Miguel currently occupies unusual territory. Though still squarely a mainstream act, it’s been a minute since we’ve gotten any major updates on the singer’s future, instead taking to scattered feature appearances alongside the likes of Justice and A$AP Rocky rather than any fully fledged solo material. To that end, outside of a few singles, the last true release from Miguel was 2021’s Art Dealer Chic 4, his absence perhaps muted by the fact that his “Sure Thing” tore off a belated, titanic chart run in the interim. We’re getting a bit of a light in that regard with the just released “Always Time,” potentially an appetizer for more Miguel on the way. Here’s everything you need to know about this latest track.
“Always Time” Brings An End To A Prolonged Miguel Hiatus
While Miguel has never shied away from romantic subject matter, “Always Time” catches him in a pretty uncommon lane, exploring a breakup anthem that’s moody and soaked in regret. The song’s title comes from its chorus, where the singer repeats a mantra of “I thought there was always time,” his verse sections further extricating the idea that sometimes an abrupt end closes off opportunities for improvement or reconciliation.
The “Sky Walker” singer’s vocal inflections are captivating as ever, carrying a ton of R&B sensibility in the process, noticeably contrasted by broody, indie-inspired instrumentation behind him. Reverb-heavy guitar lines create an alternative cast over the whole piece, interrupted in the song’s closing moments by grand string sections that light pained vocalizations by Miguel. Finally, after one more repetition of the hook, the song fades out in just seconds, fitting given the “fleeting” narrative at work throughout the song.
Does This Latest Single Mean A Miguel Album Is On The Way?
If you’re prone to reading tea leaves, you’ll note that Miguel placed a ton of energy behind “Always Time,” dropping the single alongside a music video and heavily promoting it both pre and post-release. Given that, it appears that “Always Time” will kickstart a new album era for Miguel, the singer teasing that it’s an “earnest start to his next artistic chapter.” Obviously, that LP would break the prolonged quiet period for the multi-platinum artist, but would also pay off what fans previously regarded as tastes of Viscera, the reported title of his fifth full-length.
Whatever “Always Time” portends for Miguel, the song is an appealing reminder of why he made it to the mainstream in the first place, and its experimental nature keeps up the intrigue for how he can push his signature sound more than a decade into his career.
Catch “Always Time” and the full Miguel catalog on streaming platforms everywhere.
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