MNEK

MNEK
Background information
Birth name Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike
Also known as MNEK
Born (1994-11-09) 9 November 1994
Lewisham, London, England
Origin Bellingham, London, England, Nigeria
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active 2012–present
Labels
Associated acts

Uzoechi Osisioma "Uzo" Emenike (born 9 November 1994), professionally known as MNEK (/ˌɛmənˈiːkeɪ/, EM-ən-EE-kay), is an English singer, songwriter and record producer.[1] In 2016, he received the ASCAP Vanguard Award for his contribution to songwriting.[2] His writing and production credits include Beyoncé, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa, Diplo, Zara Larsson, MØ, Lianne La Havas, Rudimental, Naughty Boy, Julia Michaels, Little Mix, JoJo, Gorgon City, Clean Bandit, Chris Malinchak, Bondax, Jax Jones, Oliver Heldens, Karen Harding, Sub Focus, Duke Dumont, Bastille, A*M*E, BTS, Samantha Mumba and Stormzy.

Career

2012–2013: Breakthrough

In February 2012, he featured on Rudimental's single "Spoons" with Syron. The song features on their debut studio album Home (2013). In December 2013, he was one of 15 artists to make BBC's Sound of 2014 long list.[3]

2014–2015: Small Talk

In January 2014, he featured on Gorgon City's single "Ready for Your Love". The song peaked to number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. On 20 April 2014, he premiered "Every Little Word" on 1Xtra, the "buzz" single from his debut studio album. On 9 May 2014, the remix EP, featuring Joe Goddard and Fred V & Grafix among others was released. Emenike has said we can expect to hear collaborations with Moko, Snakehips and Jimmy Napes on the record.[4] The lead single "Wrote a Song About You" premiered on Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show on 13 June 2014. In June 2014, Oliver Heldens' track "Gecko (Overdrive)", which MNEK wrote, debuted at number one on both the UK Dance Chart and the UK Singles Chart. In 2014, he also worked with Madonna on her album, Rebel Heart, and produced the song "Feels So Good" by Kylie Minogue, from her album Kiss Me Once. On 22 July 2014, MNEK released the promotional single "In Your Clouds" as part of an iTunes Ones to Watch campaign. The song will feature on his debut studio album.[5] His debut extended play (EP) Small Talk was released on 20 March 2015. In March 2015, JoJo announced that she worked with MNEK on her new studio album.

In September 2015, MNEK released "Never Forget You" with Swedish singer Zara Larsson.[6] The single premiered as Annie Mac's Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1 and to date has been certified Platinum in the UK, 3× Platinum in Sweden, 2× Platinum in Australia and Denmark and Platinum in Norway.[6] In the US, "Never Forget You" has been certified Platinum, reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart for three consecutive weeks and the top 10 of the national airplay chart.[7]

2016–present: Songwriting breakthrough and Language

After the success of his Zara Larsson collaboration, he began working with other artists as a songwriter, beginning with his contribution to Beyoncé's 2016 song "Hold Up". He also went on to form songwriting partnerships with artists including Becky Hill, Shift K3Y, Ryan Ashley, A*M*E, Jax Jones, Tre Jean-Marie and Brayton Bowman.

In 2016, he released his first solo single since his debut extended play, entitled "At Night (I Think About You)". Shortly after, he also released a cover of the renowned Queen single "Don't Stop Me Now". "At Night (I Think About You)" peaked at number 87 on the UK Singles Chart. After releasing the song, he stated that he was recording and producing his debut album.

In 2017, he released another single, entitled "Paradise", which samples Ultra Naté's 1997 hit "Free", as well as the collaborative single "Deeper" with Riton and the House Gospel Choir.

In February 2018, he teased the single "Tongue", which was revealed to be the lead single from his debut album, Language. He stated in an interview with Annie Mac that his album was finished and that he was mixing the album with mixing engineer Phil Tan. It was released on 7 September 2018.[8][9][10]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details
Language[8][9][10]

Extended plays

Title Details
Small Talk
  • Released: 20 March 2015
  • Label: Virgin EMI
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

