a seamless blend of tradition with innovation. The same shift is heard in his vocals. Miguel abstains from the vibrato and ad libs typical of R&B, opting instead for a distinctive vibe through a clean, understated style that straddles the line between pop and R&B. The same holds true for another of his hits, “How Many Drinks?” Built on a familiarly minimal, synth-driven beat and a thick bassline, the production style is no-frills and razor-sharp but still enriched by a dynamic rhythm and layered vocals that give the song incredible depth. Miguel’s vocals shift effortlessly from velvety smooth to emotionally charged at the climax, drawing the listener deeper and deeper into the entire experience.

Following the critically acclaimed “Kaleidoscope Dream,” often hailed alongside Frank Ocean’s album “channel ORANGE” and the Weeknd’s “Trilogy” as the masterpieces that ushered in the era of alternative R&B, Miguel’s artistic ambition showed no signs of waning. Miguel broadened his self-defined sphere of music, transcending fleeting trends in an apparent move to follow in the footsteps of Prince, who himself had been boldly experimental throughout his lifetime. In addition to staying off the beaten path, Miguel also fused even more genres into his music. His third album, “Wildheart” (2015), leaned into psychedelic rock and new wave, while his next release, “War & Leisure” (2017), explored psychedelic funk, alternative pop, and electronic music, blending both social and deeply personal narratives through experimental sounds. What’s more, he seamlessly wove political messages into lush, melodic soundscapes.

“Told You So” is a prime example. Disguising themes of nuclear war and authoritarian regimes under a veneer of a song about a romantic relationship, the track fits in with the dark social topics Miguel tackled throughout “War & Leisure.” The 1980s funk-inspired energy radiating from the song hints at his artistic ambition to connect past and present. Meanwhile, tracks like “coffee” off “Wildheart” show off his alchemical ability to transform the mundane into something magical. Even the act of sharing a cup of coffee becomes a red-hot romance under his touch.

Though Miguel hasn’t released a studio album since “War & Leisure,” he’s never sat still. The music industry is famous for moving quickly, but the singer has held onto what makes him unique and never stops challenging himself. He’s released EPs and singles all throughout the 2020s, also introducing fresh sounds. He seems as unwilling to settle now as he ever was. His collaborations in recent years with artists as diverse as benny blanco, Calvin Harris, Diplo, and Lil Yachty speak volumes. Through these partnerships, Miguel has expanded his sonic spectrum and pushed the boundaries of musical experimentation. And this year, we finally have a new studio album to look forward to.

On top of everything else, Miguel is often looked to as a model for how to redefine modern R&B beyond chasing fleeting trends. His ability to deconstruct and rebuild R&B aesthetics with flair while staying true to them has inspired countless new artists. His music resonates deeply with fans, too—all across the globe. It makes sense that Miguel’s work would feel less like simply a collection of songs and more like he’s telling an emotional narrative—one within which he unfolds a unique interpretation of the very essence of our world today. Listening to Miguel’s music feels like plunging into a dream where love and desire, hope and reality, all blend together—a dream so sweet and intoxicating that you wouldn’t mind getting lost in it forever.