MNEK facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
MNEK
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MNEK performing at the Glastonbury Festival in 2014.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike |
| Also known as | Uzo Emenike |
| Born | 9 November 1994 Lewisham, London, England |
| Origin | Bellingham, London, England |
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| Years active | 2011–present |
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Uzoechi Osisioma Emenike (born 9 November 1994), known by his stage name MNEK, is a British singer, songwriter, and record producer. His stage name, MNEK, is based on the sound of his last name, Emenike.
He is a very successful songwriter and producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in music. His work has earned him nominations for major awards like the Grammy and the Brit Award. Some of the famous artists he has written or produced songs for include Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, Little Mix, Zara Larsson, Jax Jones, Selena Gomez, Kylie Minogue, and Madonna.
Contents
Music Career
How It All Started (2011–2013)
MNEK's journey into music began when he was very young. He started writing poems and songs around age seven or eight. When he was 14, he posted a couple of his songs on the social media site Myspace.
An artist named CocknBullKid (now known as Anita Blay) heard his songs and was very impressed. She sent them to her music publisher, a person who helps songwriters get their music to artists and record labels. Soon, many publishers wanted to work with MNEK. He started his career in the music industry while he was still in school.
In 2011, at age 17, he started working with the production group Xenomania. He helped write songs for the girl group the Saturdays and the boy band the Wanted. In 2012, he was a featured singer on the song "Spoons" by the group Rudimental.
First Big Hits (2014–2015)
In 2014, MNEK's career took off when he was the featured singer on the Gorgon City song "Ready for Your Love". The song was a huge hit in the United Kingdom, reaching number 4 on the charts. That same year, he released his own songs, including "Every Little Word" and "Wrote a Song About You".
He also wrote the song "Gecko (Overdrive)" for the DJ Oliver Heldens, which went to number one in the UK. In 2015, he released an extended play (EP) called Small Talk. An EP is like a short album with just a few songs.
One of his biggest successes came in 2015 with the song "Never Forget You", a duet with Swedish singer Zara Larsson. The song was a massive international hit. It reached number one on the Billboard Dance chart in the United States.
Writing for Stars and Releasing His Album (2016–Present)
After the success of "Never Forget You," MNEK became a highly sought-after songwriter. In 2016, he helped write the song "Hold Up" for Beyoncé's famous album, Lemonade. He also released his own single, "At Night (I Think About You)".
In 2018, MNEK released his first full album, called Language. The album's lead single was a catchy song called "Tongue".
In 2020, he collaborated with DJ Joel Corry on the song "Head & Heart". The track became a number-one hit in the UK, giving MNEK his first chart-topping song as a featured artist.
MNEK has also appeared on television. In 2021, he was a guest vocal coach on the popular show RuPaul's Drag Race UK. He has also worked closely with the new girl group Flo, producing several of their songs, including their hit "Cardboard Box".
In 2022, he had another big hit with Jax Jones called "Where Did You Go?", which reached the top 10 in the UK. In February 2024, MNEK started his own record label called MuzoByUz to help new artists.
Supporting Other Artists
MNEK is passionate about creating a welcoming environment in the music industry. He started a special songwriting camp for LGBTQ+ singers and songwriters. The camp gives artists a safe and supportive place to create music. He has worked with artists like Rina Sawayama and Olly Alexander for this project.
Discography
- Language (2018)
Awards and Nominations
See also
In Spanish: MNEK para niños
