MNEK

“For me personally, I've always tried to exude positivity and I feel that it's important for all types of experiences of black men to be seen.”

“I want more people to know who I am and I want to have the chance to tease my music a bit more.”

“I think 'Girlfriend' in particular is definitely one of the songs that is angled towards early 2000s, late '90s, R&B pop and those kinds of songs that were prevalent in that time. I don't think I was conscious of those songs in particular, but I'd say I definitely wanted a song that had that kind of vibe era wise in tone and all the writing.”

“A lot of dance producers aren't really musical, they don't care much about detail.”

“I think the stereotypes many black men are put under, even in the entertainment world, can sometimes have a dark or negative undertone.”

“I almost get quite scared talking about it. It's happened, obviously. I did meet Madonna and I did work with her.”

“A lot of the time the K-pop fans are pleasant and enthusiastic and they really credit everyone who has been a part of their favorite artists' records.”

“I really love being an artist, but I make my money from songwriting.”

“There's always so much stuff to do. I work best when my diary just says 'MNEK, MNEK, MNEK.'”

“I make pop music. I make music that is pretty commercial. But, at the same time, I'm a minority within a minority and it can be challenging. I feel validated about what I'm doing when I meet fellow black gay men or black gay women.”

“I love '90s and '00s R&B, and those songs go on for ever.”

“I naturally make commercial music: it's never been a calculated decision to make pop music. I'm a genuine pop music fan.”

“I'm not really into beer, but I like tequila shots.”

“I was someone who knew what they wanted to do for so long. I was always fascinated by music, always a student of pop.”

“When I wrote 'Paradise,' it was going to be an interlude - like a segue from the song before. Then I just added more to it because everyone loved it.”

“My visual medium is my videos, and I've got to feel as though I can put my truth in that.”

“I don't feel pressure, I think there's fun to have. And I want to show that being gay and of color doesn't have to be a sob story all the time. It can actually be really jokes and empowering.”

“For me, I've written and produced for pop singers, but, like, female pop - I love that. I think it's putting me in the game that I love girl pop. All my writing is inspired by it.”

“I've waited for the day my debut album is released my entire life, so naturally I've designed it to be listened to from start to finish - so every song flows into each other in a way that tells a sonic story.”

“I've always liked discovering things.”