Single Year Peak chart positions Ceritifications Album
UK
[11]		 AUS
[12]		 DEN
[13]		 FIN
[14]		 GER
[15]		 NL
[16]		 NOR
[17]		 NZ
[18]		 SWE
[19]		 US
[20]
"If Truth Be Told"[21] 2011 —————————— Non-album single
"Don't Call This Love"[22] 2014 ——————————
"Every Little Word" 184————————— Small Talk
"Wrote a Song About You" 66—————————
"The Rhythm" 2015 38———————20—
"Never Forget You"
(with Zara Larsson)		 535420826113 So Good
"At Night (I Think About You)" 2016 87—————————[upper-alpha 1] Non-album singles[9]
"Don't Stop Me Now" ——————————
"Paradise" 2017 —————————— Language
"Deeper"
(with Riton featuring House Gospel Choir)		 —————————— Non-album single
"Tongue"[27] 2018 —[upper-alpha 2]————————— Language
"Colour"
(featuring Hailee Steinfeld)		 92—————————
"Crazy World" ——————————
"Correct" ——————————
"—" denotes a song that did not chart or was not released.
Single Year Peak chart positions Ceritifications Album
UK
[11]
"Ready for Your Love"
(Gorgon City featuring MNEK)		 2014 4 Sirens
"House Work"
(Jax Jones featuring MNEK)		 2016 85 Non-album singles
"Hands"
(with various artists)		 —
"Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2"
(Stormzy featuring MNEK)		 2017 7 Gang Signs & Prayer

Guest appearances

List of guest appearances, showing year released, other artists and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Close"[upper-alpha 3] 2013 Sub Focus Torus
"Spoons" Rudimental, Syron Home
"Baby" Rudimental, Sinead Harnett
"bad_news" 2014 Bastille VS. (Other People's Heartache, Pt. III)
"Common Emotion" 2015 Rudimental We the Generation
"Freak Like Me" 2016 Lee Walker, DJ Deeon, Katy B Non-album single
"SXWME" Far East Movement, Jay Park Identity
"No Question" Shift K3Y, Ryan Ashley NIT3 TALES, Pt. 2 – EP
"Worship" 2017 The Knocks Testify EP
"Not for the Radio" Tinie Tempah Youth
"Half of You" 2018 Various artists Sierra Burgess is a Loser: OST
  1. ↑ "At Night (I Think About You)" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number thirty-four on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.[26]
  2. ↑ "Tongue" did not enter the UK Official Singles Chart, but peaked at number twenty-nine on the UK Official Dance Singles Chart.[28]
  3. ↑ The vocals on the single version of "Close" were re-recorded by Daniel Pearce.

Songwriting and production credits

Personal life

MNEK is openly gay.[29]

References

  1. ↑ "Grammy Nominated UK Producer & Songwriter MNEK Releases Debut EP 'Small Talk' Today". Top40-Charts.
  2. ↑ "Jess Glynne and MNEK to receive ASCAP Vanguard Award". Musi Week.
  3. ↑ "BBC Music - BBC Sound Of, 2014 - MNEK". BBC.
  4. ↑ "Yinka & Friends: MNEK". Rinse FM on YouTube. 10 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "MNEK - Timeline photos". Facebook. 22 July 2014.
  6. 1 2 "MNEK & ZARA LARSSON - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company".
  7. ↑ "Zara Larsson - Chart history - Billboard".
  8. 1 2 "MNEK Releases Sexy Single 'Tongue' From His Upcoming Debut Album". Billboard.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 "Play MNEK's "Tongue" and tell someone special that you love them". Thefader.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  10. 1 2 "MNEK's honest album". Femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  11. 1 2 Peak positions in the United Kingdom:
    • For all except noted: "MNEK > Artist Search". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
    • For "Every Little Word": "CHART: CLUK Update 3.05.2014 (wk17)". Zobbel.de/.
    • For "House Work": "CHART: CLUK Update 03.09.2016 (wk35)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  12. ↑ "Discography MNEK". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  13. ↑ "Discography MNEK". Danish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  14. ↑ "Discography MNEK". Finnish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  15. ↑ "Discographie MNEK". German Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  16. ↑ "Discografie MNEK". Dutch Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  17. ↑ "Discography MNEK". Norwegian Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  18. ↑ "Discography MNEK". New Zealand Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  19. ↑ "Discography MNEK". Swedish Charts Portal. Hung Medien.
  20. ↑ Peak positions in the United States:
    • For "Never Forget You": "Zara Larsson - Chart history". Billboard.com/. Billboard.
  21. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ax9K7Hcs_0&index=7&t=0s&list=PL4vS8Def1fYXAW8b5__Z3jS2b9Zve_FNm
  22. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na5qivFQcBA&list=PL4vS8Def1fYXAW8b5__Z3jS2b9Zve_FNm&index=27
  23. 1 2 3 4 "British single certifications – MNEK & Zara Larsson". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Select singles in the Format field. Type MNEK & Zara Larsson in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  24. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (6 February 2016). "ARIA Singles: Zayn 'Pillowtalk' Is No 1". Noise11. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  25. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  26. ↑ "MNEK Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  27. ↑ "#TONGUE - MNEK". Twitter. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  28. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 (09 March 2018 - 15 March 2018)". Official Charts Company. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  29. ↑ "MNEK is happy with his safe and loving boyfriend". Attitude. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
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