MNEK

When I wrote 'Paradise,' it was going to be an interlude - like a segue from the song before. Then I just…

— MNEK

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

— MNEK

The way Beyonce works, the song is a jigsaw piece and then she will piece various elements.

— MNEK

If I'm writing a song for Karen Harding, I know I can't impose what I want to say onto her. I literally…

— MNEK

There's an underlying sense with 'Tongue' that... it's really... it's real. I mean that in the sense that now I'm not afraid…

— MNEK

I always knew I wanted to work in music. There was no plan B.

— MNEK

I'm very thankful that I'm in a position where I'll never be without a session. I'll always have someone who will want…

— MNEK

I keep quiet and let the music do the talking.

— MNEK

I think 'Girlfriend' in particular is definitely one of the songs that is angled towards early 2000s, late '90s, R&B pop and…

— MNEK

Having the opportunity to work with someone like Beyonce is definitely going to hopefully open a few doors.

— MNEK

We have a lot of black British men who are killing it: John Boyega, Stormzy, Anthony Joshua, Tinie Tempah, and Idris Elba,…

— MNEK

I love Usher's 'Confessions.'

— MNEK

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…

— MNEK

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

— MNEK

I think there's so many amazing LGBTQ artists, ranging from commercial to underground, that are influencing people at large.

— MNEK

I signed my first publishing deal when I was 14, and it was from two records I put on MySpace.

— MNEK

I didn't always see someone that I could relate to, that would tell me that being Black and gay is okay.

— MNEK

They saw that it was a passion of mine from really young... My parents did a good job. They wanted me to…

— MNEK

I'm a musician, and I'm not interested in being in the Houses of Parliament.

— MNEK

The perspective that I come from when I sing, when I perform, is of who I am as a black gay man.

— MNEK

I'm from Nigerian descent, and the classic Nigerian mentality is 'Stay in school! You're going to be a doctor, you're going to…

— MNEK

I think anyone can actually sing. It's the mindset. Singing is imitation.

— MNEK

I'm touching people, helping people, and I'm making music I love. I like to think a lot of other black queer artists…

— MNEK

'Tongue' is literally just one piece of the puzzle. This album is something I've worked on over the course of my entire…

— MNEK

In reality, my parents knew that I was a vegetable outside of music. They have fears, they know how tough and competitive…

— MNEK