MNEK

There are so many amazing out, gay, black artists who are really great in their own fields, but they aren't necessarily trying to make pop music. I guess my thing is different because I am trying to be part of that world. But doing it my way.

It's not that some songs are for radio and some songs aren't, I'm just making whatever I feel.

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

I use Auto-Tune but it's not to mask anything. If you come to see me live, I can sing on the spot. Auto-tune is just for the recording. It keeps everything really precise.

I love Usher's 'Confessions.'

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.

Some of white middle America haven't seen a black gay guy in a music video before.

I'm very conscious that a music video is beyond just a promotional tool for a song. It takes a song to the next level and it gives a song a new life.

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

I've never been massive on rap, but there's that whole kind of culture of U.K. rap.

I've been so blessed to work with all my favorite artists as a gay man.

I had so much fun working with the queens on 'Drag Race U.K!'

So the Madonna thing, I wrote a song with Diplo, she liked it, tweaked it and then made it her own and it became 'Hold Tight.'

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

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

When I'm doing a session for another artist, it's a very scheduled thing, and it's kind of imperative that I write a song in that time. But if I'm trying to write a song for myself and I don't have an idea that day, I just can't force it.

One of my first songs I ever got a decent cut on was with a songwriter out of Xenomania, called 'All Fired Up' for the Saturdays.

Music is so transient. You've just got to move with it.

The industry has always been accepting of gay artists, but a particular thing for me is to see gay artists of color.

If I'm writing a song for Karen Harding, I know I can't impose what I want to say onto her. I literally have to get into her headspace and think, 'what does she want to say?' When it comes to my stuff, it's the same. What can I write that's true to me?

When I first came out, I was wearing full-on traditional Nigerian wear. I got told by a lot of people that I should just tone it down. I only stopped when I realized there's only so many prints you can wear.

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

I'm a massive Mariah Carey fan.

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

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