There’s being multi-talented and then there is just showing off – and 20 year-old MNEK just can’t help himself. When he’s not producing huge chart crushing hits for Little Mix, Rudimental and Duke Dumont, he’s demonstrating his spectacularly soulful vocal on his own tracks, including recent release The Rhythm. He also recently found the time to sing back up vocals for Madonna and, most excitingly of all, has been working on the new Jojo album (!), due this year. While at Wireless this last weekend, we asked the Grammy nominated producer, songwriter and singer to share the songs that he couldn’t live without…
What’s the song that reminds you of someone special?
I was travelling to New York when I heard Shower by Becky G for the first time, and I really fell in love with that track. It was on my trip that I met my now partner, so it really brings me back to that. I introduced him to it and obviously he loves it too. Shower is really cute. I think it’s such a happy, summery track; it’s a love song isn’t it?
If you’re feeling a bit blue, what’s your pick me up track?
I’m a massive, massive Mariah Carey fan, and Can’t Take That Away From Me is one of my favourites if I need cheering up. It’s just a great, great song. It’s so uplifting, the lyrics are really inspiring. Another one is Make It Happen, also by Mariah. That has a similar effect. I’m just such a Mariah head, I grew up with her.
What’s the song that got you into music?
It’s difficult to pin point the time or to pick out one particular song, but Michael Jackson, as an artist, inspired me so much. I remember watching him on TV all the time and just being so obsessed. Him and Whitney Houston, they were my food as a kid. I remember I’d watch videos of him performing and just think, I must, must be a musician.
What’s your Sunday morning listen?
I think George Michael is perfect for a chilled Sunday. Spinning the Wheel is just smooth, so smooth. It’s easy listening. Whenever I listen to songs, I always try to listen to them constructively, I try to think if there’s any way something might influence my own music. George Michael is a massive influence to my own music. He really brought smoothness into music. His vocal, the production, everything. I just love his sound. Fast Love is another favourite, but I think Spinning the Wheel epitomises that Sunday morning feeling for me.
Which song do you wish you wrote?
There are a lot of songs that I wish I wrote, but My All by Mariah I’m especially jealous of. It’s just so great. Obviously, you’ve clocked that I love Mariah, but lyrically, melodically and sonically, this song is just so great. It never gets old, the melodies, the sentiment; it’s a total masterpiece.
What’s your latest musical obsession?
Rihanna’s Bitch Better Have My Money, 100%. Rihanna kills it on that record. It hasn’t even been out very long at all and I’ve already played it death. The video is just everything. Rihanna is everything.
What would soundtrack the opening credits to a film about your life?
I could really imagine Colours by Calvin Harris at the start of this film. I love Calvin Harris’ first album, I Created Disco, it really influenced me massively, and it’s a record that really stood out at the time. You want the music in film to have meaning, and this is one of my favourite tracks. Plus, I’d say I’m a pretty colourful guy, right?!
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life…
Come on! You can’t ask anybody that. I’m going to go with Right On Time by Black Box. I’m basing this on the fact that it was my ring tone for a really long time, just the ‘Gotta get up, gotta get up, gotta get up’ part not the screaming, rright on time’ bit! I probably could get sick of that. Or maybe Make It Happen by Mariah, am I allowed that too? Please?
No. What’s your favourite rap song?
I don’t know if it is my favourite ever, but I love Push It by Salt N Pepa. It’s a great song, a real classic. And it’s such a great entry song for them. It was one of their first tracks and they just totally dominated it. They broke out into the world like baaaad bitches. I wasn’t even born when that track came out, but I remember seeing it on MTV Classic and being like, Wow. I have that video ingrained into me, I can’t think of them without the video playing in my head.
What’s your favourite collaboration?
I’m going on like a broken record a bit here, but Mariah and ODB’s Fantasy (Remix)is the only answer. Fantasy is like, the quintessential pop and rap collaboration. It’s what started it all. It’s a great demonstration of how those two genres can come together, so, so well. It’s a really fun video too.
Of your own songs, which are you most proud of?
Suddenly from my last EP was one of my first seriously autobiographic songs. It was really personal so that one definitely means a lot to me. But my favourite songs are yet to come! There are some really special tracks on my album that I’m really excited about. They’re my favourites, that’s all I can say, watch.this.space.
What’s the song that brings out your Sasha Fierce?
I think my song, Every Little Word. It’s one where if you’re walking down the street and it comes on, you find yourself walking to the beat. You hear it and it just has this energy. It’s that feeling of entering the room and being like, Bang! There’s such a boom to it. I want people to feel that fun energy when they listen to it.
What’s the song that reminds you of being a kid?
Spice Girls – Wannabe was one of the first CD’s that I can remember listening to when I was younger. I had it on repeat the entire time. It’s such a fun song. I think everybody my age loves the Spice Girls, we grew up with them. Geri was always my favourite for sure. Go Ginger Spice!